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.
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In 2023, he made three appearances for the Tigers and managed 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.”
Since 1908, those colors and the jersey with the full hoops encircling the torso have been a part of this team, according to Graham.
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.
Midway through 2022, Brown joined the Eels to spearhead an evaluation of the club’s top pathways program, hoping to make sure that local talent had the best chance to advance to the NRL level.
This season, the 50-year-old served as a coaching adviser for Parramatta’s NRLW team in addition to coaching for the Dragons, Knights, Warriors, and Super League.
However, Brown and his family will soon be moving to the Gold Coast, so his time with the Eels is officially ended.
“Having Nathan at our club has been an absolute pleasure,” stated Mark O’Neill, general manager of football for the Eels.
“He has expedited the development of our players in those programs and contributed a great deal of experience to our elite pathways program.
“‘Browny’ will be sorely missed, and we hope the best for him and his family in their future and new life in Queensland.”
– Martin Gabor, Newswire (NCA)
SHARKS VETERAN IS MOVING TO THE UK
Matt Moylan, meantime, has agreed to a two-year contract with Leigh Leopards and is on his way to the UK.
The Sharks gave the 32-year-old an immediate release on Monday night. Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall became Cronulla’s preferred halves tandem as Moylan fell out of favor towards the end of the 2023 campaign.
After 11 NRL seasons with Penrith and Cronulla, as well as representing his state and nation, Moylan’s career comes to a conclusion.
After meeting with coach Adrian Lam, Moylan will play for the Leopards the following season; the team has hailed the agreement as “one of the biggest in club history.”
Adrian boarded an aircraft and had a face-to-face meeting with Matt and his agent, Allan Gainey. Leigh Leopards head of rugby Chris Chester said, “He was able to explain what we want as a club, what we are looking to achieve, and his own coaching philosophy.”
“Matt is an elite athlete whose resume speaks for itself. I’ve talked to a lot of people, and they all agree that he’s an amazing guy who leads by example on the field. He is a really gifted player who works incredibly hard and is a superb professional.
“Matt will advance us to a higher plane. Given that he plays running half, we will have threats on both ends of the field. He played twenty games this season after playing twenty last year. He is a good defender, a good goal kicker, and he has excellent leg speed.
“It’s fantastic for our town and a huge statement of intent from the club.” Our team has greatly benefited from luring a premier halfback from the NRL.
– Martin Gabor, Newswire (NCA)
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