NRL Market Watch: Canberra Raiders close the door on signing Penrith Panthers star Jarome Luai
An off-contract Penrith star’s options have just decreased, while the Knights have entered the race for Dragons young gun Jayden Sullivan. UPDATED MARKET WATCH
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The Canberra Raiders have closed the door on entering the race for Penrith five-eighth Jarome Luai.
Luai is yet to commit his future to Penrith beyond his current contract, which expires at the end of 2024.
Since locking down State of Origin forward Liam Martin, the Panthers have been focused on re-signing fullback Dylan Edwards.
It has led to the possibility of Luai, the NSW State of Origin playmaker, taking himself to the open market on November 1.
Adding to the uncertainty is that Luai is without a player agent to orchestrate negotiations.
Because they are yet to replace South Sydney-bound Jack Wighton, the Raiders have been dragged into the discussion as a potential destination for Luai.
However, The Daily Telegraph has spoken with Canberra senior management who have rejected any interest in pursuing the two-time premiership-winner.
Penrith are attempting to complete the first premiership three-peat since 1983 and will lose Stephen Crichton, Jaeman Salmon (both Bulldogs), Spencer Leniu (Roosters) and Jack Cogger (Knights) at season’s end.
SEIBOLD REVEALS LODGE PLANS
- Brent Read
Manly coach Anthony Seibold has outlined his plans to keep Matt Lodge at the club as the Sea Eagles front rower prepares to lock horns with his former teammates for the first time since his contentious split from the Sydney Roosters last month.
Lodge was a Roosters player only a matter of weeks ago but he now has the opportunity to extinguish their season at the SCG on Thursday night in what shapes as a season-defining game for both clubs.
“He’s been really good for us – he has had a really good three weeks,” Seibold said.
“He was our best player in reserve grade when he played there. Against the Sharks he came on after five minutes and then he added a lot when he was starting the next week.
“He just has to do his job, bring intent to the play. I don’t think I need to specifically talk to him about anything other than doing his job.
“I think he improved as player at the Roosters. It’s a good opportunity for him to go back there and compete against guys like Jared (Waerea-Hargreaves) and (Victor) Radley.”
Lodge ran for more than 130 metres and had three offloads on debut for Manly against Cronulla and then backed that up last weekend by running for nearly 100 metres and producing three offloads against St George Illawarra.
His signing has already paid dividends but it now looks a masterstroke after props Josh Aloiai and Taniela Paseka suffered serious injuries, sidelining the pair for extended periods.
Aloiai underwent shoulder reconstruction surgery this week while Paseka had an operation on his knee after rupturing his MCL against the Sharks. He is expected to miss six weeks.
With those two out of action, Lodge is expected to take centre stage against the Roosters in a bid to keep Manly’s finals hopes alive.
At the same time, he can help sound the death knell on the Roosters’ season. Lodge is playing on a train-and-trial deal but Manly are optimistic they can find room in their salary cap and convince Lodge to stay beyond the end of the season.
“We would like to keep him,” Seibold said.
“It is just whether we can or not. He’s really close to Ethan Bullemor from their Brisbane days. He’s really close to Woodsy (Aaron Woods) because he made his debut when they are at the Tigers.
“He and Jake played in representative teams when they were younger. He’s a big guy. He’s a bit of a point of difference.
“Defensively he is really aggressive with his first contact. He’s definitely added to us. I reckon he complements the other guys really well.”
KNIGHTS SIGN PANTHERS GUN, CHASE DRAGON
—David Riccio, Micahel Carayannis
Newcastle are set to meet with talented St George-Illawarra half Jayden Sullivan.
In a fresh development that could impact the Wests Tigers pursuit of Sullivan, the Knights want a face-to-face meeting with the 21-year-old with an appeal to sign the young gun for 2024.
Touted by Knights legend Andrew Johns as the future of St George-Illawarra, Sullivan has requested a release from his current contract at the Red-V.
Sullivan fears his NRL ambition is being blocked by veteran halfback Ben Hunt and fellow half Junior Amone.
Sullivan is signed by the Dragons until the end of 2025 on a deal understood to be worth around $500,000 a season.
The Knights will still speak with Sullivan despite landing Jack Cogger on a three-year deal from next season.
The Panthers recently upped their deal to keep Cogger by offering a two-year extension.
Instead he has opted to return to Newcastle.
Cogger played the last of his 20 games for Newcastle in 2018. Since then he has spent time at Canterbury and Huddersfield. He joined Penrith on a one year deal this year and has had success deputising for Nathan Cleary.
Despite this, the Knights still want to meet with Sullivan once the coaching staff and senior management team return from a clash against The Dolphins in Perth on Saturday.
