Justin Olam

PNG national, Justin Olam was impressive in his Tigers debut, scoring a try, notching up over 100 run meters and performing several line breaks and tackle busts.

Being known for his physicality and hard running, Olam has again put them all on show in the match motivating his team to West Tigers first with of the season.

After a bye in round one and losing 12 – 32 to Canberra Raiders in round two, the Tigers are desperate for a win; hence, Olam’s inclusion for this round three clash is critical.

Since signing his three-year deal with the Tigers last month, Olam has settled in well as he begins the next chapter of his rugby league career.

The Wests Tigers' new kid on the block is determined to rediscover the form that led him to become a premiership winner and Dally M centre of the year in 2021.

Arriving in Tiger Land was more or less a homecoming for the Simbu native who initially started his rise in rugby league playing for the Lae Tigers while studying at Unitech, Lae back in the day.

Expansion to Australia's closest neighbours is a hot topic after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hosted PNG counterpart James Marape in Canberra earlier this week.

ARL commission chairman Peter V'landys said last year that placing a side in PNG was "top of the list" for expansion.

Logistical plans discussed thus far on PNG's introduction as the NRL's 18th team have centred on the side basing themselves in Cairns and flying into Port Moresby for matches.

Just hours after news broke that the club had parted ways with recruitment manager Scott Fulton, the Sydney Morning Herald reports Olam has given a verbal commitment to join the club for the 2024 season.

Olam was contracted with the Storm until the end of 2026, having signed a fresh deal only 18 months ago.

It's expected the 30-year-old will sign a similar three-year deal with the joint venture.

Given that back-rower Shawn Blore has already signed with the Storm for 2025, it's expected Olam's arrival at Concord will send Blore south a year early.

The Wests Tigers are set to announce another big signing in the coming days, with Storm centre Justin Olam reportedly agreeing on a deal with the reigning wooden spooners.

The Tigers got their main off-season target in Jarome Luai on a five-year deal from 2025, and according to The Daily Telegraph, Olam will also be heading to Concord.

appears Wests Tigers are now in the driving seat to take home his signature with head coach Benji Marshall reported to have met with the PNG centre.  

According to Daily Telegraph, Marshall has flown to Melbourne to meet Olam in one of the biggest signs that he’s very much interested in bringing to the Concord club.

The 28-year-old made his NRL debut in 2018 and has also played nine tests for PNG, becoming a cult-hero for rugby league fans here in PNG.

According to The Daily Telegraph, the swap would see the Tigers acquire Olam while the Storm would get forward Shawn Blore in return.

If completed, this would be the second player swap between these two clubs in three years after Storm hooker Harry Grant was loaned to the Tigers for the 2020 season in return for centre Paul Momirovski.

The news of Olam being shipped around by Melbourne doesn’t come as much as a surprise, considering he was in-and-out of the first grade side and wasn’t selected in the Storm’s qualifying final against the Broncos.

The Kumuls come in fresh off an impressive Prime Minister’s 13 showing, which involved most of their squad, the Kumuls take on the Cook Islands in their first home Test match in four years.

The Pacific Championships opener is set for a big showdown on Sunday 15^th October at the Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby.

Kumuls halfback Kyle Laybutt has been named captain to lead a strong PNG team.

Total Rugby League reported that, with the shortage in outside backs, the club could make a play for Olam who has minimal game time this year at the Melbourne Storm in the NRL. 

With Greg Minikin’s recent departure from the club, the club had Stefan Ratchford and Connor Wrench occupying the Centers for 2024.

Should Olam join the club next year, 2024, he would be a great fit for the club. 

The 29-year-old endured a difficult year struggling to string together the best performance that won him the NRL Premiership ring with the Storm in 2020.