“I had to call Kevvie later and tell him I had nothing on the table [before resuming training] and how ‘I’ll be unemployed if I leave’. Then the Tigers popped up. They gave me a lifeline. I had nowhere else to go.
“‘Madge’ [Maguire] wanted to have a Zoom call. The CEO [Justin Pascoe] was there as well. They told me their plans, who they wanted to sign. I bought in straight away. I rang Madge after the call and said, ‘Madge, I really want to come to this club, and if you want to coach me give me a call back. He did.”
Joe Ofahengaue stretches out at Concord.Credit:Edwina Pickles/SMH
Ofahengaue, 25, who played Queensland Origin last year, was not the only Bronco to have a year to forget. As he best summed it up: “I didn’t forget how to play footy, I just had a really bad year.”
He said Maguire’s tough ways reminded him of working under Wayne Bennett, and while the two coaches were different in their approach, both subscribed to the timeless theory of ”the fitter you are the better you’ll play”.
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A proud Queenslander, Ofahengaue, who signed for three years, said he would have no issues settling into Sydney, especially with his partner Sofi and daughter Mila by his side.
Former Penrith skipper James Tamou and young Eel Stefano Utoikamanu will also bolster the Tigers pack, while there is already a lot of excitement in the what Shawn Blore can produce with a full pre-season under his belt.
James Roberts adds speed out wide while the Tigers remain hopeful Panthers flyer Daine Laurie, who has signed for 2022, will be granted an early release and given the chance to push for the starting fullback spot.
Ofahengaue’s joined his Tigers teammates for just his second session on the same day the club confirmed Josh Reynolds would take up a lucrative deal with Hull FC immediately.
