NRL Transfer News: Danny Levi chasing new deal, Titans eye Roosters’ Joseph Manu, Will Pryce ready for NRL move
English Super League clubs are circling, but Danny Levi has a chance to lock up a new contract with Brisbane, while NRL heavyweights eye Connor Watson — all the latest signing news.
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Danny Levi has appealed for Brisbane hierarchy to hand him a new contract as the hooker fights for his future at the Broncos.
Levi remains off-contract and the former New Zealand Test rake can press his claims for a new deal in Brisbane’s clash against the Sydney Roosters at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
With first-choice hooker Jake Turpin sidelined by an ankle injury, the Broncos have turned to Levi, who has muscled his way into the NRL squad by virtue of his class and guile at dummy-half.
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The 25-year-old wasn’t even in Brisbane’s full-time squad in pre-season, with Levi thrown a lifeline by the Broncos’ Intrust Super Cup feeder-club Norths Devils after he was jettisoned by the Sea Eagles.
But Levi’s outstanding form for the Devils was rewarded with an NRL promotion and the clever hooker will play his seventh game for the Broncos against the Roosters.
It is understood Levi has interest from English Super League clubs but the Wellington-born rake is keen to remain at the Broncos next season providing a one-two dummy-half punch with Turpin.
“I would love to stay,” Levi said.
“The Broncos are an unreal club and an awesome place to be.
“At the end of the day, they have to look at what’s best for the club, but we’ll see what happens. I have tried not to think about my future at all. I have to make sure I don’t think about it too much. I just have to play good footy and hopefully things will fall into place.
“I have a few things on the cards at the moment but I have to wait and see what happens.”
Levi’s experience would be a handy asset for Brisbane’s full-time roster in 2022. He debuted for Newcastle in 2015, amassing 83 NRL games for the Knights before moving to Manly for a one-season stint that netted a further 20 matches.
There is no questioning Levi’s talent, but the Broncos have salary-cap pressures and may struggle to find room for the veteran of five Tests for New Zealand and Samoa.
Levi is already thankful to be at the Broncos after Manly’s decision to offload him last year triggered fears he would be forced into an early retirement.
“At the back end of last year, I didn’t have a club to go to,” he said.
“I have always had too much love for the game so retiring was never an option.
“I was looking to go to Super League at the end of last year, but I left it too late.
“I said throughout the (2020) season I didn’t want to go to England, but then by the end of the season I thought I might have to go there.
“My next option was to look at Queensland Cup teams. Me and my missus decided to move to Brisbane to be closer to family, so I’m glad the Broncos gave me an opportunity.
“Any chance I get I just try and do my best.
“I am looking to impress, I’m looking to have a big four weeks until the end of the season, so I have to keep training hard.”
ROBBO INTERESTED IN WATSON REUNION
— David Riccio
Roosters coach Trent Robinson has confirmed he has held discussions with Connor Watson about returning to the tricolours.
The Newcastle utility is off-contract this season and in a unique scenario is handling his own negotiations. Watson made his NRL debut with the Roosters in 2016, going on to play 38 games, before linking with the Knights in 2018.
“There’s been discussions with Connor but that’s as far as I’ll say,’’ Robinson said.
“I’ve known him and known him as a player, I’ve talked to him, but I’ve also tried to help him as well at other places.
“We talked about two things, whether there was an opening at the Roosters, but also what would be the best options for him.
“I’ve kept in contact with Connor for the last four years and I’m always there for him and other players if they need some advice as well.’’
A fine utility player, who could start or come off the bench, Watson is hoping to secure a new deal which spans two to three years. Newcastle’s offer for Watson fell well short of what the player expected. There had been a revised deal lodged.
There have also been reports linking Watson to Cronulla. And last week, Watson was being mentioned as a possible Wests Tigers recruit.
Robinson also confirmed forward-leader Jared-Waerea Hargreaves had been rested from the club’s Friday night clash with the Broncos due to a number of issues.
“It’s been a couple of weeks coming there. He’s got a few different things that are busted at the moment,’’ Robinson said.
“We thought we could get him through the last game and he just couldn’t get out what he needed with a broken finger and back busted and then his knee, so it was a long time coming.
“It’s time for him to take a breath so he can back to his best.’’
Robinson said Waerea-Hargreaves would return in round 22.
ENGLISH YOUNG GUN EYES NRL SWITCH
— James Phelps
An 18-year-old son of an English gun has been earmarked as future NRL star with at least one club already making moves to sign the playmaking sensation.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal that Will Pryce – son of England legend Leon – has put himself on the NRL market and has already attracted interest from an Australian heavyweight.
Only six games into his UK Super League career, the teenage five-eighth was this week declared a “special talent” after inspiring Huddersfield to a five-try comeback win over Wakefield.
Already being groomed to become England‘s five-eighth, Pryce’s manager has been exploring NRL options for his rising star.
One of the NRL suitors, a club on the hunt for a new half, is considering making a serious play after studying highlight reels and full-game footage.
Raised in Yorkshire by his famous father Leon, Pryce was promoted to Huddersfield’s top squad for the pre-season after staring in their academy side.
