A Pathetic Justification: The Latest Twist in the Wests Tigers Saga ‘Fails to Add Up’

The Wests Tigers’ choice to unlock the gates to their luxurious $78 million Concord headquarters, allowing the promising hooker Tallyn Da Silva to depart mid-contract, marks yet another puzzling episode in the ongoing saga of the joint venture.

Renowned Balmain hooker Benny Elias echoed the sentiments of many disgruntled Tigers supporters when he labelled one of the club’s justifications for allowing the 20-year-old No.9 to leave prematurely as a “very weak excuse”.

CEO Shane Richardson conveyed to The Sydney Morning Herald that Da Silva would prefer not to fulfil his contract if the club’s leading hooker and co-captain, Api Koroisau, decided to extend his tenure at Concord. He stated that the club wished to support Da Silva’s aspiration of becoming a starting dummy-half in the NRL sooner rather than later.

Richardson was candid with Da Silva, informing him that negotiations for a new deal for Koroisau were imminent, leading the talented player—homegrown from the club’s junior ranks—to depart for Parramatta this week.

“Honestly, letting him go is a disappointing move from the club,” Elias commented on Wide World of Sports on Tuesday afternoon.

“If it’s too tough for them to break into first grade, does that mean we just cut them loose?

“Investing time and resources in talents like Da Silva is vital. He’s the type of player you prepare for the future. They need to find a way to retain both Koroisau and Da Silva.”

“If it’s just about it being too difficult and he’s too impatient to sit behind Koroisau, that’s a very flimsy excuse.”

Richardson also mentioned that letting Da Silva go would create “significant” salary cap space.

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Former Tigers playmaker Braith Anasta shared Elias’s confusion.

“If that’s Da Silva’s preference, fine, but we all have commitments and responsibilities based on contracts or deals we’ve made,” Anasta remarked on Fox League’s NRL 360. “You can’t just walk away.”

“They’ve let him go, so it’s not on him—it’s on the club,” he continued. “You don’t need to play Koroisau for the full 80 minutes; there are opportunities to utilise Da Silva more. Koroisau is ageing, there’s still a year and a half left on Da Silva’s contract, and he could be a valuable back-up hooker. None of this adds up.”

This week, while the Tigers permitted Da Silva to leave mid-contract, highly regarded Storm players Tyran Wishart and Jonah Pezet, who serve as back-ups to Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes respectively, will make appearances in first grade for Melbourne.

With Munster occupied with State of Origin duties, Wishart is poised to wear the No.6 jersey, and Pezet, who has returned from a knee injury, is set to come off the bench.

The sight of Wishart and Pezet performing at the top level will highlight Melbourne’s effective retention of key back-up talent while serving as a stark reminder of the Tigers’ handling of the Da Silva episode.

Da Silva, whose contract with the Tigers was due to run until the end of 2026, has signed with the Eels until 2029.

Fans, already reeling from the departure of another talented former junior, 19-year-old playmaker Lachlan Galvin—albeit in markedly different circumstances—will find Da Silva’s exit particularly hard to swallow.

“You’ll see Da Silva thriving at Parramatta and think, ‘This is a player the Tigers should never have let slip through their fingers,’” Elias lamented.

It has become all too common for Tigers fans to see promising talent swap their orange, black, and white colours for rival teams.

The exits of high-profile stars like James Tedesco and Mitchell Moses will forever haunt the club. Former standout prospects Aaron Woods and Ryan Papenhuyzen were also products of the Tigers’ junior system, while Galvin and Da Silva’s departures reopen old wounds.

Josh Addo-Carr, Marika Koroibete, and Andrew Fifita may not have played junior football with the Tigers, yet they emerged at Concord before going on to dazzling careers elsewhere.

Elias, a legendary figure from Balmain’s past, holds Da Silva in high regard.

“He’s a superstar, no doubt,” Elias said. “I’d put him among the top six hookers in the game today.”

Despite being limited to just 22 NRL games, mostly as a bench player, Elias believes in Da Silva’s potential.

“He possesses remarkable vision, a solid kicking game and displays excellence in his defence—he’s got everything needed to succeed as a top-notch No.9,” Elias added.

Earlier this year, the Tigers announced a $400,000 investment aimed at strengthening the club’s junior system, courtesy of Wests Group Macarthur.

“Players like Lachlan Galvin, Tallyn Da Silva, and Heath Mason are all products of the Macarthur and Group 6 areas who’ve transitioned to the NRL,” the club detailed at the time.

Just a few months on, such assurances feel grim.

Yet, amidst the tumult, it’s not all doom and gloom for the Tigers. Their $78 million centre of excellence, unveiled in 2022, is recognised as one of the premier rugby league facilities globally.

Richardson renewed his commitment as CEO with a four-year deal last year (though his management of the Da Silva situation has drawn scrutiny, there’s still considerable respect for the former South Sydney, Penrith, and Cronulla leader).

The club also made significant off-season signings, bringing premiership winners Jarome Luai and Sunia Turuva from Penrith, as well as prop Terrell May from the Roosters. His younger brother, Taylan—a talented yet troubled outside back—joined him in Concord last month via a train-and-trial arrangement.

Moreover, a series of major personnel changes, including the complete overhaul of the Tigers’ board in December 2023, has seemingly reduced in-fighting within the boardroom.

Yet the mid-contract departure of Da Silva adds another layer of turmoil; the club is desperate to avoid a fourth consecutive wooden spoon. Benji Marshall’s position as coach may soon be precarious if results do not improve.

Currently, the team sits just one win clear of the bottom and is enduring a six-game losing streak. They’ll enter this Sunday’s clash against the Roosters at Allianz Stadium as heavy underdogs. Despite five Roosters stars being absent due to Origin, the Tigers will miss Luai (due to Origin duties), Koroisau (concussion), and Jahream Bula (hamstring).

Faced with the prospect of seven straight losses and fighting a wooden spoon battle is daunting for any club, especially one that has fallen victim to the last three wooden spoons, hasn’t played finals football since 2011, and has seen four coaches come and go in that time.

“Six losses in a row—this is outrageous, especially given the talent within our squad,” Elias commented. “It’s frustrating,” he continued, reflecting on the ongoing upheaval. “I just want what’s best for the club.”