NRL 2022: Broncos land ‘next Cam Smith’ | Dolphins signings | Adam Elliott joins Knights
An off-contract Titan could reunite with Wayne Bennett at the Dolphins, while the Broncos have locked down a young star compared to Cameron Smith. See the latest signing news.
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Unwanted Titan Jarrod Wallace is open to reuniting with Wayne Bennett at the Dolphins as the former Queensland Origin prop fights to salvage his NRL career.
The Dolphins have bolstered their forward stocks with the signing of Bulldogs hooker Jeremy Marshall-King and Wallace believes he can add some experience and grunt to the engine room of the NRL’s newest club in 2023.
The off-contract Wallace has held preliminary talks with Bennett and hopes to put himself in the shop-front window for NRL clubs with a bumper display against the Cowboys on Thursday night at Cbus Super Stadium.
While Wallace’s preference was to finish his career at the Titans, the Gold Coast are moving in a different direction and the 184-game veteran, who turns 31 next month, insists he is not a spent force.
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“My body feels good and I’m definitely not ready for retirement,” Wallace said.
“I went through a tough time going back to Queensland Cup at the start of the year but I’ve been happy with my form since my return to the NRL and I’ve definitely got plenty more to offer.
“I’ve been in the NRL for 10 years and played in a grand final (for the Broncos in their 2015 loss to the Cowboys), so my experience can be handy for a new club starting out like the Dolphins.
“I know Wayne from my time at the Broncos. We’ve had some talks and I have great respect for Wayne, so I’d love to play under a coach of his stature again.”
Wallace is on around $700,000 at the Titans this season, but faces a drastic pay cut to continue his career in the NRL in 2023.
It is understood the Dolphins are taking a wait-and-see approach with Wallace to assess his form in the coming months and are prepared to offer him a deal, albeit at a vastly-reduced price to his Titans contract.
The Dolphins have signed Storm premiership-winning prop Jesse Bromwich and Souths grand-final bookend Mark Nicholls and Wallace would be a handy addition to their middle-forward rotation.
Former Bronco Wallace has been outstanding in recent weeks and says he is not bitter at Titans coach Justin Holbrook for dumping him to the Queensland Cup at the start of the season.
“Justin had his ideas and that’s fine because he is the coach, but I’m glad I’m back in the team and contributing to the Titans,” he said.
“Playing at Burleigh was awesome, they said play as long as you want and they’ve helped my confidence.
“I went back and got the enjoyment for footy back.”
Holbrook praised Wallace for his ability to fight back to win a starting front-row berth, headlined by his match-winning try, 133 metres and two tackle busts in the Titans’ 20-16 Magic Round defeat of the Dragons.
“He’s been terrific,” the Titans coach said.
“He went back and played big minutes at Burleigh a few weeks ago and did really well. I was really confident putting him back in.
“He’s been terrific for us the last few weeks which we have needed.”
BRONCOS LOCK UP GAME’S HOTTEST YOUNG HOOKER
The Broncos have locked up Queensland’s hottest young hooker that has been compared to Maroons legend Cameron Smith.
Teen sensation Blake Mozer will remain at Red Hill until at least 2025 after inking a three-year extension with Brisbane.
Mozer, 18, is a former Australian Schoolboys star who has been part of Brisbane’s development system since he was 13.
He was named man-of-the-match in Souths Logan’s Mal Meninga Cup grand final victory last month and helped the Magpies to an unbeaten season.
Mozer is currently on a “bulk-up” training program before he makes his Hostplus Cup debut later in the year.
He is expected to make his NRL debut next year and is tipped to be Brisbane’s long-term No. 9.
“Blake has worked his way through our Academy program and into the NRL squad through his desire to work hard and improve,” said Broncos recruitment chief Simon Scanlan.
“He is an extremely dedicated young man with high standards and will be an important part of the club’s success into the future.
“Blake has benefited from the dedication of our Academy staff that have worked with him over the years plus the support of his family.
“We are thrilled to have Blake continue his rugby league journey with the Broncos.”
DOLPHINS LAND KEY SPINE SIGNING
The Dolphins have signed Canterbury Bulldogs hooker Jeremy Marshall King on a two-year contract.
The 26-year-old, who has been one of the Bulldogs’ better players this year, has rejected an option in his favour at Belmore to accept the deal to play under Wayne Bennett.
Marshall-King, who has played 88 NRL games, was obviously facing a struggle to retain his first grade position next year with the arrival of Reed Mahoney from the Parramatta Eels.
Bennett and the Dolphins’ head of recruitment Peter O’Sullivan have been impressed with his form this year, despite the Bulldogs’ struggles.
The deal is with around the $200,000-a-season mark.
ROOSTERS CONFIRM STAR PROP’S EXIT
The Sydney Roosters’ roster overhaul has begun with confirmation that Tongan international forward Siosiua Taukeiaho will leave the club at the end of the season to take up an overseas deal.
The hard-hitting forward will link up with former Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce at the Catalans Dragons, having signed a two-year deal with the French Super League club.
“The Sydney Roosters have been my home for almost 10 years,” Taukeiaho said. “There have been some special times and I’m looking forward to creating many more memories during the rest of this season.
“Joining Catalans Dragons is an exciting opportunity for me and my family, but that’s ahead in 2023.
The Roosters have a number of forwards coming off contract, including axed Blues back-rower Angus Crichton, and exciting youngsters Daniel Suluka-Fifita and Tuku Hau Tapuha.
Talisman Jared Waerea-Hargreaves still has 18 months remaining on his deal, which would take the 33-year-old into a 15th season in the NRL.
Melbourne’s Brandon Smith will join the Tricolours next season on a three-year deal.
NRL GLAMOUR COUPLE UNITE
Adam Elliott’s time in the nation’s capital will last only 12 months. Elliott on Monday informed his Canberra Raiders teammates that he would join Newcastle next season, ending the tug of war for his services.
His move to the Knights comes shortly after his partner Millie Boyle announced she would join Newcastle for the upcoming NRLW season, which begins later this year.
Boyle only signed a short-term deal with the Knights but Newcastle will no doubt be optimistic that Elliott can convince her to commit beyond her existing deal.
Elliott has been a mainstay in the Raiders side this year, having revived his career after leaving Canterbury by mutual agreement at the end of last season.
Canberra initially signed Elliott to a one year contract and were optimistic they would quickly agree an extension, only for Newcastle to swoop with a lucrative contract believed to be worth in excess of $1.4 million.
It helped that Boyle was already on their books. A star of the NRLW, she defected from Brisbane along with fellow women’s star Tamika Upton earlier this month. The writing was on the wall for the Raiders at that point.
The Knights have been working hard to strengthen their squad for next year, having opened negotiations with English due Will Pryce and Wigan star Kai Pearce-Paul.
Both are contracted for next year but the Knights are hopeful they can strike a deal to have them on their books for the start of next season.
Originally published as NRL 2022: Broncos land ‘next Cam Smith’ | Dolphins signings | Adam Elliott joins Knights
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