Wests Tigers are pleased to confirm the signing of William Kei and Kelma Tuilagi as part of the club’s Development squad for the 2021 NRL season.
The duo joins talented Queensland junior representative centre Reece Hoffman as the three players signed to the club’s 2021 Development squad so far.
Under a Development contract, players will train full-time with the NRL squad but are not permitted to make their NRL debut until after Round 10.
After featuring as part of the Melbourne Storm’s successful squad in 2020, Tuilagi joins Wests Tigers on a two-year deal that will see him move in to the NRL squad in 2022 after the completion of his Development contract in 2021.
A Glenora Bears junior, Tuilagi represented the Junior Kiwis in 2018 before signing a further two-year deal with the Storm, where he featured heavily in the Intrust Super Cup competition with Easts Tigers — scoring five tries in 14 games during 2019.
Kei’s promotion to the Development squad comes after he featured in the club’s Canterbury Cup squad in 2020. Prior to that, the Bankstown Sports junior had featured in Parramatta’s junior representative sides — earning selection and starring for New South Wales.
Hoffman also remains as part of the Development squad as he enters the second year of a three-year deal that will see him move to the NRL squad in 2022.
Welcome to the NRL, Reece Hoffman
A Queensland U/18’s representative in 2019, Hoffman became Wests Tigers Player #234 when he made his first-grade debut against the South Sydney Rabbitohs earlier this year — scoring a try in the Round 9 clash at Bankwest Stadium.
Four players who featured as part of the club's Development squad in 2020 — Jake Simpkin, Jock Madden, Kane Bradley and Zac Cini — all joined the NRL squad this season and have commenced pre-season training with the squad.
