Jahream Bula has declared that he’s in it for the lengthy haul with Wests Tigers, downplaying issues that the fullback’s contractual long run will apply the messy blueprint laid out by means of want-away five-eighth Lachlan Galvin.
Bula is represented by means of robust agent Isaac Moses, who has been at loggerheads with Tigers leader government Shane Richardson over the way forward for emerging superstar Galvin.
Two of Moses’ maximum high-profile purchasers, David Klemmer and John Bateman, were moved on by means of the Tigers during the last six months.
The Tigers put a five-year contract be offering at the desk for Galvin earlier than the membership used to be knowledgeable that the playmaker would no longer entertain the proposal and sought after to play in other places past the expiry of his deal in 2026.
There used to be popular hypothesis that Bula may well be the following Moses consumer to hunt a get-out from the Tigers.
But the Fijian global, who can communicate to rival golf equipment from November 1, moved to transparent up his long run forward of Saturday’s Magic Round conflict with St George Illawarra.
Asked by means of AAP if he noticed himself as Tigers participant longer term, Bula mentioned: “Of course, but I don’t really want to get into detail about that stuff.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
“I love what I’m doing here and I’m focused on the week ahead and this season.
“I’m enjoying it here, we’re changing things around and I can see where this team’s heading.”
Bula has been probably the most Tigers’ standouts right through his two seasons within the NRL, that have each culminated within the membership choosing up the picket spoon.
The 23-year-old’s self assurance within the Tigers’ course is subsidized up by means of statistics.
Bula received simply 4 video games in each his debut season in 2023 and tasted victory the similar collection of instances in 2024.
But after Sunday’s nailbiting golden level win over Cronulla, the Tigers (4-5) have already matched that determine thru their first 9 video games.
“It feels so much better and the whole vibe around this team is good, I’m enjoying myself,” Bula mentioned.
“The boys didn’t give up (against the Sharks), none of the boys dropped their heads.
“I feel like the past few years, like times when things got tough, a few of the boys would drop their heads.
“But this year is totally different, man, and Jarome (Luai) brings a lot of confidence to the team, he is good at making the whole team better.
“It (beating the Dragons) would be a big confidence booster.”
The Tigers have received all however probably the most 5 video games in 2025 when their first-choice backbone of Bula, Galvin, halfback Luai and hooker Api Koroisau have began in combination.
Queensland toning in growth race
New Zealand were thought to be the frontrunner to fill the 20th franchise spot that the NRL is hoping to fill however ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys has talked up the potential for Queensland getting a 5th crew as a substitute.
There are 3 bid groups from NZ who’re hoping to apply the Perth Bears and Papua New Guinea into the NRL right through the following TV rights cycle, prone to be early subsequent decade.
But it’s not a fait accompli that the NRL will upload any other crew around the Tasman to create an immediate contention with the Warriors.
An Ipswich bid and Central Queensland are possible choices and V’landys advised The Courier-Mail that QRL boss Ben Ikin’s push for any other aspect within the Sunshine State used to be gaining momentum.
“Another NRL team in Queensland is an option, absolutely,” he mentioned.
“We have never ruled out a fifth team in Queensland, there’s a lot of options for the 20th team and that’s one of them.
“It is not a foregone conclusion that the 20th team will be a second team in New Zealand.
“The Dolphins didn’t cannibalise the Broncos.
“In fact what they did was create another rivalry between the Dolphins and Broncos. If you add another Queensland team, you can create more rivalries with the Broncos and Dolphins.”
V’landys mentioned the Perth Bears deal used to be nonetheless no longer looked after with the Western Australian executive however used to be hoping to have it finalised later this month.
“The euphoria I have seen has been extraordinary,” he mentioned. “That’s one of the reasons why we wanted to bring the Bears back.
“There’s a lot of people who support the Bears and they have a readymade supporter base. They have the pathways with their juniors and it’s a perfect marriage if it happens with Perth.
“It could be one of the real success stories of the future. Perth is a goldmine for the NRL. It has enormous potential. It gives us a national footprint to a degree and the time zone works really well with our global and expansion strategies.”

The ultimate North Sydney Bears squad in 1999.
Ikin believes Ipswich will have to be the following cab off the NRL growth rank. The Ipswich-based Jets bid would additionally upload the romantic perception of revitalising basis membership Newtown Jets.
“That (western corridor) region has such a rich rugby league history and from a population perspective is one of the fastest growing in the country, and it is rugby league mad.
“The AFL are out there with an elite presence (at the Brisbane Lions’ home base in Springfield) and we are not.
“Who doesn’t like a bit of romance in rugby league? To have that brand in the elite national competition would be special,” Ikin added.
“In that western region effectively you will drag in Brisbane central like the (Brisbane) Tigers, the Ipswich Jets as another pathways club and the Western Clydesdales out there in Toowoomba.”
Sharks physio advert highlights ‘systemic issues’
The Australian Physiotherapy Association will write to the Australian Sports Commission with issues of “systemic” problems throughout main codes, after Cronulla marketed a role with their NRLW crew as a voluntary position.
The Sharks have been on Wednesday pressured to apologise for the activity advert, insisting a clerical error used to be liable for suggesting the assistant physio in their NRLW aspect would obtain no pay.
Cronulla boss Dino Mezzatesta has since showed to AAP the location will obtain pay at or above marketplace charges, with the amended commercial providing an “honorarium position”.
Regardless, the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) declare they have been inundated with an identical tales from physios throughout elite game, who’ve been requested to paintings on a volunteer foundation at skilled golf equipment or with minimum pay.
That has brought on the APA to put in writing to the Sports Commission and each and every of Australia’s main codes, involved the problem is common.
“This is a learning opportunity, but it has unearthed a wider systemic issue that has been going on for too long,” APA CEO Rob LoPresti advised AAP.

Sharks superstar Emma Tonegato is tackled in 2024. (Photo by means of Russell Freeman/Getty Images)
“What we’re hearing from our membership that this is potentially indicative of a bigger, broader and more systemic issue.”
LoPresti mentioned he used to be additionally interested by imaginable gaps between pay for males’s and girls’s sports activities, with investment and season period continuously a problem for golf equipment.
He additionally believed numerous golf equipment throughout more than one sports activities tried to industry off the revel in of operating in elite programs so that you can no longer pay clinical team of workers accurately.
“We’re not saying there is never a place for any volunteering ever, but not at elite levels,” LoPresti mentioned.
“At elite levels we have high expectations of our athletes, and we should have high expectations around the medical support.
“We would also hope and expect that when talking about the medical treatment of women and men’s sporting codes, that there is equivalence there.”
Several NRL golf equipment spoken to by means of AAP on Wednesday insisted there used to be the very best requirements for NRLW avid gamers, be it thru devoted team of workers leaning on males’s physios for help or exterior practices.
Mezzatesta additionally stressed out his membership have been assembly requirements, after a barrage of on-line abuse.
The Sharks leader government mentioned the problem used to be with the advert laid with how it were categorised on an exterior website online, with the posting requiring candidates to have an allied well being stage and attend as much as 4 coaching consultation per week plus video games.
The Sharks leader government mentioned the problem used to be how the unique advert were categorised on an exterior website online, with candidates required to have an allied well being stage and attend as much as 4 coaching consultation per week plus video games.
“It was never a volunteer role. It was always honorarium,” Mezzatesta mentioned.
“I understand the backlash, because you are asking someone to complete a duty which is a specialised duty for free, which was never our intent.
“This is not about trying to rob people or bend rules.
“The way it is designed and the intent of the role, if we do break down to per hour, I can assure you it is better than market rates.”
with AAP