The Knights have half options Adam Clune and Kurt Mann unsigned for next season while fellow playmakers Tyson Gamble and Phoenix Crossland are off-contract at the end of 2024.
The interest from Newcastle is a potential dent for the Wests Tigers pursuit.
The NSW under-18’s playmaker was given a tour of Wests Tigers facilities last Thursday.
The Wests Tigers want Sullivan to form part of a new-look set of halves that includes rising star Latu Fainu, veteran halfback Aiden Sezer and injured playmaker Adam Doueihi.
DOGS MAKE PUSH FOR TAUKEIAHO
—Peter Badel
Phil Gould’s Bulldogs are set to win a $1 million bidding war by bringing premiership prop Siosiua Taukeiaho back to the NRL.
This masthead can reveal Taukeiaho is eyeing a move to Belmore on a two-year deal, with Canterbury favourites to win a three-way battle over Wests Tigers and the Dragons and secure the services of the Tongan torpedo.
Taukeiaho is contracted to Catalans until the end of 2024 but the former Roosters bookend has told Dragons officials of his desire to come home and the Super League leaders won’t stand in his way if they can secure a player transfer.
Taukeiaho has yet to formally sign, but if Catalans formalise the transfer, he will be a Bulldog pending a final medical clearance.
Taukeiaho’s impending move from France to Belmore puts the Broncos in the box seat to retain NSW Origin superstar Payne Haas.
The Bulldogs have been heavily linked with Brisbane’s star prop Haas but the signing of Taukeiaho, a fellow front-rower, would further erode Canterbury’s budget under the salary cap.
Canterbury football boss Gould is giving coach Cameron Ciraldo every resource to reinvigorate the embattled Bulldogs as a premiership force and Taukeiaho would provide experience, winning pedigree and engine-room punch.
Taukeiaho’s days in the NRL appeared over after the Tongan Test powerhouse left the Roosters at the end of last season to take up a two-year deal with French Super League club Catalans Dragons.
But the goalkicking prop, who turns 32 in January, is ready to return to Australia after fielding interest from the Bulldogs, Dragons and Tigers.
Taukeiaho has had a frustrating debut season in Super League – he suffered a foot injury last month during Magic Weekend – but Bulldogs chiefs are confident the veteran prop is not a recruitment risk.
Taukeiaho is keen to chase a hat-trick of NRL premiership rings with a Bulldogs side plotting a finals fightback next season as part of the Ciraldo-Gould rebuild at Belmore.
It is understood the Wests Tigers offered a three-year package worth $900,000, but the Bulldogs have tabled a more lucrative deal, estimated to be around $500,000 a season.
Taukeiaho’s experience would be vital for the youthful Bulldogs. He is a veteran of 168 NRL games and won back-to-back premierships in 2018-19 during a successful eight-year stint with the Roosters.
There are concerns about Taukeiaho’s age and injury profile but the Tongan vice-captain insists he’s not a spent force in the NRL.
“I’ve spoken with Catalans, I’ve let them know it’s my plan to come back to the NRL next year,” Taukeiaho told News Corp last week.
“I’ve won premierships at the Roosters and I think my experience can be helpful.
“There’s no issues with Catalans. They have been great, we’re leading the Super League and I would love to finish here with a premiership, but I believe I’ve got more to offer in the NRL.
“I believe I have a good two or three years left in me.”
TOP 50 NRL STARS UNDER 23: VOTE IN OUR RANKING INTERACTIVE
That will open the door for Taukeiaho to chase a hat-trick of NRL premiership rings with a Bulldogs side plotting a finals fightback next season as part of the Ciraldo-Gould rebuild at Belmore.
It is understood the Wests Tigers offered a three-year package worth $900,000, but the Bulldogs tabled a more lucrative deal, estimated to be around $500,000 a season.
Taukeiaho’s experience will be vital for the youthful Bulldogs. He is a veteran of 168 NRL games and won back-to-back premierships in 2018-19 during a successful eight-year stint with the Roosters.
There are concerns about Taukeiaho’s age and injury profile but the Tongan vice-captain insists he’s not a spent force in the NRL.
“I’ve spoken with Catalans, I’ve let them know it’s my plan to come back to the NRL next year,” Taukeiaho told News Corp last week.
“I’ve won premierships at the Roosters and I think my experience can be helpful.
“There’s no issues with Catalans. They have been great, we’re leading the Super League and I would love to finish here with a premiership, but I believe I’ve got more to offer in the NRL.
“I believe I have a good two or three years left in me.”
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Originally published as NRL Market Watch: Canberra Raiders close the door on signing Penrith Panthers star Jarome Luai
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