Wests Tigers

It's the kind of thing new coaches say to show they mean business. It makes for good copy during the long summer as we scratch around for any rugby league news that's fit to print.

But for Marshall it wasn't just words. He's really doing it, starting with 18-year old Lachlan Galvin being named at five-eighth for the Tigers in their season opener against Canberra this weekend.

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.

The club officially announced his contract had been terminated on Tuesday evening.

"Wests Tigers  has today released winger David Nofoaluma from the remaining two years of his playing contract," the club wrote in a statement

"The club and player have agreed to terminate the contract by mutual consent, effective immediately.

"Interim CEO Shane Richardson has thanked Nofoaluma for his services to Wests Tigers 

“We thank David for all that he has given to this club over the past decade,” said Richardson.

“We wish David all the very best with his future.”

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.

The Penrith star revealed the news in a press conference in Darling Harbour after the Panthers reportedly waived the 10-day cooling off period.

Luai described the call to leave the Panthers as “probably the toughest decision of my career and probably life so far.”

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.

In a see-sawing contest that built up to an even scoreline in the final stages, a Jamayne Isaako field goal with four minutes remaining appeared to give the Dolphins victory before Koroisau provided a short kick-off to get the ball back. 

When Isaako and Tesi Niu were penalised for taking Junior Tupou into touch it was Koroisau who put his hand up to take the unlikeliest of penalty goals from out wide - a 40-metre effort from the 30-metre line on the left sideline.

After racing out to an early 12-0 lead, the Warriors' defence wilted on several occasions through the 80 minutes, including giving up 12 points in two minutes at one stage, to leave coach Andrew Webster with plenty to ponder ahead of hosting the Sea Eagles in Round 25.

Inspired by a season-best performance from five-eighth Daine Laurie, who set up three tries and scored one himself, the NRL's cellar-dwellers pushed the third-ranked Warriors all the way in what was a Wests Tigers' home match played in front of 25,118 in Hamilton, New Zealand. 

Ricky Stuart's men held onto fifth position after Round 22, despite falling to Newcastle 28-6 to record their second consecutive loss, and will need to restore some pride if they're to be taken seriously as premiership contenders this season. 

With Stuart assured the loss was out of character for his side, the Green Machine will need to get their discipline in check after missing 42 tackles and coming up with 16 errors not good enough to compete with any side in the NRL.