Josh Addo-Carr Wests Tigers move: Jordan Rapana emerges as key figure for Melbourne Storm
Jordan Rapana has become caught up in a bizarre tug of war that could make or break the Wests Tigers’ bid to sign Melbourne Storm flyer Josh Addo-Carr.
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Wests Tigers will turn their attention to signing Canberra winger Jordan Rapana should the Melbourne Storm refuse to release Josh Addo-Carr at season’s end.
Although Addo-Carr is their No.1 recruitment target, News Corp Australia can reveal the Tigers have already made inquiries about off-contract Raider Rapana, who rejoined Canberra this year after the COVID-19 pandemic cut short his move to Japanese rugby.
If the Tigers’ bid to sign Addo-Carr falls through, they will look to reunite Rapana with former Raiders teammate Joey Leilua in the Wests backline.
But, in a further twist, Rapana could inadvertently help the Tigers land Addo-Carr.
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The Storm are also considering signing the 31-year-old as a replacement for Addo-Carr, that could sway them to granting the “Fox” a release to join the Tigers.
Having told club legend Benji Marshall he is not wanted beyond this year, the Tigers have embarked on an recruitment drive, signing Penrith captain James Tamou to a two-year deal from next season.
He will join impressive Parramatta rookie Stefano Utoikamanu, who inked a three-year $800,000 deal to switch clubs.
2021 shapes as a crucial year for the Tigers, and coach Michael Maguire says he will not stop challenging his players despite claims he’s too tough.
After missing the finals for the ninth straight season, Maguire made no excuses for expecting his team to be more like Melbourne and Canberra.
“I have a playing group that is hungry to do it,” Maguire said.
“I have high expectations of my players because I believe in them. We are all striving to get to the top and need to work hard to get there. I have great people with expertise in both my playing group and on my staff and we are not looking for excuses.”
THE ROSTER
Two last-minute signings on the eve of the 2020 season could not save the Wests Tigers from having one of the worst rosters in the NRL.
The Tigers have just one Origin player in their 30-man squad, and no Kiwis or Kangaroos representatives.
With Moses Mbye, Josh Reynolds, Russell Packer, Chris McQueen and Elijah Taylor all signed on big-money deals, the club was only able to add Luciano Leilua and Zane Musgrave to the side that struggled in 2019.
Salary cap manoeuvring, which included offloading Corey Thompson, then allowed the Tigers to add Joseph Leilua and Adam Doueihi to their squad.
The Tigers made the hard decision not to offer club legend Benji Marshall a new contract but will still carry the bulk of their underperforming squad into the new year.
THE ANALYSIS
The Tigers’ edge defence is the reason they will not be in the finals. Undisputedly a team that can score points, miscommunication, bad reads and some shocking one-on-one misses on the edges ruined the Tigers’ season.
Since Round 10 they have conceded almost 28 points per game with only the Sea Eagles (29.3) and Broncos (35.9) worse.
THE GOOD
David Nofoaluma has been the shining light with the Tigers winger breaking out to finally reach his full potential.
Scoring 17 times so far this year to top the tryscorers list, Nofoaluma is four tries away from Taniela Tuiaki’s club record of 21 season tries and could become just the third Wests Tiger to score 20 tries in a season. Nofoaluma has busted more tackles than James Tedesco and has a staggering 3080 run metres.
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THE BAD
Mbye has failed to deliver as one of the club’s highest-paid players. Brought to the club as a match-breaking playmaker, Mbye was this year shifted to the centres after failing to play to his potential.
Also made the club captain, Mbye will be in for a make-or-break season next year.
THE FUTURE
Queensland’s next best young hooker Jake Simpkin will be pitted against Jacob Liddle to replace Harry Grant as the Tigers No.9 next year.
Recruited to the club as a potential heir to Robbie Farah’s throne, Simpkin is regarded as a future star and will vie with Liddle to get his shot when Grant returns to Melbourne.
Doueihi could also get a shot at replacing Marshall and will play behind a forward pack led by recruit James Tamou.
Reynolds will also be out to win a starting spot.
THE TARGETS
Josh Addo-Carr will be the final significant addition to the Tigers’ 2021 team should Melbourne agree to release the flyer.
Addo Carr has all but agreed to rejoin his former club should the Storm be able to find a “suitable replacement”.
Addo Carr’s signature will exhaust the Tigers’ salary cap following the addition of Tamou.