Dally M Second-Rower of the Year Isaiah Papali’i has knocked back a contract extension at the Eels to sign a three-year deal with the Tigers from 2023.
Both clubs confirmed the news on Thursday afternoon. One of the NRL’s most improved players, Papali’i will remain at Parramatta next season before making the switch to Concord.
In a statement, the Eels said they “worked with Isaiah and his management team to remain with the club beyond his current contract including a significant upgrade for 2022, however, he has chosen to take up an offer with another club.
“Isaiah made a terrific contribution and has provided great value to the club in 2021, and both Isaiah and the club are committed to another strong year in the blue and gold in 2022.
“We wish Isaiah and his family all the best in the future.”
Papali’i is the first major signing since new head of football Tim Sheens officially returned to the Tigers earlier this month.
“Isaiah is an exceptionally talented young forward who has shown himself to be a player with a fantastic attitude, work-ethic and drive,” Sheens said.
“We firmly believe that his best football is still ahead of him and we’re very excited to see him progress in the next steps of his rugby league career with Wests Tigers.”
A hefty pay-rise has been well-earned by the former Warrior.
Hoping to reinvigorate his career, the 23-year-old took less money to join the Eels this season and wasted no time becoming a core member of their pack.
He was named one of the Dally M Second-Rowers of the Year alongside Penrith’s Viliame Kikau as well as being voted the season’s best recruit in the NRL Fans’ Poll.
“On behalf of all at Wests Tigers, I’d like to say how pleased we are to have secured Isaiah at the club long-term,” Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe said.
“His commitment is a strong reflection of what we’re building on and off the field at Wests Tigers and we’re looking forward to welcoming him at the start of the 2023 season.”
Papali’i, a New Zealand and Samoa representative, is the second big-name Parramatta player leaving the club with Marata Niukore last week announcing he will become a Warrior in 2023.
The Eels still have a host of stars off-contract including captain Clint Gutherson, NSW Origin prop Junior Paulo, second-rower Ryan Matterson and hooker Reed Mahoney, who was recently spotted dining with Bulldogs officials.
The club released a statement on November 5 addressing their ongoing negotiations.
“Over the last six months, we have regularly engaged with all our players and their managers in a private and productive manner, balancing the club’s intent to ensure players are paid fairly and their value is appropriately recognised, whilst ensuring we are assembling our strongest possible roster year on year,” the statement read.
Parramatta recently re-signed front-rower Reagan Campbell-Gillard until the end of 2025.
Rick
Guest
Utikamanu, Laurie and Douehi have certainly not gone backwards. Twal keeps getting better. The tunnel has been long but the light is ahead.
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
While the "brink of disaster" is just ordinary writing from an ordinary writer - because plenty of the 13 players are not priority signings, having half your squad coming off contract at the same time is bad management. For that, the Eels only have themselves to blame. They are the one's who singed Mark O'Neill. His only experience managing a football roster was at the Wests Tigers and was an abject failure. I don't think he lasted a year and in that time managed to turn the departure of Robbie Farah into a a complete circus, organised the Josh Reynolds contract and managed to get him self punted for misconduct. Why the Eels would then go put him in charge of football ops is beyond belief.
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
He may have been named backrow, but he spent much of the second half of the season in the middle while Shaun Lane was coming off the bench and pottering around on the fringe doing not a lot. It will be interesting to see Papali'i's work ethic this year knowing he is going to get paid probably close to double next year and beyond.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
True. But it would have been hard for any single player to have made much of a difference to the Dogs 2021 side, Tim.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
If FOX Sports are saying it mighty then it would have to be true. Wouldn't it? The low-balling Eels are on brink of disaster. The question rival clubs have all been asking over the past month is ‘how did the Eels decide it was smart business to have 13 out of their top 30 NRL squad all becoming free agents as of November 1 for 2023? https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/teams/eels/nrl-2021-parramatta-eels-transfer-news-isaiah-papalii-joins-wests-tigers-reaction-latest-news-james-hooper/news-story/8e8d42621e8d02709bbae6a0ae3c3880
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
Time will tell if the Bulldogs' signings will be any good. Before he was injured, Cotric didn't do too much.
Eelsalmighty
Roar Rookie
Yep, very disappointing. Good luck to him. On the bright side, he certainly paid Parra back in spades this year for the opportunity we gave him, I think its fair to say he's more than deserving of a genuine FG contract (which he's now secured at the Tigers) and if he does actually stay for next year, I hope he plays as well as this year. (I suspect however we will probably cut a deal to release him early).
