Tim Johannssen has officially departed the Wests Tigers and signed with South Sydney Rabbitohs, making his first appearance for their NSW Cup side over the weekend.
The 22-year-old forward was on a train-and-trial contract with the Tigers in 2025, despite having a deal that ran until the end of 2026. His mid-season switch comes less than a year after making his NRL debut and is understood to be in pursuit of greater playing opportunities.
It remains unclear whether the new deal includes any NRL components.
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From Sydney Shield to NRL in a matter of months
Johannssen’s move caps off a whirlwind 12 months. In early 2024, he was playing fourth-grade footy in the Sydney Shield before progressing rapidly through the Ron Massey Cup and NSW Cup to earn his debut against the Cowboys in August at Leichhardt Oval.
He had joined the Tigers that year via feeder club Ryde-Eastwood, having won the Jersey Flegg Cup with the Bulldogs in 2023. His rise was highlighted by a standout performance in the NSW Cup, where he scored a 50-metre match-winning try against the Warriors in Auckland.
Born in Switzerland to a Spanish mother and Norwegian-Australian father, Johannssen moved to Australia as an infant. He played his junior rugby league with the South Tweed Bears before spending time in the Newcastle Knights system.
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Despite his rapid progression, Johannssen admitted in an earlier interview that he had briefly stepped away from the sport in 2023. “I just didn’t feel the desire and drive anymore, so I walked away from the game,” he said.
His younger brother Noah remains part of the Tigers’ Jersey Flegg squad.