West Tigers have given Josh Reynolds permission to look at rival clubs for a new home in 2020, according to chief NRL.com reporter Michael Chammas.
It was revealed that head coach Michael Maguire recently discussed the future of Reynolds, including the opportunity to find a new club.
“That has been a while coming because despite the fact that Ivan Cleary had big plans for Reynolds, under Michael Maguire he has battled with injury,” Ben Ikin told NRL 360.
“He has been mainly playing in the second tier and looks as though he isn’t going to get an opportunity in the top grade under Michael Maguire the way he would have wanted.
“He is too good a player not to be playing in the top grade somewhere.”
The move has been linked with Benji Marshall's desire to play on in season 2020.
The Bulldogs now seem as a potential new home home for Reynolds.
However, Reynolds current contract at the Tigers involves big money, which may prove to be a problem for a new team, according to Brent Read.
“It is all about value for money and he is on $800,000 or more,” Read said.
“So it is all well and good for the Tigers to say go and find another club, but you have to find a club willing to pitch in and make it worthwhile.
“If the Tigers are paying $500,000 you might as well keep him because you only have $300,000 spare and you won’t get a better player than Reynolds for that.”
Ben Ikin believes Reynolds would be a handy pick up for a team that is trying to improve their culture on and off the field.
“He would be a great addition if you are trying to build a culture at a club he is a great club man,” Ikin said.
“If you get him at the right price he is the ultimate competitor and I stake a lot on what James Graham thinks about his teammates and he holds Josh Reynolds in the highest regard.
“When Reynolds was leaving the Bulldogs to go to the Tigers and the things that Graham said about him, not that I wasn’t already sold, but it just stamped it.”
James Hopper raised a potential homecoming for Reynolds at the Bulldogs if the right price can be hit.
“Surely all roads lead back to Belmore in a perfect world,” Hooper said.
“He is a local junior. He was the heart and soul of that club for so long. He didn’t want to leave, but he met his Allan Bond in that Ivan Cleary came in and threw him the four-year-deal at $800,000 a season.
“If the Tigers are prepared to chip in a little bit and throw in $300,000, for a club like Canterbury that are anchored to the bottom of the table in a rebuild, he would be a smart buy.”