Olam set for Tigers deal

PAPUA New Guinea international Justin Olam has reportedly agreed to a deal with the Wests Tigers and a formal signing is expected to be announced anytime from now.
It was reported that Melbourne Storm are willing to release the former Lae Tiger from his contract three years early. This paper reached out to Storm general manager Frank Ponissi on Friday but he said the club would not make any comment on speculation surrounding their players especially on player movements.
According to the reports Olam is required to pass a fitness test before the actual signing takes place.
Tigers second-rower Shaun Blore is likely to join the Storm as early as this month in swap deal with Olam.
Kumul veteran, Olam, has been with the Storm since 2017 when he first played for the feeder side Sunshine Coast Falcons. Olam was instrumental in Falcons run to the Queensland Cup grand final that year which saw his men went down in a heartbreaking 10-12 defeat to the hands of his fellow countrymen and former team PNG Hunters.
In his second year with the Storm which was in 2018, the former Hunter had to bide his time again in the Queensland Cup before he got his opportunity on May, 2018 where he made his NRL debut in round 9 match against the St George Illawarra Dragons at Jubilee Oval.
Olam only played three NRL games that year but he finally became a mainstay in the Craig Bellamy-coached side in mid-2019 season where he displaced club veteran and Queensland Origin centre Will Chambers to become a regular in Storm’s starting side.
The Sinasina-Ypnggomugl, Chimbu native maintained his consistency for five years which saw him get re-signed twice.
It was only in mid-2023 season that saw a drop in form resulting in relegation to the Q-Cup which led to him being offered a release to other clubs who might be interested in him.
Olam’s highlights at the Storm was the 2020 NRL premiership win and the 2021 Dally M Centre-of-the-Year award.