Tigers can target marquee man after Reynolds joins Hull

Wests Tigers will have salary cap space to target a marquee roster addition in 2021 after Josh Reynolds has made an early exit from his contract to join Super League's Hull FC.

Reynolds has agreed to a three-year deal with Hull FC, where 2005 premiership winner and recent Tigers assistant coach Brett Hodgson has taken charge.

His departure frees up the best part of $500,000 in the Tigers salary cap after he was unsuccessfully shopped to NRL rivals last season.

Having already had a six-figure sum to play with for the coming season, Reynolds's early release has the Tigers well placed to target a big-name signing.

At this stage club officials have indicated to NRL.com that former Dragons captain Gareth Widdop is not on the joint-venture's radar, with an outside back their priority.

Widdop is looking to return from Super League early on personal grounds and is being offered to NRL clubs for around $300,000 in 2021, though he is yet to formally request a release from his English outfit Warrington.

The Tigers also recently pulled out of negotiations with Storm star Josh Addo-Carr, continuing a busy off-season that has seen Joe Ofahengaue and James Roberts arrive amidst Josh Aloiai's messy move to Manly.

Hull have announced his signing and Reynolds, in a statement issued by the Wests Tigers, said he would like to thank "all the members, fans, administrators and coaches for their ongoing support".

"I am grateful to Wests Tigers for the opportunity to represent this great club,” Reynolds said.

"I’ll miss my teammates the most, and I wish them and the club all the best next season."

Reynolds's release brings to a close a tumultuous Tigers stint for the 31-year-old, who was signed by former coach Ivan Cleary on a lucrative four-year deal worth around $3 million in 2017.

The ex-NSW Origin five-eighth's time at Concord has been severely hampered by injury, playing just 22 games in three seasons.

His signing for Hull FC comes after fellow Tigers half Benji Marshall knocked back an approach by Hodgson recently.

Speaking to hullfc.com, Reynolds said: "I’m really excited and proud to be joining a club like Hull FC, they’re a big club with great heritage and a very passionate set of fans. 

"I’ve heard a lot about the club and their vision which is exciting and I’d love to get over to the UK and try and win a trophy with them. 

"They’ve won the cup a couple of times recently which looked like great occasions to be part of and so do the derby games.

"The stadium looks class. I can’t wait to run out there for the club and start the next chapter in my career, I’m really ready to rip in and get started. I’m excited about what the next few years has in store."

The Super League move will effectively bring a close to Reynolds' NRL career, in which he played 160 games for the Tigers and Bulldogs, as well as four Origins including a famous 2014 series win for the Blues.

"Despite a number of setbacks in his time with Wests Tigers, Josh has always endeavoured to put the team and the club before himself. He departs this club with the utmost respect of all the players and staff, and we wish him nothing but the very best for the future," CEO Justin Pascoe said.