As the Wests Tigers’ 2024 roster starts to take form under new coach Benji Marshall, two players have said goodbye.
Triston Reilly, a rugby union convert, and Brandon Webster-Mansfield, a developmental player, were passed over by the Tigers.
Before switching to rugby union, Reilly played junior football for the Knights and Rabbitohs.
Reilly played for the NSW Waratahs and the Australian sevens team in 2018 before joining the Tigers in 2022 and going back to the league.
He played three games for the Tigers in 2023, scoring one try.
A statement from the club said, “The club would also like to wish Triston Reilly and Brandon Webster-Mansfield the very best of luck with their future playing careers.”
“The final year of both players’ contracts with the Wests Tigers has ended.”
SOUTHS CHANGE THE JERSEY TO TURN BACK THE CLOCK
The Rabbitohs have released their 2024 playing uniform.
For the first time since 2006, Souths will don the iconic red and green hoops uniform. It was the uniform the team wore in their very first season, back in 1908.
Campbell Graham, a star with the Rabbitohs, adds that continuing the tradition this season is “very special.”
Graham stated, “Those colors and that jersey, with its full hoops encircling the body, have been a part of this club since 1908.”
It truly fills you with pride to play for this club because of the Rabbitohs’ amazing traditions and rich heritage.
“So many amazing players, including Les Davidson, Mario Fenech, John Sattler, and Clive Churchill, have worn that jersey before us.
“This jersey demonstrates how much we at Souths respect our history.”
Jack Wighton, a recent Souths recruit, is adjusting well to his new team in the meanwhile.
Earlier in the week, Wighton had his first training session with the Rabbitohs. CEO Blake Solly expressed his delight at the former Raider’s arrival.
Jack is an elite athlete, and the opinions of the men who played representative football with him were crucial to us when we signed him, Solly told The Daily Telegraph.
“He was well-liked both on and off the field by Cameron Murray and Campbell Graham, who were teammates with him at the World Cup. It is our great fortune that he has joined the Rabbitohs.
“Having a guy with Jack’s talent and demeanor join the team is fantastic.
“It is evident from interacting with him that he is passionate about the game and his potential contributions here.”
CHANGES TO THE EELS STAFF
After a brief tenure as the Parramatta Eels’ elite pathways coaching director, former NRL coach Nathan Brown will be leaving the team.
Brown joined the Eels in the middle of 2022 to oversee an evaluation of their elite pathways program in an effort to provide local players the best chance to go through to
