Eels hulk Isaiah Papali’i breaks silence on $1.9m Tigers backflip

Eels star Isaiah Papali’i has opened up on his potential backflip on the three-year deal he signed with Wests — and it’s not good for Tigers fans.

Parramatta's Isaiah Papali'i has signed with the Tigers. NRL Imagery

Parramatta Eels second rower Isaiah Papali’i has revealed he’s still considering whether he should backflip on the three-year deal he signed with the Wests Tigers.

The reigning second-rower of the year has had another starring season for the Eels but had already signed for the Tigers last November, revealing he signed up because of former coach Michael Maguire.

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Rumours Papali’i was considering a backflip emerged last month after Maguire was sacked by the Tigers in June after another season where the joint-venture will miss the finals.

Brett Kimmorley took over as caretaker coach but will be replaced by Tim Sheens for the next two years, followed by club legend Benji Marshall from 2025.

Speaking to Nine News on Monday night, Papali’i admitted he will make the final decision in the off-season and Maguire’s axing was the catalyst.

“People ask me about it, even on the street or just family and friends are hitting me up, but that's kind of for my manager to look after,” Papali’i said. “Even if I don’t stay here or I do go next year, I want to make sure this year has no regrets.

“I think it was the coaching axing that went on (that sparked the backflip question).

“When I did sign it was talking to Madge — he’s an awesome coach. That rattled the cage a bit and I guess you have to have those conversations and I guess that was a massive factor for me.”

Isaiah Papali’i has been huge for the Eels. Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images

It comes after rugby league great Greg Alexander said it “would be a disaster” if Papali’i backflipped on his deal, while the Eels reportedly have the salary cap space to accommodate and match Papali’i’s reported $1.9m for three years deal he signed with the Tigers.

Balmain Tigers club legend Garry Jack tweeted on Tuesday he believed the potential backflip comes after “a decade of poor decision making..... yet the management that made those decisions are still there … hard to feel sorry for them … with Papali’i having 2nd thoughts.”

Former football writer Ray Gatt responded: “If Papali’i reneges on the contract it’s going to go nuclear at the club! Heads have to roll.”

Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis told SEN Breakfast on Tuesday he believed Papali'i would be at Concord in 2023.

“We will seek clarification today from his manager, but I don’t put a lot of stock into it,” he said.

“What he was trying to say, I think if I’m reading correctly, is that he wants to focus on this year with Parramatta which is fair enough. It’s well known that we enjoy a contractual relationship with Isaiah and we very much look forward to welcoming him to the club in 2023.

The Tigers have a lot riding on this. Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images

“I expect there will be phone calls made this morning for clarification – just to provide an opportunity for Isaiah and his manager to provide a little bit more depth to those comments. We are very comfortable with where we sit.

“If he wanted to say more, I’m sure he will – either himself directly or through his manager. I don’t want to read into his comments and I don’t want to create any angst between the club and the player.

“I’ll try and put the most positive spin on it and say he is focused on the rest of this year.”

Originally published as Eels hulk Isaiah Papali’i breaks silence on $1.9m Tigers backflip