The Wests Tigers have had a keen focus on their pathways in recent seasons, and they are set to land another blow, with rising star David Bryenton agreeing to join the club from the Canterbury Bulldogs.
A young fullback who can also play on the wing, Bryenton is still a teenager but has a big future ahead of him.
ESPN have revealed the rising talent is in the final stages of gaining his official release from the Bulldogs even though he actually left the club at the back-end of 2025 after being given permission to finish the year in Queensland with the Ipswich Jets.
In his two games for Ipswich, he played one off the bench, and the other at fullback, with the goal-kicking able back picking up a try assist, six tackle busts and 154 running metres in the game he started against the Western Clydsdales during Round 19.
Bryenton is still contracted to the Bulldogs, but it's understood he has agreed to terms on a two-year deal with the Tigers where he will join Benji Marshall's set-up and provide handy back-up for Jahream Bula in the coming years.
The rising star could also slot in on the wing where the Tigers had something of a revolving door in team selection throughout 2026 as they stumbled down the ladder after a promising start to the campaign.
It's understood he will sign a two-year deal with the joint-venture outfit, having played for the Australian Schoolboys.
It could mean the end of the road at the Tigers for another youngster in Heath Mason though, who remains uncontracted beyond the end of 2027 despite his ability to play either fullback or in the halves.
runs the ball during the round 24 NRL match between Wests Tigers and South Sydney Rabbitohs at Campbelltown Stadium, on August 17, 2024, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)
Mason has become something of a stalwart at the lower levels for the Tigers, but has struggled to translate that into on-field runs at first-grade level when handed opportunities due to other injuries or issues around the struggling club.
Mason has long been rated a star of the future, but time have may run out for him to realise that at Concord.
The Tigers, who have let go of Jarome Luai for next year, but debuted Javon Andrews at the back-end of the year, appear to have all but settled on their future spine, and there will be no way in for Mason, with Bryenton now to jump the queue and push for minutes behind Bula at the back, while Andrews is joined by Latu Fainu and Adam Doueihi in the race for minutes in the halves.
