Sport Confidential: South Sydney favourite to re-sign, Broncos star Payne Haas hits open market
South Sydney is set to receive a signing boost with one of their a forward-pack linchpins to ink a long-term extension. Plus, Payne Haas drops bombshell on Broncos.
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South Sydney prop Tevita Tatola is set to ease the disappointment of missing out on the NSW side by signing a long-term extension at the Rabbitohs.
Sports Confidential understands that Tatola is in the final stages of negotiating a new deal with the club which will see him remain at the Rabbitohs for the prime years of his playing career.
Tatola was considered unlucky by some to miss out on a State of Origin debut this year, having been in solid form for Souths.
However, news of a contract extension will be greeted with delight by Rabbitohs fans.
BRONCOS ROCKED BY HAAS CALL
Brisbane powerhouse Payne Haas has dropped a bombshell on the Broncos with his management confirming he will launch a multimillion-dollar scramble for his services by heading to the open market on November 1.
Haas, who missed NSW’s win over Queensland on Wednesday night with an ankle injury, is regarded as the No.1 forward in the game and is bound to have no shortage of suitors in rugby league and rugby union.
The Bulldogs, Brisbane’s opponent on Saturday afternoon, are expected to be at the front of the queue as they look to supercharge their rebuild under head of football Phil Gould.
Revelations that Haas intends to go to market will be a sledgehammer blow to the Broncos. The club has been attempting to strike a deal with their star man since last year, when Haas stunned the club by requesting a release when talks over a new deal hit a roadblock.
The Broncos convinced Haas to stay but they have been unable to convince him to sign an extension since and his agent Ahmad Merhi confirmed to Sport Confidential that his client would head to the open market to get an accurate gauge of his worth.
“We’re pretty clear that we are going to wait until November 1,” Merhi said. “We’re four months away from November 1 and it would ...be a smart decision to wait until November 1 seeing Payne is the player he is and there is a possibility he may get the Dally M award this year.
“We have discussed it and we are going to wait until November 1. His (preference) is to stay in Brisbane. He also understands that there are other opportunities so he wants to look at those opportunities when they present themselves and then go from there – weigh up the pros and cons and go from there.”
Haas is due to earn $848,000 next season but would easily command seven figures on the open market.
Merhi confirmed Haas was on a list of players sent to clubs in Australia and England who were coming off contract at the end of next season.
The Australian Rugby Union has also expressed an interest in Haas as they look to continue the assault on rugby league that began with the recruitment of Sydney Roosters teenage sensation Joseph Suaalii.
Merhi insisted Haas’ preference was to stay at Brisbane and play for coach Kevin Walters but he owed it to himself to explore his options.
“We hear the rumours as well about Australian rugby and the Bulldogs,” Merhi said.
“I can tell you it is all just hearsay. We do our usual rounds of sending a list to all the clubs in the NRL and in the UK saying these are the players coming off in 2024 and they are up for negotiation on November 1.
“They all respond with the same response – keen to talk about Payne. I think Payne’s concerns last year (with Brisbane) were about being in a competitive team.
“I know he wants to tick boxes and I am allowing those boxes to be ticked. He is ticking boxes at the moment – they are winning, he is in a competitive side.
“I know why he wants to play for Kevvie – Kevvie is a gentleman. Commercially he will wait until November 1.
“Ultimately it is his decision – he has to weigh up the pros and cons.”
Haas missed Wednesday’s Origin through injury and won’t play against the Bulldogs on Saturday. He is due back from an ankle injury next week.
TIGERS GO ABOARD
Wests Tigers’ desperate search to find a halves pairing for next season is set to go abroad with the club linked to Brodie Croft and Aidan Sezer in recent days.
The 32-year-old Sezer, who last played the last of his 155 NRL games in 2019 for the Raiders, has indicated he will return to Australia at the end of the Super League season.
He has been pitched to the Tigers to help try and solve the gaping hole in the Tigers’ scrum base next season.
The other potential option is Croft who would want more than $500,000 to make his NRL comeback. Croft has a remarkable contract with Salford until the end of 2030 but it is understood there are potential get out clauses should he wish to relocate to Australia. Croft has spent the past two years in the Super League.
The Tigers are busily trying to secure players who could start next season at No.6 and No.7. As it stands they don’t have anyone contracted to play in the halves next year.
Adam Doueihi underwent a further knee operation this week while the Tigers are patiently waiting to know if Manly’s boom teenage half Latu Fainu will join them next year.
Latu and brother Samuela are in talks with the Tigers and Dolphins after being granted permission to leave Manly immediately.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys have signed Jake Clifford from next season. Clifford will return to the Cowboys after just one season with Hull FC. He played 42 games for the Cowboys before joining Newcastle in 2021.
BRONCOS SEAL LODGE’S MANLY MOVE
Manly owner and chair Scott Penn has revealed that a reference from Brisbane chair Karl Morris and a “long conversation” with Matt Lodge convinced him to rubber-stamp the signing of the former Brisbane and Roosters forward for the reminder of the season.
Lodge joined the Sea Eagles this week on a train-and-trial contract, having been told he was free to leave by the Roosters after a turbulent time at the club. He will play for Manly’s feeder side Blacktown this weekend as he looks to push for a return to first grade.
Penn insists Manly did their due diligence and confirmed that he had personally spoken to Lodge to ensure he was the best fit for the Sea Eagles.
“I wanted to have a chat to him before we took it any further,” Penn told Sport Confidential.
“It was really important that we are really focused on our culture and where we are heading as a club. We are absolutely focused on winning premierships.
“We need to make sure everyone coming to the club meets our culture. In pretty quick time it was clear he could add a lot of value.
“He is a super-smart guy. It was an enjoyable conversation because it wasn’t just about football. A lot of it was around his family and how passionate he is about his family.
