via the Telegraph, we’re signing Avarillo on a 4yr 2.75mill deal, to play centre
Averillo is at the peak of his powers at age 25. We have talent on the left side but are limited at right centre.
I found it interesting that Carayannis and Jimmy Smith were on SEN this morning indicating WT had paid overs. I don't agree. Historically we have never signed players with 100+ NRL games unless they were over 30 / past it.
It's also a little hard to judge the value of any 4 year deal when the salary cap for 2028 and beyond is not yet known.
@mickb Agree especially re what the salary cap will look like after the next tv deal. Like you said we rarely sign established 1st graders in their prime, and when’s the last time we’ve had 2 centres we can safely say are good and consistent. Averillo may not be the strongest defensively but he always brings it with ball in hand. Re his price I personally think it’s 100k a year more than we would’ve liked to have paid but it’s the cost of doing business now with 2 new teams. You either sign proper 1st graders on overs or you’re signing up and comers who’ve done nothing in 1st grade on overs. Plus we’re likely paying him on his ability to cover 1-6 in a pinch and do a solid job. Really good signing and the core of our team is looking like a regular top 8 roster. Just need to lock in the Fainu’s
Averillo is at the peak of his powers at age 25. We have talent on the left side but are limited at right centre.
I found it interesting that Carayannis and Jimmy Smith were on SEN this morning indicating WT had paid overs. I don't agree. Historically we have never signed players with 100+ NRL games unless they were over 30 / past it.
It's also a little hard to judge the value of any 4 year deal when the salary cap for 2028 and beyond is not yet known.
And, for once we have a talented player arriving that has already gone through their development phases with other clubs and we get the finished article.
Usually, for us the shoe has been on the other foot!
Averillo is at the peak of his powers at age 25. We have talent on the left side but are limited at right centre.
I found it interesting that Carayannis and Jimmy Smith were on SEN this morning indicating WT had paid overs. I don't agree. Historically we have never signed players with 100+ NRL games unless they were over 30 / past it.
It's also a little hard to judge the value of any 4 year deal when the salary cap for 2028 and beyond is not yet known.
And, for once we have a talented player arriving that has already gone through their development phases with other clubs and we get the finished article.
Usually, for us the shoe has been on the other foot!
Correct. He’ll be another important piece of the puzzle. Get the Fainu’s done, some handy back ups and another prop and I reckon we’re in good shape.
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers since 2018!
#BREAKING
Reports are circulating that Israel Folau is set to join the Wests Tigers before the June 30th trade deadline!
#NRL
#RugbyLeague
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers since 2018!
Yep just got reports of this off facebook!! Says it all to be fair. But who would know with this Basketcase, he definitely got the height we need 🤷♂️#BREAKING
Reports are circulating that Israel Folau is set to join the Wests Tigers before the June 30th trade deadline!
#NRL
#RugbyLeague
Looks like the club is not interested in giving Folau a contract.
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers since 2018!
@joel Thank god. He's a religious nutter and homophobe. Let him go elsewhere, or better still, go nowhere. The game is better off without him.
Son of Jim Gannon - 22 games for Tigers 98-99
https://twitter.com/loverugbyleague/status/2064418446431891592?s=20
Have to say I’m disappointed that he’s not coming …another chapter that would have been enthralling 🤣😆Looks like the club is not interested in giving Folau a contract.
No mail here but when I read about Folau I started to think about other outside backs we can pull in.
https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/haze-dunster/summary.html
This guy has been around seemingly forever. He looked like such a good player when he debuted but has had the best part of 4 years cancelled out through injury. Some may recall his knee was wrecked in a cannonball tackle in 2022
He suffered an Achilles tear in August 2025 for the Eels in reserve grade but prior to that was averaging 155m per game at that level.
https://www.nswrl.com.au/players/nsw-cup/wentworthville-magpies/haze-dunster/
I vaguely recall that when he debuted in 2020 there was a story or two suggesting Benji was a distant cousin.
I suggest him because I don't see us getting any value out of Luke L for the rest of the season and clearly its still too early for Tino Tavana.
What on earth are they doing with Latu’s development? At one point in the second half he subbed on for what felt like less than 10minutes. The guy was an elite half in his generation and we are playing him as a bench 9. We are ruining him.
Agreed. Doing a Luke Brooks on him and playing him out of position. The result will end up the same, never reaching his full potential.What on earth are they doing with Latu’s development? At one point in the second half he subbed on for what felt like less than 10minutes. The guy was an elite half in his generation and we are playing him as a bench 9. We are ruining him.