NRL 2024: Wests Tigers lose Justin Olam for rest of the season after strike centre booked in for season-ending surgery

The Wests Tigers’ season has gone from bad to worse, with one of their best players booked in for season-ending surgery.

Justin Olam will miss the rest of the season after the club confirmed he needed surgery on both knees. Picture: James Gourley/Getty Images)

Justin Olam’s season is over after the Wests Tigers announced the veteran centre required surgery on both his knees.

The injury update coincides with the club’s decision to change its plea for his high tackle charge that means the judiciary hearing will no longer go ahead on Tuesday night.

The PNG international scored six tries in 13 games in his first season with the Tigers after he joined them from the Storm, but his campaign has been cut short, with the powerhouse centre booked in for surgery later this week following an extensive medical review.

Justin Olam has been hampered by knee injuries thatnow require season-ending surgery. Picture: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

Olam has battled through the pain this year and will now turn his attention to 2025 where things will hopefully be different for the Tigers when Jarome Luai and Sunia Turuva join the club.

The club has entered a “no contest” plea for Olam’s grade 3 careless high tackle charge on North Queensland’s Heilum Luki that led to him being sent off last week.

Olam would have been banned for three matches if he’d taken the early guilty plea but was risking four games on the sidelines if he lost at the judiciary. The no-contest decision makes all of that moot, with the centre banned for four matches.

The Tigers only have four games and a bye left this season as they look to avoid a third-straight wooden spoon.