Farcical Tigers changes revealed after meeting

Wade Graham's retirement from rugby league may go down as one of the shortest on record.

Graham was chaired from the field after his last game for the Sharks in the loss to the Roosters a little over a week ago.

But Wide World of Sports has learned the 32-year-old veteran of nearly 300 NRL games has attracted the attention of several Super League clubs for 2024.

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French-based Catalans are known to be interested in Graham, along with several struggling British clubs.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 09:  Wade Graham of the Sharks reacts after playing his last match after losing the NRL Elimination Final match between Cronulla Sharks and Sydney Roosters at PointsBet Stadium on September 09, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

No formal talks have begun – the clubs want to give Graham time to rest his mind and body after his emotional departure from the NRL.

Graham may have reached the stage where he is struggling to keep up with the younger forwards in Australia, but with his experience, professionalism and ball-playing skills he could easily do another couple of seasons in the slower Super League.

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But the popular former NSW Origin and Kangaroos representative will have a lot to weigh up if an offer comes his way – he has a young family and a media gig as well as several other business opportunities in Sydney.

Farcical change proposals highlight Tigers woes

Tigers officials held a meeting last week to find ways of doing things better in 2024 after back-to-back wooden spoons.

I had a 'spy' in the room and he told me three main changes were decided up.

1. The gear steward will travel to away games half a day early to set everything up for the players.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 01: Shawn Blore of the Wests Tigers looks dejected after a loss following the round 27 NRL match between Manly Sea Eagles and Wests Tigers at 4 Pines Park on September 01, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

2. Players will no longer be required to carry their bags on away trips.

3. The players will have beer after games in the sheds.

True story – with all their woes in the past decade, these are the moves the Tigers decided on to get out of their rut.

I can smell a three-peat of wooden spoons coming up!

Hynes sensationally snubbed by Sharks

Is Nicho Hynes no longer the flavour of the month at Cronulla?

The question has to be asked after the reigning Dally M Medal winner wasn't even a nomination for player of the year at the Sharks.

At the club's presentation night last week, five players were nominated – Blayke Brailey, Briton Nikora, Cameron McInnes, Sione Katoa and Will Kennedy.

All had good seasons – but surely Hynes' 30 try assists and 40 linebreak assists trumps them all.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 09:  Nicholas Hynes of the Sharks warms up before the NRL Elimination Final match between Cronulla Sharks and Sydney Roosters at PointsBet Stadium on September 09, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

The classy playmaker may have been slightly down on his amazing 2022 form, but still had a season of which to be proud.

There is a school of thought among some officials at Cronulla that Hynes is spending too much time cultivating his off-field image and that may have counted against him.

Dragons Domino to fall after Flanagan move

With Kyle Flanagan signing up at the Dragons, the club is looking to move on promising playmaker Junior Amone.

The Raiders showed some interest in Amone – a guy with some smart tricks with the ball – as a replacement for the departing Jack Wighton.

But after doing their due diligence, the Raiders decided Amone wasn't a good fit and have dropped off the chase.

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