NRL 2022: Wests Tigers chase more talent after signing Api Koroisau from Panthers

The Wests Tigers have coughed up huge money to lure Api Koroisau, but there’s enough left for one more big name recruit.

Api Koroisau has become the latest Penrith premiership winner to depart the club after agreeing to a three-year deal with the Wests Tigers from 2023.

News Corp can reveal Koroisau informed his Panthers teammates of his decision on Friday afternoon, having been tempted by a lucrative offer from the Tigers believed to be worth close to $2 million.

The NSW State of Origin representative will finish the 2022 season with the Panthers before linking with the Tigers in a move that could see their incumbent No. 9 Jacob Liddle seek greener pastures.

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Penrith's Apisai Koroisau will leave the club after 2022. Picture: Brett Costello

In Koroisau, the Tigers have landed a representative-quality hooker in the prime of his career – he made his Origin debut for the Blues earlier this year as part of the squad that won the series.

Confirmation of his career shift continues the merry-go-round of No. 9s in the wake of Reed Mahoney’s decision to join Canterbury and Brandon Smith’s move to the Sydney Roosters.

The Tigers initially tabled only a two-year contract for Koroisau but extended their offer to a third year as they attempted to clinch the deal. It is understood the Dolphins were also monitoring the situation but never weighed in with an official offer, opting to keep their powder dry and wait for other options to emerge.

Koroisau’s signing is a coup for Tigers head of football Tim Sheens and head of recruitment Warren McDonnell, who made it their priority to find a quality No. 9 to take some heat off halfback Luke Brooks.

Koroisau is expected to take pressure off Luke Brooks. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

“We’re very pleased to have secured Apisai from the start of the 2023 season,” Sheens said.

“He not only adds a further level of experience in a key position of the spine, but he has shown himself to be successful alongside head coach Michael Maguire previously in his career.

“It is always a big positive to sign a player with international and State of Origin experience, and what Apisai has achieved at both club and representative level will be a great addition to what we are building here.”

Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe added. “On behalf of everyone at Wests Tigers, I’d like to share how pleased we are to have signed Koroisau from the start of 2023.

“He will join us with a wealth of experience to his name, having represented Fiji on the international stage and the Blues in State of Origin, and we look forward to him and adding plenty to our club in the coming years.”

The Tigers initially pursued Canberra and England hooker Josh Hodgson, but they were unable to strike a deal with the Raiders over how they would each contribute to his wages.

With Hodgson off the table, they turned their attentions to Koroisau, a key figure in the Penrith side that won the premiership in October.

The Tigers aren’t finished yet. Along with Canberra, they are in the race to sign Bulldogs outside back Nick Cotric (see details below).

Canberra remain the frontrunners for Cotric, who would return to the club after a one-year absence provided the Raiders can reach an agreement with his manager and the Bulldogs over his salary.

His return to the nation’s capital is likely to mean that Canberra back Bailey Simonsson moves to Parramatta, where he would help the Eels compensate for the departure of Blake Ferguson.

Meanwhile, Penrith are feeling the pinch of winning a premiership.

Koroisau’s departure comes hot on the heels of the Viliame Kikau’s decision to join the Bulldogs in 2023, shoring the premiers of two of their best players.

Fullback Dylan Edwards is also off contract at the end of 2022, although he is expected to sign a new deal with the Panthers.

CONTROVERSIAL MAY HANDED CAREER LIFELINE

UK Super League side Catalans have confirmed the signing of controversial former Penrith utility Tyrone May on a one-year deal.

May has finalised a deal to join the Dragons for the 2022 season, becoming the eighth former Panther to link with the French outfit.

The Daily Telegraph first reported that May’s management were in talks for the 25-year-old to join Catalans three weeks ago.

“First of all, I’m very grateful for this opportunity,” May said.

Tyrone May (right) celebrates the Panthers’ NRL grand final win with Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. Picture: Adam Head

“I can’t thank the coach Steve McNamara, Alex Chan and the president Bernard Guasch enough for allowing me to come to such a great club with an amazing fan base.

“I’m eager to meet my new teammates and gain their respect by working hard to go one better this year.”

