Wests Tigers offer Jahream Bula mega contract extension
The Wests Tigers have given Jahream Bula a mega-deal, making him the club’s longest-serving player and the centerpiece of Benji Marshall’s reconstruction.
Bula, a contender for NRL Rookie of the Year, is exploring a multi-million dollar contract extension with the Tigers that would keep him at the club until the end of 2027.
The 21-year-old still has two years left on his current contract, but he was so brilliant in his rookie season that the Tigers made re-signing him a priority despite ending with a second straight wooden spoon.
NRL opponents have until November 1 next year to make a formal offer to Bula in order to sign him for 2026, but the Tigers have exposed their hand by increasing contract negotiations in recent weeks.
The NRL has a plethora of outstanding fullbacks, including James Tedesco, Reece Walsh, Latrell Mitchell, Kalyn Ponga, Ryan Papenhuyzen, and Tom Trbojevic, and the Tigers see their No. 1 as the guy they can build their club around under Marshall.
They have already signed captain Api Koroisau to an extension until the end of 2026, long before he was available on the free market, and want Bula to join 2024 newcomers Jayden Sullivan and the Fainu brothers, Latu and Samuela, under lock and key until the conclusion of the season.
Bula’s rise from former basketball prodigy to NRL stardom was one of the season’s unlikeliest stories, debuting in a close loss to the Sea Eagles in round eight before helping the Tigers win three of their next four matches.
He didn’t miss an NRL match after his debut and quickly became a fan favourite.
Despite missing the first seven rounds, Bula earned the Kelly-Barnes Medal as the Tigers’ player of the year on Tuesday night, defeating skipper Koroisau by three votes in the season’s last match.
He’ll compete with Canterbury’s Jacob Preston and the Titans’ Alofiana Khan-Pereira for the title of NRL rookie of the year at the Dally M awards later this month.
Bula told this publication last month, “This entire year has been surreal.” I never anticipated to play even one NRL game, let alone this year. I’d like to win a competition at the Tigers. I want to represent Fiji and Samoa. I want to play for New South Wales. We’re on the rise. Next year, we’ll all be much more hungry.”
Despite missing the first seven rounds, Bula earned the Kelly-Barnes Medal as the Tigers’ player of the year on Tuesday night, defeating captain Koroisau by three votes in the last match of the season.
He’s slated to compete with Canterbury’s Jacob Preston and the Titans’ Alofiana Khan-Pereira for the title of NRL’s best rookie at the Dally M awards later this month.
Bula told this publication last month, “This whole year has been surreal.” I never expected to play one NRL game, let alone this year. I want to win a competition at the Tigers. I want to play for Fiji and Samoa. I want to play for NSW. We’re on the rise here. We’ll all be hungry again next year.”
Bula’s first NRL try came in the mesmerising 66-18 win over the Cowboys at Leichhardt Oval and he had already been anointed the Tigers’ best trainer during the pre-season by coach Tim Sheens, who will hand the reins to Marshall next year.
Bula rediscovered his love of rugby league when he played in the same team as Greg Inglis in a rugby sevens tournament on the Central Coast. He was eventually picked up by the Tigers and muscled his way past Daine Laurie and Charlie Staines to be the Tigers’ first-choice fullback.
