Reported St Helens transfer off as rivals set to agree swap deal

St Helens have been heavily linked with a move for Melbourne Storm centre Justin Olam in recent months but that move looks to have collapsed.

The centre has been one of the most dangerous and effective attacking weapons in the NRL in recent years but the Papua New Guinean international is set to leave the Storm behind in 2o24.

But his destination remains unclear. He had been linked with a move to Warrington Wolves before they made a play for Rodrick Tai. Now St Helens have been the club most frequently linked with him following the exit of Will Hopoate.

However, a move for Olam looks to be off the table now that Junior Tupou has left Wests Tigers. This is reportedly set to reignite the club’s interest in Olam and lead to a swap deal for Shawn Blore.

This means Olam will not be headed to St Helens as many of their fans hoped as Wests continue to be very active in the market.

The Tigers have also announce several NRLW contract extensions well ahead of the club’s second season in the Telstra Women’s Premiership.

Rikeya Horne, Losana Lutu and Salma Nour have signed new deals which will keep them at the club for at least another two seasons, while Eliza Siilata, Jessica Kennedy and Imogen Gobran have all penned 12-month extensions.

Horne will enter her seventh season in the NRLW in 2024 after scoring four tries from eight appearances in her first season at Wests Tigers.

Lutu, a Campbelltown junior, played a starring role in Wests Tigers first two victories in 2023 before injury brought a premature end to her season. One of the club’s development success stories, Losana has signed a long-term deal through until 2026.

Nour, a Liverpool junior, looked right at home in her debut season playing four games and scoring her first try in the narrow Round 8 loss to the Broncos.

Macarthur Saints junior, Siilata was named Rookie of the Year in the club’s inaugural season, making her NRLW debut after playing several seasons in the Wests Tigers pathways teams.

Kennedy made her NRLW debut in Round 3 against the Raiders and impressed off the bench in seven straight appearances in her first season in the top grade.

Gobran also adjusted comfortably to first grade in her rookie season, making her NRLW debut in the team’s narrow Round 4 loss to the Cowboys.

Most of the club’s inaugural squad is retained for next season including Co-captains Kezie Apps and Botille Vette-Welsh, and 2023 Player of the Year Sarah Togatuki.

Also on board again in 2024 are New Zealand internationals Leianne Tufuga and Najvada George, Samoa internationals Christian Pio and Pauline Piliae-Rasabale, and Campbelltown twins Emily and Sophie Curtain.