NRL News: Biggest off-contract stars ahead of 2024, Dominic Young, Mitchell Moses, Dylan Brown
The Eels fear they could be losing the battle to retain their star halves, who face the biggest contract call of their careers. See the most in-demand stars for 2024.
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An Englishman who has played 26 first-grade games has emerged as the most in-demand player in the NRL.
Dominic Young, the strapping Knights flyer from Huddersfield with Jamaican genes and a penchant for scoring tries, leads a star-studded list of players still for sale with each of their contract calls set to dominate headlines over summer.
Young, who scored 14 tries in 20 games for a Knights side that ranked second-last for points scored this year, is the focus of extraordinary interest from nine NRL clubs including the Roosters, Rabbitohs, Storm, Sharks, Bulldogs, The Dolphins, Titans, Cowboys and Raiders.
He has the most interest of any player on the open market.
Not even off-contract million-dollar plus players including Mitchell Moses, Stephen Crichton, Dylan Brown or David Fifita have fielded as much interest from as many clubs.
The Roosters like the idea of adding Young to their already potent backline. Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou is a huge fan of Young‘s size and speed, believing that he could easily transition to the centres.
The Bulldogs feel the same way, believing that a 2024 backline of Josh Addo-Carr, Bronson Xerri, Jacob Kiraz, Young and potentially Crichton would be lethal.
Cronulla are keeping their eye on Young in case centre Jesse Ramien doesn’t accept an offer that’s been before him for several weeks now.
The Cowboys and Storm believe their willingness to move the ball would suit Young‘s strike power.
In the face of mass interest, the Knights are preparing to up the ante to keep Young, who ex-recruitment officer Alex McKinnon signed for the club after first watching video of the athletic talent on his laptop in 2020.
Young‘s game-wide appeal is a combination of his upside at just 21, his ability to play wing, centre or back row and his price tag.
His salary is manageable for most clubs, unlike the million-dollar plus players that only a few select clubs can afford.
Now let’s look at the other big names still for sale.
MITCHELL MOSES
Eels administrators fear they’re losing the fight to retain their star halfback. They have tabled a four-year deal which they believe is fair and reasonable.
However, it will fall short of what the Wests Tigers and Bulldogs are willing to offer, which is in excess of $1.2 million per season. Moses has a clause in his contract that allows him to stay with the Eels in 2024, but he has no later than April next year to trigger the rollover. Expect a decision much earlier.
DYLAN BROWN
The other Eels playmaker preparing for a career-defining decision. Losing both Brown and Moses would be devastating for the Eels. Clubs like the Tigers have shown it can take 10-years to recover from losing two or more franchise players at the same time. Brown’s tight relationship with Eels coach Brad Arthur has evoked a level of confidence within the blue and golds that he’ll stay. However, The Dolphins and Warriors are circling. The Warriors are selling the Kiwi International the dream to return home to his family, while the Dolphins are using Wayne Bennett, a four-year deal and the money that was set aside for Cameron Munster to lure him north.
THOMAS FLEGLER
Two weeks ago Flegler told a press conference at Red Hill that “Brisbane is home for me.’’ Time will tell.
The Titans and Warriors are attempting to headhunt the Queensland State of Origin prop, who is yet to re-sign beyond 2023 with the Broncos. Brisbane fans should have some level of confidence that the 23-year old will stay after he knocked back a $4 million offer from Manly. There is a risk involved in signing Flegler given his increasing list of match review charges related to his on-field discipline.
JOSEPH SUAALII
Like Moses, the Roosters whiz-kid has a clause in his contract that allows him to leave at the end of next season or stay for 2024, of which he has until April to push go on. Until then, the Roosters are sweating on extending the contract of the outstanding 19-year old. Suaalii has an ambition to move off the wing which makes the Roosters plans surrounding the futures of James Tedesco, Joseph Manu and Luke Keary crucial to their pitch. The greatest threat to the Roosters losing Suaalii may not be a rival NRL club, but rugby union. Rugby Australia are reportedly willing to offer the supreme talent a $10 million five-year deal.
STEPHEN CRICHTON
The Panthers face an arduous task to keep their strike centre. The combination of Crichton‘s rise from their junior ranks to the highest level of representation and his goal to shift to fullback, makes staying at Penrith difficult. The Panthers would be crazy to shift fullback mainstay Dylan Edwards, who was stunning in 2022. Critically, he is costing Penrith half of the $1 million-plus salaries that fellow fullbacks Kalyn Ponga, James Tedesco and Tom Trbojevic are being paid. Remembering, Edwards has won the last two premierships. Crichton wants in excess of $700,000 for his next deal and it’s the Bulldogs – with their long list of Penrith connections – and The Dolphins, who are willing to go there.
DAVID FIFITA
The $1.2 million Titans backrower is locked in a two-horse war for his signature with Fifita‘s current club on the Gold Coast in danger of losing him to the Raiders.
The Green Machine are opening the chequebook for Fifita with the additional lure of a contract as well for NRLW star and Fifita‘s partner Shaylee Bent.
Bent is a superb talent having enjoyed a strong season with St George-Illawarra.
There’s a catch to the package deal though. The contracts are contingent that both players sign, not just one. The Raiders are offering stability at coaching level, a strong pack that Fifita can benefit from and the backing of former Titans half Jamal Fogarty, who believes the 22-year old has his best years ahead of him.
JEREMIAH NANAI
The Dally M rookie of the year shot to stardom in 2022 with his awesome skill, size and footwork on the Cowboys edge proving instrumental towards the club‘s resurgence. What’s alarming is that Nanai is still only 19 and he’s already represented State of Origin for Queensland and Australia at the World Cup. It’s any wonder that a Sydney club has recently weighed-in with a staggering $4.2 million five-year deal. The Dolphins and Titans – should they lose David Fifita – are circling Nanai, who has already declared that his preference is to stay and win a premiership with the Cowboys.
LUKE BROOKS
For the Wests Tigers, this is as much about Brooks as it is Adam Doueihi and Daine Laurie. All three spine players are off-contract at the end of 2023 and the decision to retain Brooks beyond the final year of his 2023 contract will impact how much the club can spare for either Doueihi or Laurie. Do they ask the polarising halfback to take a massive pay-cut or do they sever ties all together? Of the three, in my view, Doueihi has to be the absolute priority. He’s an out-and-out footballer who has the size and skill to be one of the most dominant five-eighths in the game.
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Originally published as NRL News: Biggest off-contract stars ahead of 2024, Dominic Young, Mitchell Moses, Dylan Brown
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