NRL 2023 Market Watch: Bulldogs re-sign Jacob Kiraz Raiders snare Super League star, Eels sign Sea Eagles back Morgan Harper
The Bulldogs’ pre-season backline battle will be hotly contested, with a young star re-signing with the club before hitting the open market on November 21. See the latest transfer news.
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Jacob Kiraz has ensured the Bulldogs pre-season competition for spots will be hotly-contested by re-signing with the club until the end of 2027.
Kiraz, 21, has shown faith in Canterbury by refusing to take himself to the open market on November 1.
Capable of playing at fullback, wing or centre, Kiraz will begin pre-season training aiming to secure a position in the Dogs backline that will also have Stephen Crichton, Josh Addo-Carr, Blake Wilson, Jeral Skelton, Hayze Perham, Blake Taaffe, Matt Burton and Bronson Xerri in the running for positions.
“Jacob has been one of the shining lights of the past couple of years and thoroughly deserves his new contract,” General Manager of Football Phil Gould said.
“His best is clearly in front of him.”
The Lebanese international is set to return to Belmore on November 10 alongside his teammates.
Born & Bred. 🶠pic.twitter.com/Fjy14cuK8s
— Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (@NRL_Bulldogs) October 20, 2023
RAIDERS’ SIX-FIGURE FEE FOR SUPER LEAGUE STAR
Canberra are expected to agree a six-figure transfer fee with Super League champions Wigan in coming days as the Raiders prepare to add emerging English star Morgan Smithies to their ranks for next season.
The Raiders have been locked in talks with Smithies’ agent, Liam Ayoub, and Wigan officials for weeks over the 22-year-old, who was one of the stars of the Warriors’ 10-2 grand final win over Catalans last weekend.
This masthead understands the parties are close to reaching an agreement, which would pave the way for Smithies to move to the nation’s capital on a deal that could stretch to as many as three years.
Raiders officials were tight-lipped on Tuesday, having given Wigan and Smithies time and space last week to concentrate on the grand final.
However, it is understood talks will resume this week and only a last-minute hitch would prevent a deal being struck.
Smithies will continue a rich tradition of English players moving to the Raiders once he signs on the dotted line. In recent years, Canberra have enjoyed success with the likes of Elliott Whitehead, Josh Hodgson and Ryan Sutton, all of whom made strong transitions from the Super League to the NRL.
John Bateman and George Williams also had successful short stints at the Raiders before returning home. Bateman is now back in the NRL with the Wests Tigers.
Smithies is just 22 and played in the back row last weekend as Wigan won the grand final against Catalans Dragons at Old Trafford.
He has already played more than 100 matches and made his international debut earlier this year. Newcastle halfback Jackson Hastings, who spent time in Super League before his return to the NRL, was among those to praise Smithies for his performance against Catalans.
“I thought @morgan_smithies was the best player on the field, extremely unlucky to not get MOM (man of the match),” Hastings wrote on social media.
“(Eighty) minutes in the middle on the biggest stage, fair play to the kid will only get better and better too.”
It is understood Smithies surprisingly missed out on the England side for their Test series against Tonga, meaning he will be free to join the Raiders for the start of their pre-season.
He joins an influx of Englishmen who are NRL-bound in 2024 – Newcastle have signed two of England’s emerging stars in Kai Pearce-Paul and Will Pryce.
EELS SIGN OFF-CONTRACT SEA EAGLE
Parramatta have added some depth to their backline after signing former Manly centre Morgan Harper until the end of 2025.
Harper, whose contract with the Sea Eagles ends later this month, inked a two-year deal after previously weighing up moves to Super League and rugby union.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming Morgan and his young family to our club,” Parramatta general manager of football Mark O’Neill said.
“His talent and competitiveness will be welcomed and I am sure he will prove to be a quality addition to our squad this season.”
Harper played two games for the Bulldogs after making his debut in 2019 before moving to Manly and making 54 appearances for the Sea Eagles.
He had received offers from England and was sounded out by rugby union, but opted to sign with the Eels and compete for a spot in their backline.
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