The Panthers sacked May last month after the premiers lost patience with him. The final straw a social media post in which he appeared to take aim at those who had criticised him after he narrowly avoided jail for filming a woman without her consent.

May and Indiana Cleary, the daughter of Panthers coach Ivan, sparked dating rumours on social media recently when the pair shared reciprocal Instagram posts.

NEW FAVOURITE EMERGES TO SIGN COTRIC

He was poised for an immediate return to Canberra but in a late twist, former NSW winger Nick Cotric could now be headed to Wests Tigers.

Just a week after the club signed Parramatta forward Isaiah Papali’i for 2023, Wests Tigers have positioned themselves to secure Cotric, the Bulldogs star at risk of being squeezed out of Belmore under Phil Gould’s roster overhaul.

Desperate to appease fans with a big-name signing for next season, the Tigers ramped up their interest in Cotric on Monday after holding an official meeting with his management.

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It comes as Wests have more room to move in their salary cap than Canberra.

The Daily Telegraph last week revealed that Cotric was being shopped around as the Bulldogs battle a salary cap squeeze and that he looked headed back home to Canberra.

Nick Cotric has attracted interest from Wests Tigers. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

While the Raiders are still hopeful, the Tigers have suddenly become favourites for Cotric.

Canterbury would prefer to offload Cotric – who earns $600,000 a season at Belmore — to Wests given the Tigers could inject more money into the swap than Canberra.

Canberra remain interested provided they can find some middle ground in a financial settlement with Canterbury.

Cotric, a former Australian winger, bought a home near Sutherland and wants to remain in Sydney. He wants to renovate his house.

His career has stalled though, winning just three games with Canterbury last year, losing his place in the NSW side and now appearing ready for a move to battling Wests Tigers.

Tigers struck a significant blow last week by signing Papali’i on a three-season deal from 2023.

New Tigers director of football Tim Sheens seems to be working some early magic at Concord. Tigers coach Michael Maguire also knows he requires a roster boost heading into next season given his tenure will again come under scrutiny with a sluggish start.

Nick Cotric could be a good fit for the Tigers. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Signing Cotric just after Papali’i will ease some angst among Wests Tigers fans who have waited a decade for a finals appearance.

Tigers forward Luciano Leilua has signed a monster deal with North Queensland from 2023 but that move could be brought forward by a year if the player demands an early release.

Some of that Leilua money could be used for Cotric, who played in the 2019 NRL grand final.

While the move is highly unlikely, Wests Tigers have approached Storm star Brandon Smith.

There is no suggestion Parramatta will allow Papali’i to walk out for Wests Tigers a year early.

Meanwhile the Tigers have announced the signing of promising outside back Junior Tupou for the next three seasons.

The 19-year-old former Brumbies player represented the Junior Wallabies this year after switching to rugby union following a stint with the Canberra Raiders SG Ball team.

Stressed clubs play winger musical chairs

— David Riccio

The Eels have emerged as frontrunners to sign Raiders winger Bailey Simonsson in a move that would result in Nick Cotric returning to the Green Machine.

The domino of transfer moves can be revealed in addition to the news that Parramatta have signed former Bulldogs forward Ofahiki Ogden.

Ogden, a hard-running front-rower with 45 NRL-games, has signed a train and trial contract with the Eels.

Bailey Simonsson could be headed to Parramatta in 2022.

Ogden’s agent Luke Lombardi confirmed to News Corp the 25-year-old would start with Parramatta on Monday after impressing Eels officials at a medical assessment last week.

“It’s a great move for Ofahiki, he had a number of options, but he feels this opportunity with Parramatta gives him a great chance to further develop his game,’’ Lombardi said.

“He’ll start on Monday and hit the ground running.’’

Let go by the Bulldogs at the end of the 2021 season, Ogden has kept in shape by training with highly-respected sports physician Justin Lang while also committing to several sparring sessions with Paul Gallen.

The next signature the Eels are aiming to secure is Simonsson — with the Raiders eyeing Cotric in-return. Ultimately, the Bulldogs will determine if the transfers can be secured.

