The Wests Tigers are reportedly “very keen” on Eels enforcer Nathan Brown, however their pursuit could cost them Isaiah Papali’i.
Brown has seemed to be on the outer with coach Brad Arthur for the last nine weeks, but his NRL exile will end this weekend after he was named for Sunday’s grand final.
The 29-year-old’s future has been under a cloud ever since June when he was informed that his services were no longer required and he can explore his options for next season despite being contracted until the end of 2023.
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The Tigers were linked to him but there had been no updates on their chase… Until now.
News Corp journalist Phil Rothfield revealed on NRL 360 that while the Tigers are still interested in Brown, they are trying to keep it on the down low.
They fear that if they sign Brown — or it gets out that they are interested — the Eels will find the salary cap space to table Isaiah Papali’i an offer hard to turn down.
Papali’i has signed a three-year deal with the Tigers which kicks off next season. However the star second-rower has admitted that he’s had second thoughts over leaving the Eels ever since Michael Maguire was sacked as Tigers coach.
“This is a really interesting story,” Rothfield told NRL 360 on Wednesday.
“He has a year to go at Parramatta, but three months ago they said to Nathan Brown go and have a look elsewhere, if you can find another joint long-term take it.
“What I can tell you is that the Tigers have approached his manager Mario Tartak with significant interest — they’re very, very keen.
“The problem is — and they didn’t want publicity but it’s not our job to protect that — the reason they didn’t want it to get out or to actually sign Brown now is they fear that will leave Parramatta with more money in the cap to up their offer to Papali’i, who is supposed to be coming to Wests Tigers.”
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However, fellow News Corp journalist Brent Read believes the Eels’ interest in Panthers second-rower Liam Martin, should indicate that Papali’i won’t be at the club next season.
“I’ve spoken to Parramatta and no one has given any indication that there’s any chance he will stay,” Read said on NRL 360.
“And the fact they’re chasing Liam Martin so hard indicates to me (that Papali’i won’t stay) and the whisper is he might go. There’s a bit of a suggestion that he’s seriously thinking about going to Parramatta.”
NRL 360 co-host Paul Kent also revealed that the Tigers will dig their heels and won’t release Papali’i — meaning he’d be unable to re-sign with the Eels given he already has a three-year contract registered with the NRL.
“I spoke to Justin Pascoe and said what happens if Papali’i says ‘I’ll stay at Parramatta’ and he said ‘he can sit out three seasons.’ It was as simple as that,” Kent said.
“He said under no circumstances are they going to release him to stay at Parramatta and if it gets to the point where he basically tries to take them on and stay at the Eels, they just said he can sit it out.”
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