English billionaire Marwan Koukash has ruled out buying Wests Tigers after whittling down his NRL club shopping list to "one or two" remaining options.
The one-time Palestinian refugee, now a wealthy businessman and racehorse owner, has publicly stated his intention to buy an NRL club.
The owner of English Super League club Salford is expected to fly out to Australia in October to finalise the deal, however he says he still hasn't made up his mind which club to buy into.
But he has ruled out buying the Wests Tigers.
"It's not something that would be of interest to me, no," Koukash told Sky Sports Big Sports Breakfast on Thursday.
The 55-year-old said the club's joint venture structure - the source of infighting between the Wests and Balmain factions - had been a turn off.
"That's too complicated for me. I'm going to pass on that," he said.
Asked if he'd spoken to the Newcastle Knights, the outspoken businessman said it was "no secret" he had an interest in the club.
"It's definitely one of the clubs that I'm looking at," he said.
Koukash rescued the cash-strapped Salford Red Devils in 2013 and helped the one-time wooden spooners move up to 10th spot this season.
Owner of Melbourne Cup runner Mount Athos, he spent a large part of his childhood in a Jordanian refugee camp before moving to Kuwait and England.
In the next 18 months, Koukash said he had a "big interest" in making the move to Australia.
"Some people call me crazy, but I love the sport (rugby league)," he said.
"I can't see myself not being involved ... in the best rugby competition in the world."
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