The club is also paying $450,000-a-season for the services of young gun Latu Fainu after he signed one of the most lucrative deals for a player who hadn’t played in the NRL.

Other players the Tigers are willing to speak to Super League clubs about are expected to include Brent Naden (contracted until 2025 on around $300,000) and John Bateman (2026 on $600,000).

Richardson will also meet with prospective players,which is likely to be used as the reason for his trip,but multiple sources confirmed that his primary objective was to try and shed money in the salary cap and make roster spots available for next year.

The Tigers have one spot remaining on their 30-man roster for 2025 and recently offered injured utility Adam Doueihi a minimum-wage contract,which he declined.

It comes as back-rower Isaiah Papali’i has been granted permission to explore options at other clubs. Richardson met Papali’i’s manager a month ago,with rival clubs informed of his availability over the past few days.

The deal he signed to join the Tigers from Parramatta was for $650,000-a-season as the Dally M back-rower of the year. However,the deal included a 15 per cent ratchet clause that has since taken his salary to around $750,000. Papali’i isn’t interested in playing in the Super League.

The Tigers have lost seven games on the trot and take on the Cowboys this weekend.

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