The Wests Tigers have been dealt a huge injury blow ahead of tonight’s showdown with Manly with NSW State of Origin five-eighth Jarome Luai ruled out with an infection.
The Luai development means captain Api Koroisau will move into the halves and young gun hooker Tallyn Da Silva will start the game against the Sea Eagles as the Wests Tigers look to snap a five-game losing streak.
It’ a big chance of being Da Silva’s last game for Wests Tigers as the East Campbelltown junior moves closer to an immediate switch to a rival NRL club prior to the June 30 deadline on Monday.
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Luai is believed to have spent last night in hospital due to an infection in a development that will also have ramifications for the NSW State of Origin side.
The Tigers marquee signing this season is expected to make a full recovery and should be all good for the State of Origin decider.
There’s no question after a huge performance in Thursday night’s epic Penrith win over the Bulldogs five-eighth Matt Burton will also be part of the NSW squad as a standby player.
The Da Silva situation at Wests Tigers has also created plenty of headlines with the club opting to prioritise the signature of captain Koroisau ahead of the emerging No.9.
Both Koroisau and Da Silva are off contract at the end of 2026 making them free agents to talk to rival clubs as of November 1.
When it’s all settled Koroisau is expected to remain at Wests Tigers and by allowing Da Silva to join a rival NRL club the Tigers will save themselves around $500,000 in terms of the club’s salary cap for next season.
The reasons for Da Silva leaving the club are in complete contrast to the messy and bitter departure of fellow young gun Lachie Galvin.
Da Silva’s priority was to remain at Wests Tigers but once the club outlined its intention to re-sign Koroisau the emerging dummy-half asked for permission to negotiate with rival NRL teams.
Wests Tigers CEO Richardson granted Da Silva permission because he could understand the position of being NRL-ready now and wanting to be a starting dummy-half.
The Eels and Manly are believed to be the frontrunners for Da Silva’s signature with a deal expected to be done by close of business on Monday when the June 30 deadline hits.
Speaking of Da Silva and Galvin, on last Wednesday night’s NRL 360 episode I stated that Wests Tigers owners the Holman Barnes Group had been involved in the decision by CEO Richardson and the Wests Tigers board to part company with Lachie Galvin.
This is not the case. Wests Tigers CEO Richardson and the Wests Tigers board decided the club did not want to engage in a long and drawn-out legal battle with Galvin so it was best to cut ties.
The Holman Barnes Group was not involved in the Galvin decision.
