Wests Tigers rocked as Josh Aloiai requests immediate release to Manly Sea Eagles

Fed-up Wests Tigers officials privately believe the 25-year-old is taking a leaf out of Ryan Matterson’s book and agitating for an early release because of a big-money offer at the Manly Sea Eagles.

“I find it very perplexing that only some four weeks ago, the player sat opposite to me and professed his love of the club and commitment,” Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis told The Herald.

The days of players, or others, thinking that they can use the Wests Tigers as a stepping stone are over

Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis

“Now we have a situation where a form of release has been sought, with a view to taking up a contract elsewhere obviously for more money. It is curious as to how that seems to generate welfare concerns.”

Aloiai’s manager also looks after Addin Fonua-Blake, who was granted a release from Manly to join the Warriors on one of the most lucrative deals for a prop in the history of the sport.

Sources within the game were shocked that Manly were willing to release Fonua-Blake, the best prop in the game as voted by the players in a Sydney Morning Herald poll earlier in the year, for personal reasons without a replacement. However the recent events involving Aloiai could explain why.

“It is my understanding that he has agreed to terms with Manly for 2022 and 2023, but that is contingent upon a release in 2021,” Hagipantelis said of the New Zealander who has played 90 games for the club since debuting in 2016.

“In my view he has a contract with the Wests Tigers which he will fulfil in 2021 unless I can leverage a commercial advantage for the club. The days of players, or others, thinking that they can use the Wests Tigers as a stepping stone are over.”

The Tigers are still reeling from missing out on Josh Addo-Carr’s services last week after his manager, Mario Tartak, managed to use the club’s four-year offer to extract an upgrade from the Storm, despite the winger requesting a release on compassionate grounds to be closer to family.

Loading

It’s likely the recent antics of Aloiai and his manager will make his position at the club untenable, but the Tigers will follow Melbourne’s stance with Addo-Carr and will refuse to release him until they get an outcome they are happy with.

The Tigers have no shortage of front rowers with young Eels prop Stefano Utoikamanu and Penrith captain James Tamou set to join the team when they return to preseason training, bolstering a pack that also includes props Zane Musgrove, Alex Twal, Thomas Mikaele and Russell Packer.