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Wests Tigers centre Justin Olam is on the verge of a medical retirement as he struggles to overcome a knee injury that required surgery in the offseason.
The Papua New Guinean international is striving to get himself on the training field and the Wests Tigers are set to discuss his future with his management later this week.
There are fears the 31-year-old’s time in the NRL could be over as a result of the injury that has severely restricted his workload.
Olam wants to continue playing but is unable to get himself in a position to train with the team. A medical retirement would see him paid out the remainder of his near $600,000-a-season contract which expires at the end of 2026.
It would also mean the Wests Tigers will have his wage wiped from the salary cap, however the club is no guarantee to be granted a medical retirement exemption.
In order to qualify for the medical retirement, the club will have to successfully argue that his career has been cut short due to a one-off injury and not as the result of a chronic issue. The Wests Tigers declined to comment when contacted on Monday.
Justin Olam may have played his last game in the NRL.Credit: Getty
Olam has long had knee issues dating back to his time at the Melbourne Storm and has been hampered by it during his time at the Tigers.
The knee that required surgery this offseason was the opposite knee that primarily hampered him during his time at the Storm. The Tigers believe he suffered an injury in round 18 against his old club at Leichhardt that has been the major contributor to his current dire predicament.
Wests Tigers centre Justin Olam is on the verge of a medical retirement as he struggles to overcome a knee injury that required surgery in the offseason.
The Papua New Guinean international is striving to get himself on the training field and the Wests Tigers are set to discuss his future with his management later this week.
There are fears the 31-year-old’s time in the NRL could be over as a result of the injury that has severely restricted his workload.
Olam wants to continue playing but is unable to get himself in a position to train with the team. A medical retirement would see him paid out the remainder of his near $600,000-a-season contract which expires at the end of 2026.
It would also mean the Wests Tigers will have his wage wiped from the salary cap, however the club is no guarantee to be granted a medical retirement exemption.
In order to qualify for the medical retirement, the club will have to successfully argue that his career has been cut short due to a one-off injury and not as the result of a chronic issue. The Wests Tigers declined to comment when contacted on Monday.
Justin Olam may have played his last game in the NRL.Credit: Getty
Olam has long had knee issues dating back to his time at the Melbourne Storm and has been hampered by it during his time at the Tigers.
The knee that required surgery this offseason was the opposite knee that primarily hampered him during his time at the Storm. The Tigers believe he suffered an injury in round 18 against his old club at Leichhardt that has been the major contributor to his current dire predicament.
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