NRL market watch 2022: Catalans Dragons chasing Sharks legend Wade Graham
An interview with The Daily Telegraph last year could deliver one of Cronulla’s favourite sons to a Super League giant.
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France has come calling for Sharks champion Wade Graham.
And it all started with a story in The Daily Telegraph.
Graham, 31, has revealed Catalans – the Perpignan-based club in Super League – has made contact about luring him to the south of France.
And Graham is certainly keen on the idea.
Off contract after this year, Graham has spoken briefly to the Sharks about another season in the NRL before fulfilling a desire to play in France.
Graham first spoke of his French dream in The Daily Telegraph on March 7 last year.
“I have had initial chats with Catalans,” Graham said. “They have actually had me flagged since the story you (Daily Telegraph) did two years ago.
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“They know I’m off contract and did ring me about a month ago.
“I told them it (playing in France) was in my future plans. It hasn’t progressed much further than that but it’s still on the cards.
“I’m still looking into it and it’s definitely somewhere where I’d be keen to finish. My partner (Karianne Lafrance) has a French background.
“I manage myself so it would be to good go through the process and talk to them. At this stage, they have expressed interest and I have said it’s certainly a goal of mine at some stage of my career to head over there.”
Lafrance is Quebec-born and was raised French-Canadian. She can apply for Australian citizenship next year, an honour the couple don’t wish to jeopardise by shifting overseas in 2023.
“If she stays another year then she can apply for citizenship so there are a few hurdles to jump,” he said.
“I have had one conversation with ‘Fitzy’ (coach Craig Fitzgibbon) and ‘Moons’ (football manager Darren Mooney) about what next year looks like.
“But focus is just about playing this year. I’m not worried, there’s still plenty of time to go this year. We’ll see where the cards fall. I’m not in any rush.
“There are a lot of moving pieces but I doubt it (shifting to France) will happen next year.”
Graham has been learning French in recent years.
Catalans already boast Mitchell Pearce with Roosters prop Sio Siua Taukeiaho expected to join the club, which reached last year’s grand final, in 2023.
And proving last year’s success was genuine, Catalans have won ten from 13 games this year and sit second on the competition table behind reigning premiers, St Helens.
Graham has been chosen in the backrow for Cronulla’s important game against Sydney Roosters at PointsBet Stadium this Saturday night.
Star Tiger pledges allegiance to club
Sign me up.
That is Daine Laurie’s message to Wests Tigers officials as the rising fullback prepares to hit the open market in five months.
Laurie told The Daily Telegraph the arrival of close mate Brent Naden from Canterbury only made him want to remain a Tiger in the long-term.
“Hundred per cent, I definitely want to stay,” Laurie said.
“My manager is working on that in the background so we‘ll see how we go. I just want to get out there and play good footy.
“It’s deadly Nado (Naden) that has come over to the Tigers. We started our journey together back at Penrith and we were working well together too and lit it up. Hopefully, we can continue that.”
Laurie, a shining light for the Tigers since joining the club in 2021, shut down speculation of a move to the Dolphins after rumours the new franchise was keeping an eye on his contract negotiations at Concord.
“There was stuff on social media, there was nothing in it,” Laurie said.
“I spoke to my manager to see what was going on but he just said focus on playing good footy.”
It’s believed the Tigers are set to begin extension talks with Laurie’s management before rivals can start making formal approaches for the 22-year-old’s services.
Laurie and Naden are just two of 14 Tigers players, including Jackson Hastings and Adam Doueihi, who can start fielding offers from other clubs from November 1.
Coach Michael Maguire has named Laurie, who has been sidelined with a MCL injury, at fullback for Saturday’s crucial match against South Sydney.
Laurie was initially scheduled to return after the Tigers bye in round 14 but is expected to be given the all-clear by medical staff to line-up in the Rabbitohs clash at Accor Stadium.
“I have to do a fitness test, so we will see how we go there on Wednesday but hopefully I can get back for the game on Saturday,” Laurie said.
“I did do a little bit of contact training on Monday and thankfully I pulled up sweet. I did a little bit of running too, change of direction and all that stuff. I feel confident but it is up to the physios.”
Luke Brooks is also set to make a return from a hamstring injury but halfback Hastings is in some doubt.
Hastings suffered a leg injury in last week’s win against Canterbury and was spotted with a strapping and a moon boot on Tuesday.
