Josh Addo-Carr contract news: Knights join race as Wests Tigers officially withdraw

While a Tigers return is now off the table for Josh Addo-Carr, the Bulldogs are all in with a huge offer, and another team has entered the race.

Wests Tigers have officially called off their ‘Foxx’ hunt, sensationally withdrawing from the race to sign Josh Addo-Carr.

It comes after Canterbury tabled a four-year offer worth in the vicinity of $2 million for the player rated the world’s best winger for 2022 and beyond.

But Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis was clearly bemused at speculation the Bulldogs’ lucrative offer had caught his club off guard.

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“We haven’t engaged with Josh’s manager at all since we were told that Melbourne wouldn’t release him for 2021,” Hagipantelis told The Daily Telegraph.

“I have just read the report that suggests ‘the Bulldogs have made an offer that blows the Tigers out of the water’, which I found interesting.

“Firstly, we are not in the water.

“Secondly, if we were in the water the offer which is being reported would not have blown us anywhere.

A trio of NRL clubs remain in the hunt for Josh Addo-Carr. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty

“There have been absolutely no discussions with Mario Tartak (Addo-Carr’s agent) whatsoever, there have been no offers made, no counter offers made.”

It is understood the Bulldogs made their offer early last week after Addo-Carr had earlier toured the club’s Belmore headquarters.

It is speculated Addo-Carr has a strong desire to play with South Sydney, while sources suggest Newcastle is also making a late play.

But as for the club that initially had a heads of agreement with Addo-Carr if he came to Sydney in 2021, all bets are now off.

Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis (R).

The Tigers had been previously promised a sit down meeting with Addo-Carr following his NSW Origin commitments but that never eventuated.

“You will have to ask Mario (why),” Hagipantelis added.

“I can offer no explanation as to why the meeting did not take place.

“But the fact that there is absolutely no interest that has been shown by Mario in speaking with the club, we just formed the view that we have moved on.”

Asked if they were out of the race for good, he responded: “Absolutely.”

Though he said he did not feel the Tigers had been used or poorly treated.

“No, not at all,” he said.

Canterbury has tabled a monster offer to Addo-Carr. Bulldogs coach Trent Barrett (pictured).

“I am assuming Mario just decided that for whatever reason he didn’t want to pursue any discussions with the Wests Tigers.

“We are only interested in engaging with players who want to come and play for us. And if the perception is the player doesn’t wish to come to the Wests Tigers because their manager doesn’t engage with us, well, that is fine by us. I am not going to lose any sleep over it and we move on to greener pastures.”

Canterbury chief executive Andrew Hill confirmed the Bulldogs’ interest.

“He has been and seen our facility,” Hill said.

“We are progressing conversation. We don’t discuss recruitment but yes we have expressed our interest in him.”