Joseph Tapine heads to Canberra as monster offer knocks Newcastle out of race

BOOM Newcastle backrower Joseph Tapine may have played his last game for the club after signing a four-year deal with the Raiders worth around $1.7 million.

KNIGHTS

BOOM Newcastle backrower Joseph Tapine may have played his last game for the club after signing a four year deal with the Canberra Raiders worth around $1.7 million.

Tapine, 21, is contracted to the Knights for this season but coach Nathan Brown could not give a cast-iron guarantee he will figure in the club’s plans in 2016 with speculation he may be released even before the season kicks off.

“We are looking at all our options now that he has made his decision,” Brown said.

“He is not going to be with us long term so that (giving him a release) is potentially one of them.”

Asked if a deal with the Raiders for an immediately release could be a possibility, Brown said:

“Canberra haven’t expressed to us they want him straight away but I’m sure they would accept him if they could have him.

“But we have only just found out he’s going so it’s a bit early to be talking about it.”

Raiders CEO Don Furner would not rule out the possibility of making an early approach.

“We would have to look at whether we could fit him in if that was to happen,” he said. “But as of now, I still haven’t received his signed contract.”

With just 20 NRL games under his belt, Tapine’s big money offer from Canberra and the Raiders late decision to give him an option on a fourth year blew the Knights out of the water. It’s understood the Knights final offer was $1.1 million over three years.

Losing Tapine represents a big blow for the Knights.

“Joe is a good young kid and very talented and we would have loved to have kept him obviously,” Brown said.

“But we certainly understand the reasons why he has gone. It’s a life-changing offer that he’s got and there was probably no decision in the end for him.

“He told all the boys about his decision at training I had a conversation with him today and I just told him that we are disappointed he is going but no-one is angry. Everyone here understands.

“It’s obviously disappointing for our fans as well but from what’s been relayed to us, the offer just blew us away. We made what we thought was a very good offer and what his manager said was a very good offer.

“But the other offer is a fair bit ahead of us so all we can do is wish him all the best.”

Brown was reluctant to discuss the ultimatum he gave Tapine about being forced to play reserve grade this season if he signed with Canberra, a suggestion that drew a hostile response from the Rugby League Players’ Association.

“All I will say to that is any decision that we make now with any player will be in the Knights’ best interest,” Brown said.

Originally published as Joseph Tapine heads to Canberra as monster offer knocks Newcastle out of race