NRL 2024 market watch: Wests Tigers set to sign Justin Olam after Jarome Luai coup

Fresh from signing Jarome Luai, Wests Tigers are set to land their second significant signing in as many days. The latest in NRL market watch.

Wests Tigers are set to land their second significant signing in as many days with PNG star Justin Olam closing in joining the club.

The Tigers have been locked in prolonged on-again and off-again discussions with Olam but it looks like the two parties have finally agreed to a deal.

Olam only needs to pass a fitness test to complete the immediate arrival. It is understood those medical assessments are happening this week and if Olam comes through unscathed he will link up with the Tigers immediately.

The Storm are happy to release Olam from the remaining three years of his contract. Olam’s decision is expected to fast-track Shawn Blore’s exit from the Tigers. Blore has already agreed to join Melbourne when his contract expires at the end of 2024 but the Storm are keen to sign the back-rower immediately.

The Tigers have not been put off by Olam’s poor season last year. The one-time Dally M centre of the year played just 17 games and spent a stint in Queensland Cup.

Justin Olam is on the cusp of joining Wests Tigers.

The Tigers have been active in the player market already for 2025. They landed Jarome Luai on a mega five-year contract from 2025.

Blore has agreed to join Melbourne while winger Junior Tupou is Dolphins bound next year.

The Tigers new faces for this year include Latu Fainu, Samuela Fainu, Jayden Sullivan, Aidan Sezer and rugby convert Solomon Alaimalo.

New boss Shane Richardson said there was little scope to make major shifts to the squad for 2024 but there are plans to make more adjustments for next year.

“I’m excited about the squad,” Richardson said on SEN. “It’s not as balanced as I would like it. It’s something we can shape and reshape.

“We have a couple of little changes we can make. We will work towards that in the next seven days. It’s fairly immobile this stage of the season, they’ve all locked in the top 30. We have a development spot open.

“We have to spend 12 months massaging the squad to set ourselves up to perform well this year and massage the squad for the next two or three years”

Originally published as NRL 2024 market watch: Wests Tigers set to sign Justin Olam after Jarome Luai coup