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Moses Mbye will be at St George Illawarra next year after being released from the final year of his NRL contract with Wests Tigers.
Mbye’s exit from the Tigers was finally confirmed on Tuesday, after being told in March he could look elsewhere.
“You can’t help but hear what people say about you,” Mbye told the Herald.
“People put me into this category and say ‘he’s not worth this’ or ‘he’s a waste of money’.
“I didn’t come here to be a burden on the club. But that’s how it started to feel. I felt like the longer it went on without results, I was becoming a hinderance on what Madge [coach Michael Maguire] was trying to build. If he is going to be judged on the team’s performances, he deserves the chance to build a roster with players he wants to sign.
“I didn’t want to get in the way of that and me leaving gives the club more money to go out and recruit. I came to the Tigers in the hope of being part of the team that changed the fortunes of the club. I would have loved nothing more than to play my part in doing so, but it hasn’t worked out that way.”
The Dragons have long been a favoured destination, although the move at one stage seemed destined to fall over without a release midway through this season.
But fears of that were allayed on Tuesday when Mbye’s release was complete, paving the way for him to link with the Red V on a two-year deal.
Mbye’s departure follows three years at the Tigers, including two as club captain in 2019 and 2020.
The 28-year-old rose to be a Queensland representative player but the Tigers never got the full return on the $800,000 per season investment they made to lure him from Canterbury.
After Mbye floated between fullback, centre, five-eighth and utility, the Tigers now see a future with Daine Laurie at No.1 and Adam Doueihi in the No6 jersey.
They have signed Englishman Oliver Gildart to play centre next year, while Jackson Hastings will act as a No.13 and utility.
Mbye looms as an option in various positions for the Dragons, who are revamping their roster with Corey Norman and Matt Dufty leaving.
Meanwhile, Connor Watson has knocked back a contract extension from Newcastle to reunite with the Sydney Roosters on a two-year NRL deal from next season.
The 25-year-old utility will return to the club where he made his NRL debut in 2016 after ongoing discussions with Roosters coach Trent Robinson.
Watson has been at the Knights since 2018 when he joined on the promise of a starting position, which he has been unable to lock down consistently over the past four seasons.
The Central Coast product was reluctantly granted an early release from his contract with the Roosters at the time, with the club adamant he had a place in their squad if he wanted it.
Over the past four seasons he has played almost every position in the back line for the Knights, as well as filling in at hooker and lock.
That versatility will be a huge bonus for the Roosters from 2022.
The confirmation of his homecoming offers a chance for Watson to reunite with Robinson, with the two staying in close contact over the years.
Earlier this month Robinson said he had been in talks with Watson to being him back to the club.
“I’ve talked to him but I’ve also tried to help him as well in other places because I’ve known him as well,” the Roosters coach said.
“We talked about two things – whether there was an opening at the Roosters but then also what are the best options for him.
“I’ve kept in contact with Connor for the last four years since he’s been away. And I’m always there for him and other players if they need advice as well.”
Although the Roosters are yet to confirm the signing, the Knights have released a statement announcing Watson’s departure one week after he played his 100th NRL game.
© AAP
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