NRL market watch: Knights eye big-money moves as Lachlan Miller release frees up $500K

Newcastle’s failed Kalyn Ponga experiment has forced cross-code star out of the club, freeing up half a million in salary cap space for two of the Knights’ biggest stars.

Lachlan Miller has been released to the Super League. Picture: Getty

The Knights ability to keep two of their biggest names has been boosted by the release of fullback Lachlan Miller to the English Super League.

Miller has signed a three-year deal with Leeds beginning in 2024.

The exit of Miller has created $500,000 in cap space for the Knights with the potential of further budget relief as Canterbury eye utility Kurt Mann.

Charging towards the finals on a seven-game winning run, Newcastle are working just as hard behind-the-scenes to retain two of their most important figures in NSW State of Origin centre Bradman Best and hard-running prop Jacob Saifiti.

The Knights are planning to commence negotiations with Best next week with his new manager Warwick Wright.

The timing is perfect with Miller accepting an offer from Leeds in the UK which will free-up close to $500,000 in salary cap space.

Miller had been signed on a three-year deal by the Knights in the pre-season from Cronulla as a fullback when Kalyn Ponga was being prepared to play five-eighth.

Lachlan Miller has been released to the Super League. Picture: Getty

However, Ponga’s positional switch from the halves back to fullback after round 12 has left Miller without a position in the NRL side.

His release from the Knights to Leeds could emerge as soon as Wednesday.

The Knights are also aiming to tie-down Saifiti, who isn’t off-contract until the end of 2024.

The 27-year-old NSW Origin prop is viewed as a priority re-signing by the Knights with his work-rate, size and leadership considered vital to the club’s plans going forward.

Aside from Miller’s exit freeing-up cap space, the Knights will also be aided in their bid to retain two of their biggest names by the exit of depth halfback Adam Clune to the English Super League.

Mann is also weighing-up interest from Canterbury, who are considering a two-year offer.

The Bulldogs are on the hunt for a quality utility having gone cold on Roosters strike-player Connor Watson.

Originally published as NRL market watch: Knights eye big-money moves as Lachlan Miller release frees up $500K