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One of the NRL’s worst-kept secrets has been confirmed on Tuesday afternoon, with Moses Mbye inking a four-year deal with the Wests Tigers.
The Canterbury Bulldogs will grant Mbye an early release from his contract, with the utility backline player to join former teammate Josh Reynolds at the Balmain-based club from the beginning of the 2019 season. He will remain a Tiger until the end of 2022.
Moses, who has 92 first grade games to his name at Canterbury, has been shifted to fullback this season and Tigers coach Ivan Cleary believed he would fit into the system well.
“Moses is a talented young man and we look forward to having him join Wests Tigers next season,” Cleary said.
“He’s developed into an exciting player and I know he’ll bring a lot to our club, both on and off the field.”
The Bulldogs have well-publicised issues with their salary cap heading into next year, with the club in a desperate race to shed players thanks to a series of back-ended contracts.
It’s been reported they will virtually be able to sign no new players unless they are able to alter their roster and take cash off their books. The problems at Belmore are reportedly unlikely to ease for the next three years and it was said the Bulldogs were seeking a mid-season release so they could forward pay some contracts and ease the pressure next season.
The Bulldogs are believed to still be required to pay up to $300,000 per year of Mbye’s contract with the Tigers, given how heavily his deal with Canterbury was. It meant Wests were unwilling to pick up the entire deal for the remaining two years of his stay at Belmore.
Canterbury chief executive Andrew Hill said Mbye and the Bulldogs had parted way and will work on having a big second half of 2018.
“Today I would like to confirm that Moses Mbye has sought a release from his current contract which the club has granted. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Moses for his time with the Bulldogs and his contribution to the club on and off the field,” he said.
“Even though he will be taking up an offer to join the Wests Tigers for season 2019, I know that he is committed to putting all his energies into the Bulldogs for the rest of this season and finishing strongly with the club.
“Making this announcement now means that both Moses and the club can now put all their focus on making sure that we have a strong second half to this season.”