Eels Blogs

THE Wests Tigers bus appears to be heading in two different directions.

The club on Monday reportedly picked up Connor Watson on a deal that will see the promising star break his contract with the Roosters one year early to link with the Wests Tigers next season.

21-yr-old Connor Watson is 1 of the @NRL's rising talents but he wants a fresh start and sees better opportunities elsewhere. @Josh_Massoud pic.twitter.com/L7b7n3yec5

— 7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney) June 26, 2017

The Tigers have reportedly signed Watson under the pretence the 21-year-old will step into James Tedesco’s No. 1 jumper next season — when the Blues fullback moves to the Bondi club.

Watson has reportedly been offered a bumper deal worth up to $500,000 per season, but Channel 7 reported on Monday night the promise of a spot in the starting 13 of an NRL club was the driving reason behind his departure.

The elephant in the Tigers’ sheds is that star recruit Tuimoala Lolohea was given the same promise just two months ago when the Tigers signed him as their long-term fullback option to replace Tedesco.

This month’s great white hope.Source:News Corp Australia

Making the situation even more awkward was the public declarations Lolohea made that he moved to the Tigers from the Warriors because coach Ivan Cleary promised him the chance to play at five-eighth or fullback.

Since then the club has also signed Bulldogs five-eighth Josh Reynolds as part of their spending spree since it was announced Tedesco, Aaron Woods and Mitchell Moses would be leaving.

The Tigers have picked up Russell Packer, Ben Matulino and Taane Milne as well.

With Moses moving to the Eels, Lolohea has been moved to five-eighth before he was initially expected to return to the No. 1 jumper next year. Now, Watson is grabbing for the same jumper.

Lolohea suddenly finds himself at the exact same position that saw him fall out of favour and dropped from the Warriors at the start of the year.

Tupou not going. Rona not done. Lolohea will play utility role. He's already been told. Nof on a wing and Connor FB

— Nathan Ryan (@Nath_Ryan) June 26, 2017

Suddenly, Ivan Cleary’s words to his star recruit must be sounding pretty empty from where Lolohea is sitting.

“One thing I took into consideration [coming to the Tigers] was a better pathway for me,” Lolohea said of his decision to join the Tigers.

“Ivan has given me a pathway to play in the halves and he’s not expecting to chuck me in there and do some magic. He’s going to let me build my game. That kind of sold it for me. The pathway was a better opportunity for me.”

Awkward.Source:News Corp Australia

“No more in the outside backs. I didn’t play there in my career coming through as a young fella. Ivan has given me a chance to play in a position and make it mine for the rest of the year.”

He told The Daily Telegraph earlier this month his inability to find a specific role in the Warriors’ backline was his reason for asking for a release.

You can only imagine how awkward it must be now.

“I finally realised I wasn’t enjoying footy playing on the wing,’’ Lolohea said.

“It’s a bit tough, I’ve been all over the place in first grade playing different positions, and I finally came to a point where I had had enough of it. I wanted to play in a position I could get better and learn and focus on that position.

“Ivan had that specific pathway for me and told me the opportunity was mine if I wanted it, and I had to grab it.’’

It seems he has not grabbed it hard enough.

The awkwardness of the situation has not been lost on NRL fans.

The Wests Tigers’ front office has recently been heavily criticised for its handling of football and commercial operations. The signing of Watson, despite the Roosters star being a hugely talented prospect, does not reflect well on the Tigers front office.