Wests Tigers re-sign talented youngsters

Following on from their selection in the Wests Tigers NRL Auckland Nines squad, the Club is pleased to announce that exciting young prospects Manaia Cherrington and Delouise Hoeter have both agreed to new two-year-deals.

Cherrington, a crafty hooker, and Hoeter, a powerful outside back, have been secured until the end of the 2016 season and will move into the full-time squad next year.

Both players are part of the Wests Tigers’ Under 20s squad for this season and received considerable game time in the NRL trial win over Penrith on Saturday.

Cherrington was a member of the premiership-winning Balmain SG Ball squad in 2012 and played all 25 matches of last year’s Holden Cup season, scoring 10 tries.

“I’ve always wanted to play for the Club since I was young and to re-sign it’s a big honour, I’m proud to be here,” Cherrington said. “It’s really exciting to be named in the Auckland Nines squad and playing my first NRL trial on the weekend was really exciting, I’m ready to keep working hard.”

Hoeter is yet another talented product to graduate from Keebra Park High School in Queensland, bursting onto the Holden Cup scene last year scoring seven tries in 24 matches.

“It’s really exciting getting the opportunity with the Wests Tigers and to play the game at the most professional stage that you can,” Hoeter said. “I’m very happy with the new deal and I can only look forward to what is to come over the next two years.”

After an impressive season in the Under 20s competition last year, both players were selected in the Junior Kiwis train-on squad. Hoeter was unfortunately ruled out of the match against the Junior Kangaroos through injury but Cherrington turned in an impressive performance starting at hooker.

Wests Tigers Head Coach Mick Potter expressed his delight in securing the services of yet another two exciting young players coming through the ranks at the Club.

“I think they are good prospects, I think Manaia has good speed and awareness around the dummy-half and he is still learning and growing so there’s a lot of potential there,” Potter said. “Delouise is a very good outside back who’s understanding and anticipation of what is going to happen is excellent and I’m looking forward to seeing him progress.

“I’d like to think that both of them will get better throughout the season and push for the grade above them,” he said.

Both players will travel to Auckland tomorrow ahead of this weekend’s NRL Auckland Nines tournament.