NRL 2023 Market Watch: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck considers return, Sharks cover fullback crisis
The Sharks have made a move to cover any potential fullback crisis by signing an Italian international. See the latest transfer news.
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Cronulla has signed a young Queenslander who played one NRL game for the Melbourne Storm to help cover a potential fullback crisis.
Daniel Atkinson’s arrival at the Sharks this week on a one-year development deal couldn’t have come at a better time in the wake Kade Dykes suffering a season-ending ACL knee injury, which came just a day after Lachlan Miller’s exit to Newcastle.
Atkinson, 22, can play anywhere in the backline and is more than comfortable in the custodian role.
He starred for the Sunshine Coast Falcons last season playing in the halves, while he also played three games in the centres for Italy at last year’s end of season World Cup.
Dykes was expected to challenge Will Kennedy for the No. 1 jumper in 2023, but his injury has left the Sharks short of other fullback options.
Atkinson had two years in the Storm system where he played his only NRL game off the bench in 2021 against the Sharks.
RTS CONSIDERS SHOCK NRL RETURN
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck’s agent has revealed his star client has not ruled out a return to the NRL next season, but at this point “categorically” denies there has been any discussions whatsoever about a return to the Roosters.
This latest twist comes amid mounting speculation linking the now 29-year-old to another cross-code switch in 2024, with the Roosters and Dolphins mentioned as the two clubs at the top of the list.
But RTS’s manager Bruce Sharrock said right now Tuivasa-Sheck’s only focus was trying to win a spot in the All Blacks’ World Cup squad.
“Categorically there has been no discussion,” Sharrock said.
“Roger is 100 per cent focused on trying to make the World Cup squad.
“There has been no discussions with the Roosters or anyone else for that matter.
“He has got a big challenge ahead of him trying to find his way into that All Blacks’ Rugby World Cup squad for 2023.”
But that doesn’t mean things couldn’t change down the track.
The Super Rugby season kicks off in late February and Sharrock said they would have a better indication of where Tuivasa-Sheck stood in a couple of months.
He also said Japanese and European rugby were the other options if he does leave New Zealand rugby.
“He is off contract at the end of 2023 with New Zealand Rugby,” he added.
“They have made it clear that they want to retain him.
“But again, Roger is not in the mind to even engage in that at the moment because he is focused on the next two or three months.
“I’d suggest inside the next eight weeks we will have a closer look, including offshore rugby.
“Roger has no fixed idea as to what he wants to do at this stage, other than he wants to continue being a professional athlete.
“All options will remain open to Roger when he is of the mind to start looking at his future.
“But given it is February we are not doing that just yet. We are very focused on trying to establish ourselves in an elite group to go away to a Rugby World Cup.
“And we are going to know more in probably six to eight weeks times as to how the tea leaves look.”
One well informed source we spoke was of the opinion that if RTS was to walk away from New Zealand rugby it would be to tackle the potential big money on offer in Japan.
Tuivasa-Sheck is said to have taken a significant pay cut to have a crack at his rugby World Cup dream.
But if that fails chasing the fortunes on offer in Japanese rugby might end up being his way of getting some of the money he’s missed out on back as he moves into his 30s.
It is hard to see how the Roosters could squeeze him into the current salary cap unless of course Joseph Suaali’i or Luke Keary were to exit.
The Roosters still seem confident that Suaali’i will stay long term while there are no plans to shift Keary, although the talk is another head knock could make the decision for them.
Tuivasa-Sheck has so far had three appearances for the All Blacks as he fights to make their World Cup squad this year.
Former Rooster Bryan Fletcher went public this week with the RTS talk that has been doing the rounds.
“The rumours I keep hearing is Roger back to the Chooks,” Fletcher told SEN Radio.
“I’m not geeing you up, the rumours are getting very, very strong.”
Asked if he had received any interest from NRL clubs, Sharrock added: “Not directly. I run into numerous rugby league people who ask, ‘what’s he up to, what’s he up to?’
“The reality is if we are going to have a genuine opportunity to do a deal well I will start talking to you. But I am certainly not going to float it just to create interest. I don’t need to with a player like him.”
SHARKS SIGN YOUNGSTER TO COVER POTENTIAL CRISIS
Cronulla has signed a young Queenslander who played one NRL game for the Melbourne Storm to help cover a potential fullback crisis.
