NRL 2024: Key player moves to trigger transfer frenzy on the eve of finals series
Key moves in the NRL player market are set to trigger a domino effect on the eve of the finals. MICHAEL CARAYANNIS and PHIL ROTHFIELD analyse the big names linked with rival clubs for 2025.
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Key moves in the NRL player market are set to trigger a domino effect and a potential transfer frenzy on the eve of the finals.
John Bateman’s temporary departure from the Wests Tigers this week could become permanent, while Stefano Utoikamanu is set to follow him out the exit door.
The 2025 landing spot for the towering prop will have a dramatic effect on player movement.
Michael Carayannis and Phil Rothfield analyse the big names being linked with rival clubs for next season.
John Bateman – Wests Tigers
Contract: 2026
MC: The Tigers have agreed to release him to join the San Burgess-coached Warrington for the rest of the year and it’s fuelled speculation about whether or not he will return. I think it’s unlikely. And he’s been linked with a potential move to South Sydney next season, which would be interesting, under Wayne Bennett. You’ve got Shane Richardson at the Tigers. All three are very close. So there is that connection and a natural conclusion to draw that maybe he’ll be at South Sydney athough Souths have categorically denied that to me today.
Buzz: I think England or Souths.
Stefano Utoikamanu – Wests Tigers
Contract: 2024
MC: Yeah, he’s gone. He won’t be there.
Buzz: He’s not going to Melbourne. From what I’m told, he loves the football side of it, but his partner doesn’t like Melbourne. They’ve got two young kids. If Melbourne Storm were in Sydney, he’d go there for sure.
MC: So that means you’ve got him going to the Dogs, Buzz? Because the only other club that are in for him is the Dolphins. I wouldn’t rule the Dolphins or the Storm out yet. The Dogs are there as well. But he won’t be at the Tigers. Once the Stefano decision, is made, there’s going to be ramifications because the Dolphins obviously have money. The Dogs still have a little bit of money. The Tigers will have a lot of money. So I think that’s where we’ll see the market hot up again once that decision is made.
Blaize Talagi – Parramatta
Contract: 2024
Buzz: I hope he stays. It would be a bold signing for the Dolphins because they’re so strong in those areas (that Talagi covers).
MC: Stays. We’re just having an informed opinion here. We’re not locking it in concrete, but I think he stays. The Dragons haven’t heard much lately. It’s been radio silence. The Dolphins have gone in hard for him as well. They’ve slid under the radar a little bit. He’d be a long-term halve partner for Isaiya Katoa.
Daniel Saifiti – Newcastle Knights
Contract: 2026
Buzz: I spoke to Peter O’Sullivan actually. And Peter said that he’s not that dirty about being spoken to about leaving and thinks his career might need a reset and a fresh start. That being the case, I’d say St George Illawarra.
MC: I just think it’s the money, Buzz.
Buzz: St George pay $500,000, Newcastle pay $300,000. If you don’t want someone, you got to take a financial hit.
MC: But when it gets to $300,000-plus, you’ve then got to replace him with a $150,000 player to make it work. That’s a $500,000 player, essentially. There’s a point in the cap where it’s just not worth selling a player. I wouldn’t do it. The Dragons are keen He’s done a medical. There was some minor concerns over his shoulder. Just minor concerns. But the Dragons are going to have to up their offer to get the deal done. And if it doesn’t happen, he’ll be at the Knights. The Tigers will need to replace Stefano, so they might come into the mix for Saifiti.
Blake Lawrie – St George Illawarra Dragons
Contract: 2026
MC: The Dragons or Super League. But he’s got a long-term deal there until the end of 2026. He’s out of first grade at the moment, hasn’t been great this season. I went to pre-season training at the Dragons and I said to him ‘man, you’re looking lean’.
Buzz: I saw him too, at a boxing gym in Cronulla. He looked good. He looked too fit. Yeah. Maybe he’s lost a little size.
Matt Arthur – Parramatta Eels
Contract 2025 (Has been given permission to talk to rivals)
MC: It’s a position where Parramatta have really struggled in. Newcastle potentially for Matt Arthur.
Jayden Brailey – Newcastle Knights
Contract: 2025
MC: He isn’t being forced out, but it’s a conversation where Newcastle are saying “we’re not going to extend you. If we do extend you, it’s going to be on a fraction of what you are on. So, if you can find a long-term deal, we’ll let you go”.
Corey Horsburgh – Canberra Raiders
Contract: 2027
MC: He’s been on the radar of a few clubs. I think the Dragons looked at him. Once the domino falls with Stefano Utoikamanu at the Tigers, who’s the premier middle on the on the market at the moment, we might see one of those clubs that miss out on Stefano say “all right, I want Daniel Saifiti. I want Corey Horsburgh”. He’s a good player. It’s a point of difference.
Buzz: He hasn’t had any luck at all this year. He played State of Origin last year. But I don’t think Canberra would stand is why if he wanted to go elsewhere.
Emre Guler – Canberra Raiders
Contract: 2025
“He’s intimated that he might want to move on. I don’t think Canberra would let both Guler and Horsburgh go.”
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Originally published as NRL 2024: Key player moves to trigger transfer frenzy on the eve of finals series
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