The Bulldogs are eager to offload Cotric from their stressed salary cap.

How much Canterbury are willing to contribute towards the release of Cotric to return to Canberra will dictate if he and Simonsson are on the move in 2022.

Nick Cotric could be headed back to the nation’s capital.

It’s believed the Dogs are only willing to contribute $150,000 towards Cotric’s salary for 2022 – a number short of the level of cap-relief the Raiders would need to fit the former NSW Origin winger into their cap.

The Raiders will only sign Cotric if his arrival is without major implications to their current cap. Secondly, Canberra would only make the move if Simonsson, who has two years left on his contract, is content to join Parramatta, which it’s understood the 23-year-old is.

Originally from Mona Vale, Simonsson is interested in returning to Sydney to be closer to family. The 45-gamer is viewed by the Eels as a valuable inclusion following the departure of outside backs Blake Ferguson and Michael Oldfield.

Ponga’s sidestep to Dolphins link

– Paul Crawley

Kalyn Ponga has produced one of his best sidesteps to cleverly dodge questions about his footballing future beyond next season, saying he will leave all negotiations up to his father while he concentrates on trying to win the Newcastle Knights a premiership.

But while shooting down talk he has already held private conversations with Wayne Bennett about becoming the marquee face of the NRL’s newest franchise at the Dolphins, Ponga still stopped short of revealing whether or not Bennett had been in contact with his father, Andre, who also acts as his manager.

In a wide-ranging interview on his first day back for pre-season training, Ponga also put to bed speculation he had any intention of switching from his preferred fullback position into the halves following Mitchell Pearce’s shock departure.

Kalyn Ponga insists his focus is purely on the Knights.

He also opened up about how excited he is to be working with rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns, who has returned to the club as a consultant.

But the big issue in Newcastle right now relates to a secret player option in Ponga’s contract that was only recently revealed but allows a get-out clause for the 2023 season.

It is understood Ponga has until June to make that final call, although he was adamant right now his only priority is doing all he can for the Knights.

“I have never really thought about my contract,” Ponga said.

“My support around me, obviously my old man to be honest, he deals with that.

“I have always just focused on the Knights.

“I want to be here. I want to win a comp. That is really my goal. I really want to drive that.”

Ponga reckons he has plenty to achieve at the Knights.

There has been talk Ponga has spoken with Bennett, but he flat out denied that.

“No, I haven’t,” he said. “I think I did years ago.”

But asked if his father had spoken with Bennett, he replied: “I am not too sure.”

Ponga certainly seemed genuine about his desire to make Newcastle a better team.

But there is also no denying this is going to be an incredibly difficult decision either way.

On one hand Ponga will be paid up with the NRL’s top earners regardless of where he plays.

But the other debate he would no doubt be contemplating privately is that he has also been at the Knights for four seasons now, and for the past two years they have made the play-offs but bowed out in the first week both seasons.

So it is a legitimate question going forward whether he thinks he can reach his potential playing at Newcastle, or would changing clubs give him a better chance?

Ponga insists he will be playing at fullback next season.

And what won’t help the Knights’ next season is the loss of Pearce.

It’s no secret the Knights are desperate to get Luke Brooks despite all the denials, to come and partner Jake Clifford in the halves.

But as for the speculation Ponga may end up switching positions if they don’t get an experienced replacement, he was clear.

“I will be at fullback,” he said.

“I am excited to be fullback this year.

“I think I have still got a long way to go in that position.

“The way I sort of play fullback, I can play as a half in attack.

Ponga is excited to work with Andrew Johns.

“But the one will be on my jersey.”

And that is where working with Johns will be a godsend.

There were times last season when you could just see the frustration bubbling over with Ponga because of the lack of quality ball he was getting.

But already he can see the change: “I have had a couple of sessions with him already. Not surprising, but I am just pleased, I guess. He has got a lot of attention to detail. He is passionate. He wants to be here and he wants to help us.

“You sort of see the character that he is, but when he crosses the white line like when he played, he is like a perfectionist … and I am very excited.”

Originally published as NRL 2022: Wests Tigers chase more talent after signing Api Koroisau from Panthers