Deal Completed: The $550m contract has agreed between the Tigers and Panthers to…

Jared Haywood, a junior from St. Marys, was signed by the Wests Tigers to a one-year contract as part of their efforts to bolster their junior ranks.

Haywood previously played for the Penrith Panthers Under-15s development squad, but the following year he moved to the Balmain Tigers, one of the Wests Tigers’ two pathways teams. In 2023, the hooker represented the Balmain Tigers Harold Matthews Cup team, and this season he was promoted to the SG Ball Cup squad.

If he stays with the team, he will have the opportunity to learn from players like Jake Simpkin, Tallyn Da Silva, who is youthful and versatile, and Apisai Koroisau, a three-time premiership dummy-half.

Haywood signed a contract with the Wests Tigers that runs through the end of the 2024 season, as confirmed by Aria Management Group.