St Helens look set to miss out on star NRL centre Justin Olam with the Papua New Guinea international set to sign a deal elsewhere.
Olam has long been rumoured to make a Super League move with Saints one of just two teams reportedly keen on his services, the other being Warrington Wolves.
That came when Sam Burgess arrived as head coach at the Halliwell Jones Stadium with Olam reported as someone that the first time head coach was keen to recruit, however the Wire were full on their quota spots.
Another side that have now filled their quota spots is St Helens with reports down under from both The League Scene Pod and The Mole indicating that Fiji international Waqa Blake has signed for Paul Wellens’ side.
The Red Vee had left the number three shirt vacant when allotting their squad numbers for the 2024 season, with former number three Will Hopoate having been released and then retiring in the off-season.
Saints had made notice of their intention to sign a new centre with the search both domestic and international, and it now seems that they have secured their man in Blake.
However that does mean that it comes at the expense of signing Olam, but the PNG star looks to have found a new NRL home instead.
The Daily Telegraph have reported that Wests Tigers are set to continue their spending spree and splash out on Olam, potentially as a swap deal including forward Shawn Blore.
Following a season in which they earned the ‘Wooden Spoon’ the Tigers have changed their side massively with former Leeds Rhinos man Aiden Sezer joining, but recently the splash signing of Jarome Luai.
Luai arrives from champions Penrith Panthers and is set to be followed by Olam from Melbourne Storm, Tigers forward Shawn Blore set to head in the other direction.
It would appear that this confirms Olam won’t be heading to Super League as he needs to simply pass a medical to secure his deal with Wests.
Meanwhile Wests have also signed another centre to serve as Olam’s back-up. Brisbane Tigers’ Solomona Faataape has signed for Wests per The Mole.
