West Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis says the club has quickly dealt with comments made by Api Koroisau during Penrith’s premiership celebrations.
The departing Panthers star, who is set to join the Tigers next season, responded sarcastically when asked he how he felt about leaving the back-to-back NRL champions.
Asked on stage at Panthers Stadium about departing the Panthers for the much less successful Tigers, Koroisau said the following:
“Just to go out on a high like that, it’s pretty incredible, and I’ll probably do the same thing at the Tigers,” he said before laughing in a sarcastic manner.
It was a spur of the moment quip or sledge that those of a Wests Tigers persuasion may have been offended by.
In response, Hagipantelis said he and Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe had already spoken to Koroisau’s management to clear up the comments.
“The comments have not escaped our attention of course,” he said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“I suspect that this will be the first subject of conversation this morning.
“Last night, our CEO Justin Pascoe and I both reached out to Api’s manager. The matter has been dealt with and dealt with privately.
“I’m not particularly keen on giving it too much oxygen this morning.
“As I understand and I don’t know him too well, but Api is a thoroughly decent fella and presents as such.
“I’m sure if he had his time again he might re-think those comments. They were in the spur of the moment and emotions play a large part and perhaps some alcohol as well.
“We’re not going to put a lot of stock into it and we’re very keen on welcoming him to the club as soon as his World Cup commitments are complete.”
Hagipantelis also commented on Parramatta’s Isaiah Papali’i who had reportedly backflipped on his decision to honour the big-money contract he has signed with the Tigers for 2023 and beyond.
“This was a storm in a teacup, it has been for quite some time,” Hagipantelis added.
“We’ve refrained from commenting on it because there was no need to.
“We are contractually bound to Isaiah, he is contractually bound to the Wests Tigers and there’s never been any suggestion from either side that they were not going to fulfil their contractual obligations.
“We’ve received assurances that Isaiah will be joining the club as soon as his World Cup obligations are complete as well.
“We gave that story no oxygen whatsoever as well because there was nothing in it.”