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Hopefully, like the Bulldogs, the Tigers can turn one good signing into 4 or 5. That's what happened with the Bulldogs shortly after signing Josh Addo-Carr and off the back of signing Nick Cotric in 2021. At least Tigers fans can hope. But I fear it will be in vain. If the Tigers are unable to bring additional quality recruits to the club Papali'i could go the way of Chris Sandow and Dave Taylor upon leaving the Rabbitohs. Sometimes when you are on a good thing it is best to stick with what is working for your game and your career.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
I don't think any rational and informed NRL fan could disagree with your last sentence Kent.
Eelsalmighty
Roar Rookie
TG, "Was the RCG Panthers subsidy to his contract offered in perpetuity? No, but we took over his existing contract, with the subsidy for the duration. "Surely it won’t cover the next three years." That was the contract we took over, incl. the PO (2023) and CO (2024). "If it does it must be the deal of the century." Agreed, well a very deal at least. "If I were an Eels fan I’d be pretty disappointed in losing Papalii and Niukore who i thought were close to their best last year." Agreed, especially re Papali'i, who I would also agree was one of our best players. I'm not as concerned re Niukore, and wouldn't rate him as one of our best players. To make matters worse neither are going to free up much cap space, even if they were replaced by min. wage players, given what they're currently on.
Rob
Guest
If Parra lose Mahoney they're in big trouble. Not many quality 9's going around and he is one of the best in the NRL. The only reason they missed the prelim this year was because he was injured (and a few dodgy decisions from the refs).
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Was the RCG Panthers subsidy to his contract offered in perpetuity? Surely it won’t cover the next three years. If it does it must be the deal of the century. If I were an Eels fan I’d be pretty disappointed in losing Papalii and Niukore who i thought were close to their best last year. As I said though it’s impossible to keep them all.
Eelsalmighty
Roar Rookie
GB, thanks the 'little niggle'. Tom G, I like RCG, rate him highly etc, so I really like the signing and don't think $800K p.a is "way too much". I’d also add I (strongly) suspect he remains signed for 2022, has exercised his player option for 2023, and Parra has exercised their club option for 2024, and it’s all been bundled up into a contract extension that includes an extra year (2025). The difference is the Panthers continue to subsidise him to the tune of $250k p.a for the next 3 years, so Parra are effectively paying ~$2.5mil over the next 4 years (~$600K pa.). I'm not happy about losing Papali'i, but can understand we have to stick to what we can afford. If $600k p.a is actually what the Tigers are paying, I would have thought we could have kept him for $500k (ish) and that doesn't look too much to me, but it's done now. I suspect we will lose Mahoney, but I expect we'll hang on to Paulo, Gutho, most/all others.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Yep ! I was hoping the Panthers might have considered him ( for the Capewell loss) , but I guess $600k might have been a bit steep when they have some pretty good young backrow turks like Tago , Hopgood & a Geyer who they can probably develop for nowhere near that money, just yet.
Rob
Guest
Looks like a great signing for the Tigers but it wouldn't surprise me to see his form drop off. Always have to be wary when someone suddenly has a breakout season when a contract/career is on the line. There's also the Tigers factor which sees almost all players go backwards once they sign at the club.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
Yeah, but he'll go backwards at the Tigers.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
But never fear, RCG has been signed on for way too much. The mind boggles. Papalii was their best by a ling way last year. Niukore also better than many they are keeping. I know that no club can hold onto all of their best but you’d think that they’d have their priorities more aligned
Nat
Roar Guru
This is a pretty good get by WT. If he stays consistent from last season $600k is a fair price. They still need a game breaker and that can't be left to Leilua. I wonder if Laurie can have a breakout season, hopefully he will find another 7kg in the offseason.
The Sporacle
Roar Rookie
Bugger, good luck to him. Would have been good to keep him but we can't keep them all 600k is a pretty good reward for 12 months of really hard work. He wouldn't look out of place in the Storm system but hopefully he keeps his form at the Tigers :thumbup:
Albo
Roar Rookie
I wouldn't be blaming Papali'i for moving for $600k a year. He worked his bum off all season in the 2nd row for Parramatta and was easily their best forward. Only to find himself pushed to play prop for the last 3 matches of the season proper, and then onto the bench for their two semi final matches ? I think he could see the writing on the wall !