Kelma Tuilagi to Manly in 2023

Can’t keep them all I suppose. I’d be interested if we were happy to let him go or fought hard to keep him

Posted by: @tigersteve

Can’t keep them all I suppose. I’d be interested if we were happy to let him go or fought hard to keep him

Yes, maybe Manly offered him a deal we couldn’t match (they seem to have plenty of cap all the time). 

So that’s two backrowers gone for 2023 and one coming in.

very disappointing

According to the official site he was off contract at the end of 2022.

https://www.weststigers.com.au/teams/telstra-premiership/wests-tigers/kelma-tuilagi/

So hard these days to align yourself to players. I was playing footy through the era of Pearce, Elias, Sironen, Brooks, Roach etc. one club players who inspired me to play footy. Many other clubs were the same at that time. Think Parra, think Manly. You could align with players - Sterling, Price, Cronin. Lyon, Menzies Toovey etc. 

We have been lucky in a way having Farah and Marshal who were sort of life long Tigers.

But it’s getting less and less and harder and harder. It ads to the divide between player and fan and thus, club and fan. It breaks down the essence of tribalism which is what fuels passionate sport following. I know it won’t change but it’s a pity

@helmesy That’s disappointing news to wake up to.Kelma scored a slick try against Manly in the trial last year if my memory serves me.Des must have black booked him.

I was a little surprised given how we played that he wasn’t afforded greater opportunities.Manly may have unearthed a sizeable nugget here.

Sign one, lose 2. Our recruitment is still questionable at best

A little disappointing, yes, but then again look at the development players we’ve got coming into the team next year.

@tigerlily I agree,the decision is obviously dependent upon who is coming through.We have a few diamonds in the rough ourselves.Im sure Sheens and cohorts weigh their options pretty carefully in regards to retention.Besides,you can’t keep em all.unless you’re a particular club operating east of the Coke sign!hehe

@tiger-symmetry that’s funny! I just posted almost the exact same comment on The Ambush Facebook page. Bloody rorters!!

We'll take Schuster or Olakau'atu of their hands..

Then KICK EM OUT..

Believe this when it's official..

@tigersteve Haha too right.That’s one hell of a potent backline.Go from Teddy through to halfback and do a conservative estimate.....then look at their second stringers...wow,shake of the head!

A week ago i was thinking how in 23 our 2nd row might look good. Ipaps and blore start and kelma off the bench. Now blore misses a year mostlikely and kelma leaves. 

Could the rl gods just give us a break.

I think that’s a pretty bad loss tbh. Shows a lot of potential and with Blore being very prone to injuries, we only have one proper backrower next year in Papali’i