Laurie said the Tigers are desperate to build on the win over the Bulldogs in a bid to keep the club’s finals chances alive. A win will also keep the pressure of coach Maguire, who is fighting to save his job at the Tigers.
“It’s a results driven competition so we have to get the win more than the Rabbitohs,” Laurie said.
“Hopefully we can turn our season around, we need to turn it around quickly. Obviously we are looking to play semi finals this year so it’s important we get the win.”
The clash against the Rabbitohs is also a chance for Laurie, a proud Bundjalung and Yaegl man, to represent his heritage in what will be the NRL’s Indigenous Round.
The game will take on special meaning for Laurie, who will go head-to-head with his uncle and South Sydney superstar Cody Walker.
“It’s going to be heaps special, my uncle Cody (Walker) will be on the other side for the Rabbitohs. It will be special, with all the mob coming down to watch us,” Laurie said.
“So fingers crossed I get the all clear and get to run out to not only represent the Wests Tigers but to represent the mob and get that win against my uncle too.”
Bird ends speculation, young gun retires
Jack Bird has ended the conjecture over his future by officially putting pen to paper on a new deal with St George Illawarra.
News Corp understands Bird signed a his contract extension with the Dragons on Monday afternoon, having agreed to terms earlier this month.
By signing the new contract, Bird laid to rest suggestions that he was having second thoughts about staying at the Dragons.
Rumours surfaced last week that he was getting cold feet on the three-year deal he struck with his agent David Riolo.
Rival clubs became aware of the suggestions but Bird has now committed in a significant boost to the Dragons.
RETIREMENT SHOCK AS YOUNG GUN RETIRES
Warriors young gun Chanel Harris-Tavita has made the shock decision to retire at the end of the season.
Harris-Tavita has opted against pursuing his rugby league career – instead the injured Warriors half will take a break from the game where he will consider writing and travelling.
The Warriors wanted to keep the playmaker but have been told his passions lay elsewhere. Harris-Tavita will play out the season with the club.
He is sidelined after playing on with a ruptured testicle earlier this year.
He is just 23 and has played 44 top grade games.
GOULD SWOOPS ON YOUNG HALF TO REBUILD BULLDOGS
A Townsville-based teenage halfback has been identified as the player who could lead the next generation Bulldogs after catching the eye of Phil Gould.
The embattled club is attempting to sign Thomas Duffy, 18, after identifying him as the hottest young NRL halfback in the making.
Contracted to the North Queensland until the end of 2023 and playing for the Townsville Blackhawks, he has impressed plenty of good judges.
It is understood Canterbury have already approached the Cowboys and asked whether they would be willing to release him from the final year of his deal.
Wanting to make the jump to NRL and become a teenage NRL playmaker like Sam Walker, Duffy is facing a roadblock at the Cowboys with both Tom Dearden and Chad Townsend signed until the end of 2024.
While the Cowboys are keen to keep the player they also think is a future star in the making, they may not be able to keep Duffy with two established halves in front of him for at least the next two years.
Duffy has been told he has a big future at Belmore and could become the club’s next long term No.7 should he make the switch and move to Sydney at the end of the year.
Named in the Australian Schoolboys merit team last year, Duffy is seen by the Bulldogs as the type of halves partner that will help Matt Burton become the star No. 6 that he was bought to Belmore to become.
A well-rounded halfback who can kick, pass and run, Duffy twice scored hat tricks in the Queensland Under 18s competition last year.
Duffy’s highlight reel, which was posted on the Queensland Rugby League website, shows him setting up as many tries as he scores.
Duffy, a former student at Ignatius Park College, led the Mal Meninga Cup in 2021 with 84 points from six appearances for the Townsville Blackhawks.
The Bulldogs are facing their latest overhaul with the nine players coming off-contract this year at long odds to remain at the club.
Matt Doorey, Matt Dufty, Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Reece Hoffman, Tui Katoa, Joe Stimson, Jackson Topine, Paul Vaughan and Brandon Wakeham will all struggle to earn contracts following the club’s woeful start to the year.
A $400,000 signing from the Melbourne Storm, Stimson could be headed to the Super League following an injury-plagued three year stint at Canterbury.
The bloodshed at Belmore is expected to also include contracted players following the shock defection of Brent Naden to the Wests Tigers.
Jack Hetherington, who is contracted until the end or 2023, has already been linked to rival clubs while the club has been shopping around several players including Corey Allan and Kyle Flanagan and Corey Waddell.
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