Daine Laurie joins Tigers early after Panthers agree to player swap
The Panthers and Tigers have agreed to a player swap which will allow Daine Laurie to join the joint venture a year ahead of schedule and send Paul Momirovski to Penrith.
The clubs announced the deal on Sunday after weeks of negotiations, with Momirovski adding to the Panthers’ depth in the outside backs and Laurie, who made his NRL debut last year, joining the Panthers’ western Sydney rivals.
Laurie had already agreed to join the Tigers from 2022.
“We were extremely pleased to secure Daine from the start of the 2022 season and to have him join us earlier than expected is a great boost,” Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe said.
“Daine is clearly an exceptional talent and we’re very excited to see him take the next steps in his rugby league career in a Wests Tigers jersey.”
A loan again: Paul Momirovski, who was on loan at the Storm in 2020, has been shifted again by the Tigers.Credit:Getty Images
The move caps a turbulent two years for Momirovski, who played 11 games for the Tigers during the 2019 season before being part of the NRL’s first ever loan deal when he headed to Melbourne last season. State of Origin hooker Harry Grant joined the Tigers in return and was a revelation in his first full season of NRL.
Momirovski wasn’t guaranteed a starting centre position at the Tigers with James Roberts joining Joey Leilua at the club.
What the team achieved last season shows how much talent there is at the club. It’s great to know I’ll be part of it for the next two years
Paul Momirovski
“I’m excited to be joining Panthers and can’t wait to start training with the guys,” Momirovski said. “What the team achieved last season shows how much talent there is at the club. It’s great to know I’ll be part of it for the next two years.
“For now I’m focused on working hard at training to continually improve and set myself up to play some consistent footy for the club.”
The Panthers are still trying to re-sign grand final players Stephen Crichton, Jarome Luai and Isaah Yeo before the start of the season having already lost the experienced James Tamou, Josh Mansour and Zane Tetevano since last year’s defeat to Melbourne in the decider.
Tamou is firming as a captaincy candidate for the Tigers.
Adam Pengilly is a Sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.