Guide to your club’s pre-season: Player movements, key buys and training return

NRL PRE-SEASON: Every club’s return date for training, all the off-season player movement and each team’s key buy.

THE NRL season isn’t long gone but already clubs have turned their attentions to next year and how best they can rectify the disappointments of 2016 or improve on the successes that got them close to glory but not close enough.

Already there has been a flurry of player movements as clubs move to snatch up any talent on offer and the bulk of squads will begin their pre-season training next week.

Find out when your club is returning to training, which players they’ve dumped ahead of the new season as well as who they’ve bought, and see who is the key buy to make or break your team’s hopes in 2017.

LAST CHANCE SALOON: The most intriguing story of the preseason

BRISBANE

Key Buy: Benji Marshall shapes as the most intriguing buy of 2017 Friday’s confirmation he has officially signed on with the Broncos.

Return to training: November 7

Gains: Tautau Moga (North Queensland), Moses Pangai (Townsville Blackhawks), David Mead (Titans), Benji Marshall (St George Illawarra)

Losses: Greg Eden (Castleford), Brett Greinke (Rabbitohs), Corey Parker (retirement), Jarrod Wallace (Titans), Jack Reed (retirement)

Benji Marshall is off to the Broncos. pic Mark Evans

CANBERRA

Key Buy: Dave Taylor may be one of the game’s most enigmatic players. But if he gets it right at the Raiders ... look out.

Return to training: November 21

Gains: Jordan Turner (St Helens), Dave Taylor (Catalans)

Losses: Brenko Lee (Bulldogs), Lachlan Lewis (Bulldogs), Sisa Waqa (rugby union), Zac Woolford (Bulldogs), Paul Vaughan (Dragons), Sam Williams (Wakefield)

Dave Taylor has been picked up by the Raiders. Picture by Scott Fletcher

CANTERBURY

Key Buy: Brenko Lee who, having scored four tries against Parramatta in Round 24, adds some valuable depth to the Bulldogs’ outside back stocks.

Return to training: November 1

Gains: Zac Woolford (Raiders), Josh Cleeland (Sharks), Rhyse Martin (Townsville Blackhawks), Brenko Lee (Raiders), Francis Tualau (Storm), Tom Carr (Dragons)

Losses: Tony Williams (Sharks), Lyndon McGrady (released), Pat O’Hanlon (retired), Sam Perrett (retirement), Curtis Rona (rugby union), Tim Browne (Panthers)

LAST CHANCE SALOON: The most intriguing story of the preseason

Brenko Lee has moved to Belmore. Picture Kym Smith

CRONULLA

Key Buy: Once touted as the heir apparent to Robbie Farah, Manaia Cherrington now shapes as the new, if somewhat quieter, Ennis the Menace.

Return to training: December 2

Gains: Manaia Cherrington (Wests Tigers), Tony Williams (Bulldogs)

Losses: David Fifita (released), Mitch Brown (Leigh), Josh Cleeland (Bulldogs), Michael Ennis (retirement), Connor Tracey (Rabbitohs), Matt McIlwrick (released)

Manaia Cherrington has been brought in as a possible replacement for Michael Ennis.

GOLD COAST

Key Buy: Jarrod Wallace. The young prop will be a welcome addition to the Titans pack.

Return to training: November 14

Gains: Dan Sarginson (Wigan), Jarrod Wallace (Broncos)

Losses: Nathan Friend (retirement), David Hala (released), Nene Macdonald (Dragons), David Mead (Broncos), Cameron Cullen (Sea Eagles), Luke Douglas (St Helens), Josh Hoffman (Eels), Greg Bird (Catalans)

Jarrod Wallace will call the Gold Coast home. Pic Peter Wallis

MANLY

Key Buy: Blake Green. Signed to be the No. 6 Manly officials had hoped Dylan Walker would transform into.

Return to training: November 1

Gains: Shaun Lane (Warriors), Blake Green (Storm), Cameron Cullen (Titans), Akuila Uate (Knights), Johnathan Wright (Warriors)

Losses: Jamie Lyon (retirement), Tim Moltzen (retired), Tom Symonds (Huddersfield), Siosia Vave (Eels), Liam Knight (Roosters), Nathan Green (released), Blake Leary (released), Issac John (released), Jayden Hodges (released), Rhys Armstrong (released), Fabian Goodall (rugby union), Halaufa Lavaka (released), Tony Satini (released), Dylan Kelly (released), Hugh Pratt (released), Nicho Hynes (released), Darcy Cox (released), Josh Starling (released), Jamie Buhrer (Knights)

Blake Green will line-up in the halves alongside Daly Cherry Evans.

LAST CHANCE SALOON: The most intriguing story of the preseason

MELBOURNE

Key Buy: Josh Addo-Carr, who will be looking to copy and paste the story of the man he replaces, Marika Koroibete.

Return to training: November 10

Gains: Josh Addo-Carr (Wests Tigers), Brandon Smith (Cowboys), Vincent Leuluai (Roosters), Jahrome Hughes (Cowboys), Ryley Jacks (Sunshine Coast Falcons)

Losses: Marika Koroibete (rugby union), Josh Kerr (Dragons), Ryan Morgan (St Helens), Blake Green (Sea Eagles), Ben Hampton (released), Richie Kennar (released), Matt White (released).

Flyer Josh Addo-Carr has big shoes to fill at the Storm. Pic Brett Costello

NEWCASTLE

Key Buy: Jamie Buhrer brings some valuable experience to a forward pack light on in that department.

