According to insights from Love Rugby League, Catalans Dragons have positioned themselves as the frontrunners in the pursuit of Wests Tigers center Brent Naden for the upcoming 2025 Super League campaign.
Naden stands among a group of players poised to depart the Tigers as they initiate a substantial rebuilding phase. CEO Shane Richardson recently visited the UK to engage with various Super League clubs, presenting potential transfers for players the Tigers are open to releasing.
Reports from Australia indicate that Richardson has been actively scouting talent in the Super League market. However, one notable development is that Naden, a Wests Tigers player, appears to be moving in the opposite direction for the 2025 season.
Despite having a year remaining on his contract with the Tigers, Naden is poised to secure a release to pursue a move to the Super League. Catalans Dragons are now at the forefront of securing his signature, with a deal nearing completion, as revealed by insights from Love Rugby League.
Naden’s versatility, with the ability to excel both at centre and on the wing, adds a valuable dimension to the Catalans backline. This becomes especially crucial as the club bids farewell to England internationals Tom Johnstone and Tom Davies, whose exits have already been confirmed at the end of this season.
Fellow winger Fouad Yaha is off-contract
Fellow winger Fouad Yaha is off-contract, as is centre Matt Ikuvalu, and the Dragons are lining up Naden as a frontline option to join the club next season.
He has featured six times for the Tigers so far this season, but they have lost every game in which Naden has feature. Benji Marshall’s side are currently on a nine-game losing run and sit bottom of the NRL – with a major rebuild coming on the horizon.
And Naden looks set to be one player who will certainly be part of that overhaul, with a move to Perpignan in 2025 now looming on the horizon as Catalans go about replacing some of their big names who will be departing the club at the end of the coming season.
