Why Tigers’ decision to let Tallyn Da Silva leave the club is the right call

The Wests Tigers don’t always get it right - what club does - but the decision to let young star Tallyn Da Silva leave the club is the correct call and one that gives the club the best chance of success.

Tallyn Da Silva may turn out to be a star. He could be a decade-long first grader who goes on to play for NSW and Australia. He could be the second coming of Cameron Smith.

Or he could be a bust. He could be just an average NRL player who ploughs away in the premiership for a decade without ever reaching any great representative heights.

The point being that no one really knows. Recruitment and retention is an inexact science, albeit one backed by deep analysis and a sharp eye.

Most good judges expect da Silva to become a superstar. They see a rare talent in a position of scarcity. It’s why a handful of clubs are scrambling to sign him before the June 30 deadline after he was given permission by the Tigers to open negotiations with rival clubs.

There is every chance da Silva could make a call on his future over the weekend, once he has met all the interested clubs and toured their facilities.

The Tigers are unlikely to stand in his way even though they see the talent as well - it is why they agreed to pay him in excess of $400,00 next season.

Wests Tigers hooker Tallyn Da Silva. Artwork: Scott 'Boo' Bailey

Yet Api Koroisau is already on their books and one of the elite hookers in the NRL.

He also happens to be one of their captains and has been at the heart of their attempts to rebuild in recent seasons.

The Tigers know what they have with Koroisau. He is a proven commodity - an Origin-calibre player who has served the club with distinction since joining them two years ago.

Back then, Koroisau showed faith in the club when few others would. He has backed coach Benji Marshall to the hilt and set standards for the playing group with his leadership.

Apisai Koroisau showed faith in the Tigers when few others would. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Surely that counts for something. It certainly does in the eyes of Marshall and as a result, in the thoughts of chief executive Shane Richardson as he attempts to piece together a playing group capable of turning around the fortunes of the Tigers.

The Tigers need to win and they need to win now.

Not just so Marshall can keep his job, but so they can convince Luai to stick solid to his contract rather than exercise his options and head for the exit.

They need to win so they can give their fans some hope. They need to win to help make them more competitive off the field - as this masthead revealed this week, the Tigers languish near the bottom of the ladder when it comes to corporate support from the top end of town.

There has been improvement this season with the arrival of Luai and the fresh hope brought by Richardson - the club released a statement on Thursday insisting that their revenues across the board are on the rise.

The arrival of Jarome Luai has given the Tigers reason to believe. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

But there is plenty of room for improvement and Koroisau gives them the best chance to make it right now. Marshall made that clear when he addressed the vexing issue this week.

In reference to Koroisau, he noted that he had probably been their best player for the past few years. He pointed out that Koroisau was their captain, played 80 minutes most weeks, and had plenty left in the tank.

He could understand da Silva’s impatience and Tigers fans’ insistence on keeping da Silva as well. But the Tigers are backing Koroisau and that would mean da Silva playing a bit-part role for the next three years.

Yes, the Tigers could send him on loan but what player would be happy living an itinerant existence for three years while he waits for a shot at making the No.9 jersey his own.

It is completely unrealistic and the Tigers can see that.

Apisai Koroisau gives the Tigers their best chance of success. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

So they won’t stand in da Silva’s way. Richardson will back his coach - as he should - and keep Koroisau around. A few weeks after Lachlan Galvin left the club, the Tigers will watch another of their young guns walk out the door.

Only this time they are content - not necessarily happy - to let it happen.

It may come back to haunt them. They may have egg on their face in a few years if Da Silva turns out to be a star and Koroisau’s form drops off a cliff.

So be it. The Wests Tigers don’t always get it right - what club does - but this time they are making the correct call.

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Okay, this columnist has declared Penrith’s dynasty dead and buried a few times over the years. I seem to remember a couple of years ago writing that there was no way the Panthers would win three in a row.

Might have even put a line through them last year at one point as they successfully pursued a fourth title in succession.

This time around, having no doubt delivered last rites on their dynasty at some point earlier this season, I am happy to declare that their quest to win the competition is instead alive and well.

Like many, I thought the Panthers were gone after their slow start to the year. Yet their win over the Bulldogs on Thursday night was one of the most impressive performances of the season - a defensive masterclass that lifted them into fifth place on the ladder and revived their hopes of cracking the top four.

What a performance by the Panthers. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

This was vintage Panthers. They fought for every inch. They dug deep and found a way to grind out a victory over a team that has led the competition from day dot.

Nathan Cleary, as is so often the case, emerged the hero. If the Bulldogs can win it, why not Penrith? At least we now know that they will be there when the whips are cracking - at times this season, it looked like a finals spot might be beyond them.

The top four may still be a bridge too far and therein lies their greatest challenge. Winning a premiership from outside the top four has historically been an insurmountable challenge.

It’s been beyond some of the greatest teams in the game’s history. Yet many believed winning four premierships in a row was impossible in the salary cap era.

We all know what happened there. So why not five?

Originally published as Why Tigers’ decision to let Tallyn Da Silva leave the club is the right call