Wests Tigers sign Souths prop Tim Grant

The Wests Tigers have bolstered their forward stocks for 2016, signing Tim Grant from the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome Tim to Wests Tigers,” said Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe.

“It’s great to have a player of his experience join the club and I’m sure he’s going to be an asset to us both on and off the field.

“I was fortunate enough to walk the Kokoda Track two years ago with Tim and see first-hand examples of what makes him such an outstanding young man.

“Tim brings a great attitude to this Club and I’m sure he’ll fit in well and will quickly become a favourite amongst Members and fans,” he said.

“Tim joins us on very favourable terms which is also beneficial for the Club.

Grant, who played two games for New South Wales in 2012, has played a total of 144 NRL games in a career that began at Penrith in 2007, before he moved to South Sydney for the 2015 season after the Panthers told him he was surplus to requirements and even dropped him to NSW Cup in 2014.

“With almost 150 NRL games under his belt Tim brings to Wests Tigers a degree of experience that will be a great benefit to our pack,” said Wests coach Jason Taylor.

“I’ve been very impressed with him during our initial discussion and I look forward to seeing him get to work with his new teammates.”

Despite playing 21 games for the Rabbitohs last season, there had been ongoing speculation the 196-centimetre prop would have to leave the Redfern club to fit Sam Burgess under the salary cap. While those rumours died down after Souths moved both Chris McQueen and Dylan Walker on, apparently the disappearing smoke didn’t extinguish the proverbial fire.

“There’s no gains in sitting around, I just want to get out there and get into training with the boys and get to know them,” said Grant. “It’s an exciting young roster, there are a lot of guys there who are ready to hit their straps and a new leadership group with Aaron Woods leading the way and I think we have a bright future ahead of us here.

“I looked at the roster here at Wests Tigers and I was excited to join the club. I’m looking forward to getting to know the players and getting out onto the field.”

Grant is the second State of Origin player Wests have signed for 2016, with one-time Queensland representative Matt Ballin joining the Tigers from Manly.

Ballin was initially expected to replace the out-of-favour Robbie Farah, however Taylor and Farah appear to have worked their differences out, with the incumbent Blues hooker set to stay at Leichardt.