Daniel Atkinson’s arrival at the Sharks this week on a one-year development deal couldn’t have come at a better time in the wake Kade Dykes suffering a season-ending ACL knee injury, which came just a day after Lachlan Miller’s exit to Newcastle.
Atkinson, 22, can play anywhere in the backline and is more than comfortable in the custodian role.
He starred for the Sunshine Coast Falcons last season playing in the halves, while he also played three games in the centres for Italy at last year’s end of season World Cup.
Dykes was expected to challenge Will Kennedy for the No. 1 jumper in 2023, but his injury has left the Sharks short of other fullback options.
Atkinson had two years in the Storm system where he played his only NRL game off the bench in 2021 against the Sharks.
PANTHERS RE-SIGN GF HERO, ROOSTERS SET TO LAND UK SPEEDSTER
The Penrith Panthers have officially kept one of their grand final heroes out of the grasp of rival clubs — for now, as the Sydney Roosters are poised to swoop on a UK Super League speedster.
With a stack of NRL clubs fighting over fellow Englishman Dominic Young to try and drag the giant winger away from Newcastle, the Roosters have quietly agreed to terms with young try scoring sensation Lewis Murphy from Wakefield.
The deal is yet to be signed off on but Murphy is expected to take up a two-year offer from 2024.
It comes as the Panthers confirmed on Wednesday that State of Origin star Liam Martin had signed a one-year contract extension until the end of 2024.
With Stephen Crichton having signed with Canterbury for next season and teammate Spencer Leniu also in the Bulldogs’ sights, Martin’s deal is a big boost for the back-to-back premiers.
“It means the world to me to re-sign with the Panthers. This club gave me my first opportunity when I was 17 and it’s become a second home for me,” Martin said in a statement.
The Daily Telegraph first revealed back in October that Martin had agreed to remain at Penrith for an extra 12 months, just hours before the November 1 signing window was due to open.
Panthers rugby league CEO Matt Cameron explained the delay in announcing Martin’s signing.
In other news - over in Wakefield...
— Sky Sports Rugby League (@SkySportsRL) August 25, 2022
Lewis Murphy does the remarkable - AGAIN! 🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/eq6WX03D08
“Liam has come through our junior development system and has progressed to the highest level of playing for his state and country,” he said.
“We look forward to continuing discussions with Liam’s management about future seasons now that the salary cap position has been ratified by the NRL as part of the ongoing CBA negotiations.”
Murphy, 20, has rapidly made a name for himself in the UK where he scored 19 tries in 21 matches in his debut season.
While’s he’s not overly big Murphy’s highlights package certainly packs a punch.
He not only boasts express speed that ranks him up with the Super League’s fastest players, but his phenomenal sideline acrobatic skills would make Sione Katoa proud.
Former NRL playmaker Mason Lino last year labelled Murphy “a superstar of the future” after the young gun exploded onto the Super League stage.
The Roosters have this season recruited Jaxson Paulo and Corey Allan to duke it out for Joseph Suaali’i’s wing position, with Suaali’i tipped to move into the centres.
Former Queensland Origin player Allan is out to re-establish himself after signing a one-year deal following his forgettable stint at the Bulldogs, while Paulo has committed to two seasons.
While it’s always a bit of a gamble signing players from outside the NRL, the Roosters seem confident Murphy has the dedication to adapt.
EELS LAND MASSIVE SIGNING BLOW ON EDDIE AND WALLABIES
- David Riccio
The Eels have pinned down one of the brightest young talents with strike centre Will Penisini re-signing for a further two years.
In what should only aid Parramatta’s hopes of retaining star half Mitchell Moses, Penisini’s signature comes just a month after rising star Dylan Brown also committed his future to the club.
Penisini, 20, will be at the Eels until at least the end of 2025.
He displayed his trajectory as an elite centre last season by playing every game, including the grand final before earning a representative jersey for Tonga at last year’s World Cup.
“The Eels jersey means a lot to me, I grew up in the system and to be playing alongside my mates for the Club I’ve loved my whole life is surreal,” Penisini said.
“Brad and the coaching staff have helped me come through the junior pathways since I was 14, I’m grateful for all the opportunities and the support I’ve had at the club.
“We finished the 2022 season strongly and I think we’ve laid a good platform to really challenge in the coming years.”
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Originally published as NRL 2023 Market Watch: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck considers return, Sharks cover fullback crisis
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