Search

show me:

Tigers door open for more mid-season moves

3 minute read

Winger Ken Maumalo has made an immediate switch to Wests Tigers but the club still has further room in its roster for one more mid-season recruit.

KEN MAUMALO
KEN MAUMALO Picture: Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images

Wests Tigers will keep their options open for another mid-season recruit as they prepare to welcome Ken Maumalo to the NRL club.

Maumalo this weekend became the man to fill the 29th spot on the Tigers' roster, with clubs given until the start of August to complete their squad of 30.

The Tigers still have reasonable space left in their cap for this season, with the advantage of any player they sign having already had more than half their salary paid elsewhere.

The Tigers released Josh Reynolds' from his big-money contract at the start of the year without properly replacing him with a deal of similar value.

"We're in a position as a club we've been able to be patient with what we're doing," Tigers coach Michael Maguire said.

"We have had a few bumps over the past 12 months trying to work out these young men coming through.

"Now it's about being patient and smart about who we bring to the club. I am very particular along with management on what type of player we want.

"Kenny does suit that ... that's the style or type of player we want. We want to get Origin and Test match players to the Wests Tigers."

Assisting the Tigers' position is that the Warriors are also believed to be chipping in part of Maumalo's salary for the rest of this year.

The winger could turn out for the Tigers as soon as Saturday night against Melbourne, but the option is there to bring him back the following round after the general bye.

He would be likely to play on the left for the Tigers, allowing David Nofoaluma to move back to the right where he has been a try-scoring machine in the past.

The 26-year-old scored a hat-trick in his last game for the Warriors, with Tigers officials surprised he was a late call-up for Nathan Brown's team after inking the mid-season move this week.

"It's a shame he didn't score three tries here," Maguire said after the Tigers' loss to the Eels.

"I've spent a bit of time with Kenny (as Kiwis coach). I've toured with him. He is a real pro with how he goes about things.

"You can see the quality of what he can bring to a team. Size-wise, and he can score tries. He does what a winger is meant to do.

"He can come up with some big plays and the sorts of things I have been able to experience at Test level."

Think. Is this a bet you really want to place?

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au