Tigers nab Royce Hunt as Utoikamanu replacement….

Cronulla’s Royce Hunt has signed a three-year deal with Wests Tigers, shaping as a replacement for outgoing front-rower Stefano Utoikamanu.

The Sharks granted Hunt a release from the final year of his contract, the 29-year-old set to follow Penrith duo Jarome Luai and Sunia Turuva to Benji Marshall’s side in 2025.

A late-blooming West Australian product, Hunt had previously communicated his hopes of a longer stay with the Sharks, who took a chance on him during the COVID-affected 2020 season.

But with Warriors superstar Addin Fonua-Blake arriving to bolster an already busy middle-forward rotation from next season, Hunt loomed as the odd man out at Cronulla.

His arrival comes as the Tigers prepare to farewell former NSW prop Utoikamanu, who has signed with Melbourne from next year following a highly-publicised tug-of-war for his services.

Hunt joins David Klemmer, Alex Twal and Alex Seyfarth as middle forward options at the joint venture next season.

“Royce is a great leader who will be invaluable in assisting us with the development of the younger players at the club,” said coach Marshall.”He’s a tough and uncompromising middle, and more importantly, he’s a good human.

“We look forward to welcoming Royce and his family to our club.”

A Samoa international and Maori All Star, Hunt has played 71 games for Cronulla across five seasons and is set to feature in the side’s run through finals.

He made his NRL debut for Canberra with a lone first-grade appearance in 2017.

Hunt’s Sharks can confirm their top-four berth with a win over Manly in the last round of the regular season this Sunday.