Jahream Bula has hailed the latest addition to the Wests Tigers’ fullback stocks, who plays the game “much tougher than me”.
Bula, who will play a crucial role in trying to get the club’s campaign back on track against Canberra on Friday night – is celebrating after being joined at Concord by his wife, Aaliyah, who has joined the Tigers’ NRLW side.
Like Bula, Aaliyah – the daughter of former NRL hardman Solomon Haumono – plays centre and five-eighth, but also fullback.
“I’m just glad to see her run out in Tigers colours – it means so much we’re together at the one club,” said Bula, who married Aaliyah late last year.
“She played with Parramatta, and it never felt right going for Parra, but now she’s with the Tigers, it’s a whole lot better.
“I didn’t say anything to her about coming here. It was all through hard work, and now the Tigers have given her this opportunity.
Jahream Bula has been joined at the Wests Tigers by his wife, NRLW player Aaliyah.Credit: Wests Tigers
“We do a lot of video after games, she’ll help me and I’ll help her. She’s tough – she’s much tougher than me. But I leave the tackling practice to her dad. He’s the master, he’s very smart and understands the game really well.”
Tigers NRLW coach Brett Kimmorley, who played against Haumono and described him as one of the great powerful defensive forwards in the game, said of Aaliyah: “She trains hard, she’s been around the NRLW before, she’s a great athlete, and while she won’t have some of the traits of her dad, who was a big, powerful front-rower and back-rower, but she can forge her own career. She won’t be in Jahream’s shadow, either.”
Ben Murdoch-Masila played at St George Illawarra alongside his wife Roxette, who starred for the Dragons’ NRLW side, in 2023.
Bula, 23, has again emerged one of the club’s best this season, but knows the importance of ending a four-match losing streak against competition high-flyers Canberra Raiders, who will debut coach Ricky Stuart’s son, Jed. The Tigers last two losses have been by four points.
Jahream Bula will play a pivotal role in trying to end the Wests Tigers’ four-match losing streak on Friday.Credit: Getty Images
“I’ve been trying to do my job, catching the high balls, but I think I can go to the next level by demanding the ball more,” Bula said.
Bula has a mutual option in his contract for the 2027 season. If the Tigers decide to exercise the option, he will play the 2027 season on a salary of $900,000. If the Tigers decide against retaining Bula at that price, he has the opportunity of taking up a player option at $800,000.
“One way or the other, Jahream will be here, and he’s very happy,” Tigers’ CEO Shane Richardson said.
The Tigers will be boosted by the return of Jarome Luai, who played for NSW in Perth on Wednesday night. Bula is eligible for Queensland, but has only ever wanted to represent the Blues, and has made peace with the likelihood he will never play Origin because of that “sticky situation”.
