Wests Tigers players have expressed shock at the resignation of CEO Grant Mayer.

Just one day after Parramatta boss Scott Seward also walked away from the Eels, the Tigers announced that Mayer had stepped aside after more than two years at the helm.

Veteran forward Dene Halatau said he was surprised by the decision but that it remained business as usual for the players on the training paddock.

“We only found out about it (on Monday). It is a bit of a shock, but that’s something beyond us. As players, we just worry about what we do downstairs at the footy ops,” he said.

Off-contract winger Pat Richards said he wasn’t concerned about his contract negotiations but left the door open for an unlikely move to the NFL.

The kicking specialist has long been linked with a switch to punt in the United States, and the 33-year-old didn’t exactly shut the door on the possibility of changing codes.

“You never say never to anything I suppose. I enjoy the kicking the ball, so who knows? We’ll see what happens there,” he said.

“It’d obviously be pretty cool if it did happen. Obviously it’s a long way off.”

Asked whether he had paid particular interest to the progress of Jarryd Hayne’s development at the San Francisco 49ers, he said: “I think everyone’s keen to see how Jarryd goes anyway.

“A special talent of our game and already doing what he’s done – it’s pretty special.”

Halatau is expected to be named by coach Jason Taylor despite tearing his biceps in last Friday’s 34-6 upset of defending premiers South Sydney.

“I was surprised at how quickly it turned around and started feeling a lot better after the week’s training,” Halatau said.

“And other players have played with them. Actually one of our coaching staff, Brett Kimmorley, had a biceps tear that he played with. I asked him about it and it’s pretty much just `carry on and keep going’.

“He made sure that he let me know that he was tough and he didn’t miss a game of football with it.”