Former Wests Tigers prop Josh Aloiai denies he chased the money when he left Concord for Brookvale in the off-season – joining Manly Sea Eagles after an ugly public spat with Wests Tigers officials.

Aloiai told The Sydney Morning Herald that it was a chance to play finals football alongside the likes of Tom Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans and play under coach Des Hasler that made him and his management force a break in his contract.

When pressed about a pay rise at Brookvale, Aloiai told SMH it “was a lie”.

“I’m really happy with the way I went out. I got to keep my integrity the way I went out and I chose not to get into a media battle,” Aloiai said.

“For the first part it [the criticism] was something you can take personally, that whole character assassination. And that was exactly what was happening.

“But the more I thought about it, my friends and family know who I am and what I’m about, and it’s their opinions that really matter.″⁣

Wests Tigers play Manly in a pre-season trial at Leichhardt on February 28.