NRL market watch: Isaiah Papali’i to quit Wests Tigers at end of 2024 season

Isaiah Papali’i has been granted permission to leave the Wests Tigers in a move that is set to spark a bidding war from rivals, while also highlighting the Tigers’ plan to overhaul its underperforming roster.

Isaiah Papali'i is set to leave the club at the end of 2024. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

Kiwi international Isaiah Papali'i is the first player to be formally granted permission to leave the Wests Tigers as the club prepares to overhaul its underperforming roster by allowing a host of his teammates to also depart at the end of the season.

The Tigers’ decision to give Papali'i a release from the final year of his contract is expected to ignite the player market, with the 25-year-old available to leave despite having one year left on his deal.

Rival clubs have already sounded out the Tigers back rower, who is on a contract worth about $750,000. Papali'i won’t be the only player whose time at the Tigers is expected to be cut short.

The likes of Jayden Sullivan, Charlie Staines and Brent Naden could also be on the chopping block despite being contracted for next year. Sullivan is only months into a $500,000 per season contract with three years remaining.

Tigers boss Shane Richardson is in the UK as he looks to the player market in England to help change the club’s fortunes. The first major surprise though is Papali'i’s impending exit.

He was formally granted permission to leave the club more than a month ago and since then discussions have heated up with the relevant parties.

Isaiah Papali'i is contracted until the end of 2025. Picture: NRL Photos

It means the likes of Penrith, Manly and Canterbury could pounce on Papali'i with the Panthers still on the lookout to fill the void created by James Fisher-Harris’ impending departure to the Warriors and the unsuccessful pursuit of David Fifita. Roosters back rowers Angus Crichton and Sitili Tupouniua are the other marquee back-rowers who are also free agents. What is clear though is that Papali'i’s time at the Tigers is set to come to a premature end.

He joined the club amid much fanfare, having originally signed a three-year contract to play under Michael Maguire. Papali'i’s stint at the Tigers will last just two seasons with the club offering him free from the final year of his deal.

While Papali'i was signed by Maguire he was never able to play for his former Kiwi Test coach. He played his first year under Tim Sheens before Benji Marshall took charge this year.

Papali’i had been touted as a marquee signing for the Tigers given the success he had during two seasons at Parramatta where he won Dally M second rower of the year in 2021 and then appeared in a grand final the season after.

Isaiah Papali'i signed at the Tigers from 2023. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

However, he has been unable to replicate that same success at the Tigers. Papali'i missed the Tigers’ last-start loss to the Dolphins but returns to the starting team to play the Cowboys in North Queensland.

The decision to give Papali'i permission to leave is expected to be the precursor to wholesale changes at the club over the off-season.

Sullivan is an obvious departure given the Tigers have a handful of halves and Jarome Luai is due to join the club from Penrith next season.

Richardson jetted out of the country on Tuesday night as he looks to Super League to help fix some of the Tigers issues.

The club is desperate to shuffle some of their pieces before next season and will explore all avenues to rebuild their roster.

They need to clear space first and they may require Super League clubs to help them. Richardson is well connected in the UK and will spend the next week exploring options to shed players to Super League, as well as recruit if they can create some roster room and salary cap space.