Return to training: November 1

Gains: Jamie Buhrer (Sea Eagles), Rory Kostjasyn (Cowboys)

Losses: Jeremy Smith (retirement), James McManus (retirement), Kade Snowden (retirement), Robbie Rochow (Rabbitohs), Akuila Uate (Sea Eagles)

Jamie Buhrer will be a welcome addition to the Knights’ pack. Picture: Gregg Porteous

NORTH QUEENSLAND

Key Buy: Ben Hampton. The rising playmaker has been signed as the Cowboys prepare, eventually, for life without Johnathan Thurston.

Return to training: November 16

Gains: Ben Hampton (Storm), Shane Wright (Titans)

Losses: Brandon Smith (Storm), James Tamou (Panthers), Jahrome Hughes (Storm), Rory Kostjasyn (Knights), Tautau Moga (Broncos)

Will Ben Hampton eventually replace the great JT? pic Mark Evans

PARRAMATTA

Key Buy: Prop Nathan Brown, who brings a madness previously only shown by the Eels board.

Return to training: November 7

Gains: Jamal Fogerty (Burleigh Bears), Siosia Vave (Sea Eagles), Nathan Brown (Rabbitohs), George Jennings (Panthers), Josh Hoffman (Titans)

Losses: Tyrell Fuimaono (Rabbitohs), Michael Gordon (Roosters), Luke Kelly (Souths), Kieren Moss (Bradford), Anthony Watmough (retired), Kieran Foran (Warriors)

Nathan Brown will give the Eels’ pack some mongrel. pic Mark Evans

LAST CHANCE SALOON: The most intriguing story of the preseason

PENRITH

Key Buy: James Tamou brings additional size, grunt and leadership to the code’s most exciting forward pack.

Return to training: November 14

Gains: James Tamou (Cowboys), Mitch Rein (Dragons, likely) Tim Browne (Bulldogs), Michael Oldfield (Rabbitohs), Liam Coleman (Rabbitohs), Darren Nicholls (Redcliffe Dolphins)

Losses: Ben Garcia (Catalans), George Jennings (Eels), Zak Hardaker (Leeds), Rob Jennings (Souths), Will Smith (released), Tupou Sopoaga (released), Suaia Matagi (released)

James Tamou is heading to the foot of the mountains. Pic Peter Wallis

SOUTH SYDNEY

Key Buy: Robbie Farah, who arrives as both reserve grader and Origin incumbent.

Return to training: November 1

Gains: Tyrell Fuimaono (Eels), Robbie Rochow (Knights), Connor Tracey (Sharks), Robbie Farah (Wests Tigers), Luke Kelly (Eels), Rob Jennings (Panthers)

Losses: Joe Burgess (Wigan), Luke Keary (Roosters), Paul Carter (Roosters), Kirisome Auva’a (released), Cameron McInnes (Dragons), Nathan Brown (Eels), Michael Oldfield (Panthers), Liam Coleman (Panthers)

Robbie Farah will now call Redfern home. Picture: Tim Hunter.

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA

Key Buy: Hooker Cam McInness, who is determined to make himself a key part of the Dragons spine.

Return to training: November 7

Gains: Paul Vaughan (Raiders), Josh Kerr (Storm), Nene Macdonald (Titans), Cameron McInnes (Rabbitohs)

Losses: Mike Cooper (Warrington), Sebastine Ikahihifo (Huddersfield), Ben Creagh (retirement), Mitch Rein (Panthers, likely), Benji Marshall (released), Tom Carr (Bulldogs), Dylan Farrell (retirement)

Cameron McInnes will take over from Mitch Rein at hooker. Picture Cameron Richardson.

SYDNEY ROOSTERS

Key Buy: Luke Keary. He has been signed to fill that gaping hole left last year by James Maloney.

Return to training: November 1

Gains: Michael Gordon (Eels), Luke Keary (Rabbitohs), Liam Knight (Sea Eagles), Zane Tetevano (Wyong Roos), Paul Carter (Rabbitohs)

Losses: Vincent Leuluai (Storm), Sam Moa (Catalans), Ian Henderson (retired), Abraham Papalii (released)

Can Luke Keary fill the halves hole left by James Maloney?

LAST CHANCE SALOON: The most intriguing story of the preseason

WARRIORS

Key Buy: Kieran Foran, if allowed play, could finally provide the Warriors with that elusive hard edge that has for so long been lacking.

Return to training: November 2

Gains: Kieran Foran (Eels)

Losses: Thomas Leuluai (Wigan), Shaun Lane (Sea Eagles), Jonathan Wright (Sea Eagles), Ali Lauitiiti (retired), Ben Henry (retired), John Palavi (released), Sione Lousi (released), Henare Wells (released)

Kieran Foran can elevate the Warriors to another level. pic Mark Evans

WESTS TIGERS

Key Buy: Jamal Idris, if signed as expected, could prove the buy or bust of 2017.

Return to training: November 7

Gains: Jamal Idris (Contiki)

Losses: Josh Addo-Carr (Storm), Jack Buchanan (Widnes), Josh Drinkwater (released), Asipeli Fine (Bulldogs), Lamar Liolevave (Bulldogs), Billy McConnachie (released), Jesse Parahi (Rugby Sevens), Manaia Cherrington (Sharks), Dene Halatau (retired), Robbie Farah (Rabbitohs)

LAST CHANCE SALOON: The most intriguing story of the preseason

All eyes will be on Jamal Idris’ NRL return. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Originally published as Guide to your club’s pre-season: Player movements, key buys and training return