The Tigers have reportedly tabled a huge five-year deal to star prop Stefano Utoikamanu for a whopping $4 million.

That is according to the SMH, who are alleging Tigers powerbrokers are urgently trying to stop the middle forward from hitting the open market.

He becomes a free agent unless he plays two Origin games for the Blues this season, however that contract condition isn’t activated if the Tigers play finals football.

The option in his contract is reputedly worth between $600,000 to $700,000, and it looks unlikely he will play Origin or finals football, meaning other teams will be free to pounce.

Tigers powerbrokers reportedly tabled their revised contract offer following Michael Maguire’s Blues selection announcement for the series opener.

Tigers chief Shane Richardson and Utoikamanu’s agent Daniel O’Loughlin reportedly want to get his contract predicament addressed before it’s clear Benji Marshall’s team won’t make the top eight.

The club are desperately hoping to avoid a situation in which they are left with short time to replace their main forward ahead of the 2025 season.

In a further twist, Utoikamanu’s representative will reportedly request permission from the team to engage with competitors should he lose out on selection for Game II.

The Tigers apparently want Utoikamanu to be a prominent figure alongside Jarome Luai for years to come, with backrower Isaiah Papali’i already departing for the Panthers in 2025.

Meanwhile, ust half a season into his Wests Tigers career, Jayden Sullivan’s time in Concord might be up

The beleaguered club is apparently preparing to execute a cleanout, as it continues to shift ahead from the Tim Sheens and – former recruitment officer – Scott Fulton period.

Sullivan is contracted till the end of 2027 and allegedly on approximately $500,000 to $600,000 per-season.

It’s a significant spend for a half that finds himself below Aiden Sezer and rookie Lachlan Galvin in the pecking order, but the club has secured the services of Jarome Luai from next season as well.

Meanwhile, Adam Doueihi is scheduled to return from his ACL injury around July, yet he remains without a contract for the 2025 season.

Super League outfit Hull FC is apparently interested in Sullivan, as the club tries to replace Fa’amanu Brown, who is now back in the NRL according to Sky Sports writer Jenna Brooks.

In an ironic twist, Brown joined Sullivan’s former team the Dragons in April – contracted till the end of this season.

CEO Shane Richardson is in the UK on business, which has also caused a stir, purportedly searching for recruits but also find new homes for players currently on the Tigers books.

Sullivan, Charlie Staines and Brent Naden are all believed to be in the shop front window.

Meanwhiile, utility Jake Simpkin is also apparently being shopped to the Sea Eagles.

Richardson is managing the Wests Tigers’ roster decisions while the recruitment officer role remains vacant.

 

The Rabbitohs are apparently looking to plunder Cronulla’s supplies, as the rival club continues its search for reinforcements.

Ahead of Wayne Bennett’s probable Redfern homecoming, South Sydney is dreaming new methods to support its middle forward rotation.

According to veteran journalist Phil Rothfield, the Rabbitohs are interested in capturing Sharks prop Royce Hunt – and they’re ready to table an offer that Cronulla cannot.“Souths are interested in Royce Hunt,” he claimed on Big Sports Breakfast.

“They’ve got a bit of cap money left.

“Souths have been desperately short of middle forward strength, haven’t they?

“Cronulla have got a number of very similar middle forwards they roll off the bench all the time.”

The catch is that Hunt penned a two-year deal in May last year, seeing him locked up until the end of the 2025 season.

Under existing standards, competing clubs are not able seal Hunt’s signature from 2026 and beyond until November 1 this year.

To obtain Hunt’s signing, Souths will need the Sharks to be willing to play ball and investigate providing an immediate release.

“Souths are going to talk to the Sharks about offering him a long term deal, which Cronulla can’t do, and maybe he’ll jump ship this year,” Rothfield added.

Hunt has been in and out of the Sharks’ top grade, having played six NRL games and three with Newtown in the NSW Cup.

There’s no news as to whether the Sharks would be receptive to releasing Hunt, or any of its players, during this season.

Cronulla presently finds itself in a little form slump, having lost two straight and allowed an average of 35 points throughout the last three weeks.

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