How Tim Mannah’s move will affect Eels and Tigers
Without Tim Mannah on their books, Parramatta can open the door to two of their rising stars — but some big players at Wests Tigers won’t be too happy about the veteran’s arrival.
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Wests Tigers’ signing of veteran Parramatta prop Tim Mannah looks set to force highly paid front-rowers Russell Packer and Ben Matulino out of the Concord club.
As revealed in The Daily Telegraph, Mannah has agreed to an immediate switch to Wests Tigers after 11 seasons at Parramatta.
Parramatta and Wests Tigers officials were finalising the paperwork for Mannah’s move to Concord on Tuesday. The transfer is expected to be formally announced on Wednesday.
It is understood that Packer and coach Michael Maguire, who both possess stubborn and strong-willed personalities, have fallen out. Packer was left out of the Tigers’ NRL squad to play North Queensland on Friday night.
Packer is on a salary of around $650,000 a year while Matulino is on around $700,000.
With Josh Reynolds on more than $900,000 a year — and the club operating under a $350,000 salary cap fine — Wests Tigers’ salary cap is a mess.
Packer and Matulino are under contract until the end of 2021.
Mannah, playing reserve grade at Parramatta, will be signed for the remainder of this season by Wests Tigers.
But sources claim the Tigers would be interested in offering Mannah a deal for next year if he has a strong end of this season.
Wests Tigers would also be prepared to allow Reynolds and Chris McQueen to negotiate with rivals clubs.
Parramatta expressed disappointment at Mannah’s impending departure but the Eels have two rising front-row stars — Oregon Kaufusi and Stefano Utoikamanu — coming through their system.
And both the NSW under-18s props this year are Eels players — Sam Hughes and David Hollis.
Parramatta officials were confident they made the right move in allowing Mannah to walk away from the club.
One source close to Parramatta said: “It was difficult because Tim is so highly regarded at Parramatta.
“But when you peel back the emotion, it was the correct call. We have some young guns coming through in the front-row position.”
Mannah made the agonising decision to quit the Eels although Parramatta made it clear he wouldn’t be re-signed for next season.
Mannah has split with manager Isaac Moses and has been negotiating his own deal with the Tigers. It is known Mannah is close to the ‘football whisperer’ Joe Wehbe.
Former Balmain and Australian hooker Ben Elias said he wouldn’t buy Mannah “with counterfeit money.”
It will set up a juicy round 17 grudge match when Mannah’s Wests Tigers confront Parramatta at Bankwest Stadium.
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