LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
The Wests Tigers are facing significant internal unrest, potentially leading to a further loss of key talent. Players like Jahream Bula and star Jarome Luai are reportedly reconsidering their futures amid ongoing instability within the club's management.
This turmoil follows the departures of promising young players Lachlan Galvin and Tallyn Da Silva, who have moved to the Canterbury Bulldogs and Parramatta Eels respectively. According to Fox Sports' Mark St John, the Tigers have already seen a generation of talent slip away, and more high-profile players could soon follow.
Michael Ennis shared his thoughts on the Fox League Podcast>, noting that the club's youth initiative-which relied heavily on Galvin and Da Silva-has "imploded before their eyes." Ennis remarked, "They hung their hats on that nursery out in Western Sydney and Balmain, but now they've lost multiple players from that team."
He continued, "Those guys were dragging the club forward and giving fans hope, and they've all gone." Ennis believes the ongoing boardroom conflicts are prompting key players, including Bula, to consider leaving the club. "There's now talk of Jahream Bula leaving," he added, explaining that Bula is "sitting down with other clubs, listening to their plans, and thinking, 'I want to go somewhere I can win and enjoy my footy without these distractions.'"
The focus has also shifted to Luai, who reportedly has significant exit clauses in his contract should the instability continue. Braith Anasta highlighted that Luai's foresight in including these clauses now appears to be well-founded. "He's been right, this is why he had clauses," Anasta pointed out. He emphasized that it will be a challenge for the Tigers to retain their off-contract stars in this environment.
Anasta, who concluded his career with the Tigers, underscored that the management divide has been a barrier to the club's success. "The difference between how they're run and clubs like the Bulldogs or Roosters is chalk and cheese," he stated. "Until they show unity, it's hard to build a roster capable of competing for a title."