“We want more leaders on and off the field within the club. There is an opportunity for him to cement himself in a real leadership position within the club.”
Lodge has only signed with Manly for the reminder of this season but Penn’s comments suggest he could secure a longer deal should he stand up over the coming months.
Penn insists the club conducted background research on Lodge given the nature of his departures from Brisbane, the Warriors and the Roosters — his exit from the Roosters was particularly acrimonious.
“We made sure we did due diligence,” Penn said.
“Things happen for a reason and as we know, there are always a number of sides to a story. The reality is with Matthew things have happened to him — some things he is not proud of but he has owned them and moved on.
“Ultimately, that is what we needed to hear. The good positive thing is he lives in the area, his kids go to school here and his eldest plays for the Mona Vale Raiders.
“We’re serious about what we want to achieve but we are also serious about our culture. So it had to be the right fit.”
AXED BLUE’S ‘PERSONAL’ MISSION
Dumped NSW forward Stefano Utoikamanu says he is coming for Jacob Saifiti – the man who took his Origin jersey from him.
The big men will come head to head provided Saifiti backs up for the Knights against the Tigers on Friday night. While Utoikamanu holds no ill will towards his opponent the Tigers forward has turned it into a personal challenge after being axed following his Origin debut in game two.
“I’ll be looking out for him on Friday,” Utoikamanu said. “He is a good player. I hoped for the best for him.
“100 per cent (it is personal). I want to show why I should’ve been there on Wednesday. I want to go out on Friday and prove that I should’ve been there.
Utoikamanu’s Origin debut was bittersweet. He was proud to live out a boyhood dream but felt unsatisfied with the way the match unfolded.
The 23-year-old was told he was “rested” by coach Brad Fittler heading into game three despite playing just 12 minutes off the bench in Origin III.
“I was a bit on the fence with how I played.” Utoikamanu said on keeping his spot. “I don’t think I could do much more than what I did with the time I was given. That was the coach’s call.
“(I was) not really surprised. I felt it’s gone with chopping and changing because we were losing. I knew if they were going to lose the game then people would be on the chopping block. I wasn’t too surprised I wasn’t in the team.
It would’ve been nice to get a few more minutes and try and prove that I (belong).
“I was expecting about (20-25) minutes. The back end of the first half and starting the second half. But Tommy (Trbojevic) got injured.
“It showed me that it was the best players in the game and to play against them is a big achievement. It’s something I always want to strive for. I’m going to push for a spot next year.”
WARRIORS BLOCK KNIGHTS
The Warriors will re-sign Adam Pompey after the centre rejected an advance from the Knights. The Knights remain confident Tyson Frizell will recommit to the club despite the representative back-rower yet to formally sign his contract extension.
While the situation with Frizell is inching towards a conclusion, Newcastle have missed out on securing Pompey.
Pompey and Knights officials met recently with the 24-year-old a free agent at the end of the season. The Warriors are now expected to keep him at the club with Pompey securing a starting centre spot this year.
SEA EAGLES’ SET TO FLY COOP
The Fainu brothers are expected to make a decision on their respective futures within the next fortnight as they weigh up offers from the Wests Tigers and the Dolphins.
Latu and Samuela Fainu – members of the NSW under 19 side on Thursday night – have been given permission by Manly to explore their options on the open market and have held talks with Tigers boss Benji Marshall and the Dolphins’ seven-time premiership winner, Wayne Bennett.
With a decision looming fast, the pair could yet make an immediate move to their chosen club given they are able to move up until the August 7 deadline.
PNG BUILDS NRL FOUNDATIONS
PNG is continuing to build its foundations as they push towards becoming the NRL’s 18th team. PNG’s NRL bid have created its first academy for elite juniors as they focus on becoming a development team.
The most talented 14-16 year-olds players in the country will receive coaching and mentoring off-field from Monday with 74 players selected from more than 60 schools.
PNG NRL bid chief executive Andrew Hill described the academy as a “major step forward when it comes to creating an elite player pathway for the game in PNG.”
“I’m confident that the program we have created will provide talented young players the opportunity to be successful and on par with NRL clubs in Australia,” Hill said.
“Having witnessed the success in recent seasons at the Parramatta Eels with Joey Grima leading the
academy programs, I know our players in PNG will be given the right environment for success. The Parramatta Eels won the under-19 competition this year and many players had been in that system for several years.”
“We are looking to create a structure that can identify and develop the next Justin Olam, Edwin Ipape or Elise Albert, and take them on a journey to playing in the NRL.”
BEASTIE V GALLOPING GREENS
Eastern Suburbs rugby club will host a 30-year reunion for what was arguably one of the best club rugby match-ups in Shute Shield history.
A host of past and future Wallabies took to the field when Easts played Randwick on June 19, 1993. The likes of Phil Kearns, Ewen McKenzie, David Campese, Tim Kelaher, Tim Gavin, Michael Brial and Sam Payne turned out for the respective sides. Many of those players will be on hand to celebrate the match as part of the annual Back to Easts celebration on Saturday against Randwick at Woollahra Oval.
For the records, Easts – coached by Russell Fairfax – won that game three decades ago.
TURBO OUT OF HOSPITAL
Manly superstar Tom Trbojevic is out of hospital and on the mend after picking up an infection following his. Trbojevic had a setback and was forced to return to hospital after complications from the injury he picked up in Origin II.
ORIGIN MONEY BALL
Fans who attended Wednesday’s Origin game were able to keep the game ball if it was kicked into the crowd.
FLASHBACK
Former Wests Tigers hooker Robbie Farah made front page news on this day 10 years ago. Farah captained the NSW side in the absence of regular skipper Paul Gallen heading into a game three decider. He dedicated the moment to his late mother Sonia.
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