Three players primed for the NRL with Wests Tigers set to sign English forward
Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2024 12:32 am
As part of Wests Tigers’ ‘mass exodus’, Jayden Sullivan is set for a Super League move, after strong links with Hull FC and even now Salford Red Devils.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported last month that Wests Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson has flown to England to offer players to Super League sides, with Bateman amongst the players they suggest is set to be offered.
The key player they were looking to offload was Jayden Sullivan, whose half-a-million Australian dollar deal was set to actually increase in the final years of his deal
He signed for Wests ahead of this year, but chief executive Shane Richardson, who has joined the club since, wants him gone.
It seemed likely he’d head to the MKM Stadium, but it’s now being reported by Rugby League Live that Salford Red Devils have agreed to terms with Wests for a move, and just need the player himself to sign it off on his end.
As well as this, Wide World of Sports is reporting that Wests are in “advanced talks to bring in an unnamed English forward in 2025.”
With that in mind, here are three potential options who could join Leigh prop Tom Amone in moving to NRL.
Elliot Minchella (82 Super League appearances)
Although only 28, Minchella has been all over the place, playing for Leeds Rhinos, Sheffield Eagles, London Broncos and Bradford Bulls before eventually ending up at Hull KR, where he’s been a huge part of their rise.
He’s only missed one game all season, which was due to a groin injury.
Being the first name on the team sheet, and indeed captain, he’s clearly very highly regarded at Craven Park.
However, now could be the time to head Down Under, where the allure of NRL, and the larger pay packet, might make it difficult for the Robins to keep their man.
They might be one of the best sides in the league at the moment, but they still can’t compete financially in the same way that NRL sides could.
Tyler Dupree (53 Super League appearances)
The 24-year-old is one of the best props in Super League right now and is a key member of a very strong Wigan Warriors side.
He missed out on the Challenge Cup final in disappointing fashion but has shown his quality for the Warriors in Super League since moving from Salford half-way through the 2023 season.
The prop signed on a four-year deal, but with so many big-money players being offloaded, Wests Tigers should have the money to buy him out of his contract if he’s their number one target.
The Warriors may have shown how highly they rate him with the length of his contract, but they’re a side stacked with quality forward after quality forward, so are more likely to let him go than most clubs would be.
This is also shown by the fact that he’s only been in the Warriors’ starting 13 five times this season.
He could also miss out on more minutes now that Sam Walters is back from injury.
George Delaney (31 Super League appearances)
Another man from a stacked side, Delaney is a top talent at just 20-years-old.
His deal is until the end of 2026, but again, Wests should be capable of striking a deal.
A Saints academy graduate, he’s already made 31 Super League appearances, but apart from his six starts in a row in 2023, he’s never started more than one game in a row.
Wests need major changes, and their struggling squad could be seen by Delaney as a chance to become a starter.
He’ll also surely have plenty of NRL sides on his radar anyway, and the Tigers may see this as an opportunity to get ahead of their league rivals in securing his signature for themselves.
He’s surely one of the top young forward talents in the world, so they’d be crazy to not, at least, try.
https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/wests-ti ... gue-93065/
The Sydney Morning Herald reported last month that Wests Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson has flown to England to offer players to Super League sides, with Bateman amongst the players they suggest is set to be offered.
The key player they were looking to offload was Jayden Sullivan, whose half-a-million Australian dollar deal was set to actually increase in the final years of his deal
He signed for Wests ahead of this year, but chief executive Shane Richardson, who has joined the club since, wants him gone.
It seemed likely he’d head to the MKM Stadium, but it’s now being reported by Rugby League Live that Salford Red Devils have agreed to terms with Wests for a move, and just need the player himself to sign it off on his end.
As well as this, Wide World of Sports is reporting that Wests are in “advanced talks to bring in an unnamed English forward in 2025.”
With that in mind, here are three potential options who could join Leigh prop Tom Amone in moving to NRL.
Elliot Minchella (82 Super League appearances)
Although only 28, Minchella has been all over the place, playing for Leeds Rhinos, Sheffield Eagles, London Broncos and Bradford Bulls before eventually ending up at Hull KR, where he’s been a huge part of their rise.
He’s only missed one game all season, which was due to a groin injury.
Being the first name on the team sheet, and indeed captain, he’s clearly very highly regarded at Craven Park.
However, now could be the time to head Down Under, where the allure of NRL, and the larger pay packet, might make it difficult for the Robins to keep their man.
They might be one of the best sides in the league at the moment, but they still can’t compete financially in the same way that NRL sides could.
Tyler Dupree (53 Super League appearances)
The 24-year-old is one of the best props in Super League right now and is a key member of a very strong Wigan Warriors side.
He missed out on the Challenge Cup final in disappointing fashion but has shown his quality for the Warriors in Super League since moving from Salford half-way through the 2023 season.
The prop signed on a four-year deal, but with so many big-money players being offloaded, Wests Tigers should have the money to buy him out of his contract if he’s their number one target.
The Warriors may have shown how highly they rate him with the length of his contract, but they’re a side stacked with quality forward after quality forward, so are more likely to let him go than most clubs would be.
This is also shown by the fact that he’s only been in the Warriors’ starting 13 five times this season.
He could also miss out on more minutes now that Sam Walters is back from injury.
George Delaney (31 Super League appearances)
Another man from a stacked side, Delaney is a top talent at just 20-years-old.
His deal is until the end of 2026, but again, Wests should be capable of striking a deal.
A Saints academy graduate, he’s already made 31 Super League appearances, but apart from his six starts in a row in 2023, he’s never started more than one game in a row.
Wests need major changes, and their struggling squad could be seen by Delaney as a chance to become a starter.
He’ll also surely have plenty of NRL sides on his radar anyway, and the Tigers may see this as an opportunity to get ahead of their league rivals in securing his signature for themselves.
He’s surely one of the top young forward talents in the world, so they’d be crazy to not, at least, try.
https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/wests-ti ... gue-93065/
