‘I didn’t want to leave that club’: Joe Ofahengaue opens up on messy Wests Tigers exit

Joe Ofahengaue has slammed the Wests Tigers for pushing him out the door just months into a new three-year deal.

Joe Ofahengaue is loving life at the Eels but admits he never wanted to leave the Wests Tigers. Picture: NRL Photos

Former Wests Tigers forward Joe Ofahengaue has opened up on his departure from the club, revealing he never wanted to leave but was forced out just months into a three-year deal.

The Tongan international has settled in nicely at the Eels but it’s foreign territory for a man who just last year won the Kelly-Barnes Medal as the best player at the Tigers.

He collected the award hours after he inked a new deal to stay at the club because he could see a bright future despite the Tigers claiming the wooden spoon in 2022.

Joe Ofahengaue won the Kelly-Barnes Medal in 2022 but was then moved on by the Wests Tigers months into a new deal. Picture: Supplied

“I don’t want to go too far into details, but everyone knows I didn’t want to leave that club. Sometimes you’ve just got to read the room. I just put my best foot forward and backed myself to come here,” Ofahengaue said.

“I don’t think it was that hard when it wasn’t really my choice.

“Everyone knows how passionate I was about that club. I signed three years for a reason because I wanted to stay there to be a part of the changes that were going to come. Things changed, and what happened was out of my control.

“It was a no-brainer for me to come to a club that really wanted me. I’m so grateful that I get to experience this locker room.”

The decision to release Ofahengaue was a strange one given he provided invaluable experience to a forward pack full of emerging stars who looked up to him.

It’s why there were emotional scenes at Leichhardt Oval when he crashed over for a try in his final game for the club before making the move to Parramatta.

Ofahengaue finished his Tigers career with a rare try in the big win over North Queensland. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

“I felt for my mates because they didn’t deserve for me to leave halfway through the year. I didn’t think I deserved that either, but sometimes you can’t control things,” he said.

“I’m just glad that the club wanted me here and that allowed me to bring a positive out of it.”

It’s been a hectic few weeks for Ofahengaue, who was rushed into the Eels starting side to take on the Cowboys just days after he’d played against them as a Tiger but lasted just 10 minutes in his Eels debut before he injured his calf.

He’s back to full fitness now and punched out 30 minutes off the bench in the big win over Manly, although he admits he still needs to learn the team song.

“I’m just glad I got to play more than 10 minutes,” he said, paying tribute to Eels coach Brad Arthur for believing in him.

“My first game was disappointing because I came off early with an injury.

“I’ve been around long enough to know that things just happen and you can’t control everything, but I promised Brad that I’d do everything I could to get back as quickly as possible.

“I was happy to get through a good chunk of the second half because I wanted to get through some work and test out the calf.”