Huddersfield coach Ian Watson heaped praised on the teenage playmaker after he led the Giants to the come behind victory.
“He’s a special talent,” Watson said. “We’ve just got to make sure we look after him.
“There are things he can improve on but the composure he showed at times demonstrated his maturity. Being the only half out there, everyone was looking at him but he didn’t let the pressure get to him.
“Will more or less did the team talk at halftime and that shows how confident the young lads are. The leadership stood up to ensure the youngsters didn’t panic. We have a good mix of youth and experience at this moment in time.”
Pryce’s father Leon is English rugby league legend.
A 191cm half, Pryce represented England and Great Britain 24 times and played a staggering 492 games in a 19-year Super League career before retiring in 2017.
The Bradford and St Helens great has now become a proud spectator.
“I’m having just as much fun watching William play as when I played,” Leon told Rugby League Live. “I always knew that when William started getting close to playing full-time professionally, I’d want to spend more time watching him,”
“I think there’s only a certain amount of time you can chase coaching and things like that; now it’s William’s time. The weekends I would spend coaching and missing all his development, I can now immerse myself in that and give everything I can to him as a parent. He has my full support rather than me having to miss his games through my rugby commitments.
“I’m totally at peace with it now. I’ve had my time. I’ve had a lot of years in the game but lockdown really made me appreciate family and spending more time with everyone around me. The game isn’t the be all and end all for me anymore.”
SHOCK CONTENDER CIRCLES ROOSTERS STAR
— Dean Ritchie
Gold Coast has expressed interest in signing Sydney Roosters star Joey Manu.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal Gold Coast has held internal discussions about making a substantial offer for Manu, who comes off contract after next season.
Manu can start fielding offers from November 1 this year.
Influential figures at Gold Coast have an enormous opinion of Manu, whose asking price would be between $900,000 and $1 million a season.
Gold Coast could join New Zealand Warriors in the chase for Manu.
Manu, 25, has a desire to remain at Bondi but is also aware the Roosters have a powerful and expensive playing roster that includes James Tedesco, Angus Crichton, Luke Keary, Daniel Tupou, Siosiua Taukeiaho, Victor Radley, Sitili Tupouniua, Joseph Suaalii, Sam Walker and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.
Those close to Manu are suggesting the Titans have made official contact with his New Zealand-based management team but this development could not be confirmed.
Gold Coast will have considerable money back in their salary cap after this season with the expected departure of Ash Taylor.
While no offer has been lodged, Manu’s looming availability has been a point of discussion in and around the Titans.
The Roosters are hellbent on retaining Manu yet money talks and Manu’s management is expecting to attract some massive offers for his client.
Last week, Warriors recruitment manager Peter O’Sullivan told The Daily Telegraph of his club’s interest in Manu, describing the New Zealand champion as a “star”.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson responded by saying: “Joey has always been important to us, ever since he was a kid and came over here and started playing you could see what he means to us as a team.
“I don’t need to add much more other than he’s been a Rooster, he is a Rooster and his family are Roosters as well. We understand it’d be mad if there wasn’t interest but we definitely want to keep him as a Rooster.”
Off contract after this year, Taylor has yet to be offered a new deal by the Titans.
While his form this season has been strong, Taylor is aware he will not attain the $1m a season contract he currently enjoys at the Titans.
The X-factor factor with Manu could be the All Blacks.
The Daily Telegraph revealed last week the New Zealand Rugby Union has a genuine interest in Manu but could only offer around $600,000 a season, a combined deal between the NZRU and a Super Rugby franchise.
Former Wests Tigers players have urged their club to have a crack at signing Manu.
MOEROA PUNTS UNION FOR ANOTHER SHOT AT LEAGUE
— Nick Smart
Melbourne Storm recruit Tepai Moeroa has declared he wants to stay in rugby league following his ill-fated rugby union switch with the NSW Waratahs.
Moeroa made his Storm debut on Saturday, two months after his surprise signing with the NRL ladder leader.
The ex-Parramatta Eels forward was brought to rugby by former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika, who lured him with the promise of an Australian Test jumper and a lucrative salary.
But the former Australian Schoolboys sensation started only a handful of Super Rugby games for the Waratahs.
His deal with Storm is short term, but the 25-year-old said he had no plans to return to union.
“I’ll be looking to stay in league,” he said.
“I went to rugby last year to see if the move would work and it didn’t work out, but now I’m back in league and I plan to stay here long term.
“The experience was great and I enjoyed my time with the Waratahs, but for the transition to have been successful I might have needed to have made that move a couple more years earlier to give it a solid crack.
“Things happen, it didn’t work out and now I’m back in league.”
Storm is well regarded for rejuvenating the careers of many of its signings, and Moeroa said he hoped the join that list.
“I’d love to stay at the Storm (beyond this season),” he said.
“The players and the coaching staff have all been welcoming, and they have a reputation for developing players.
“I’d be crazy to not want to stay.”
Storm picked up Moeroa to shore up its depth in the middle, and the forward is now focused on trying to keep his spot in the hottest side in the NRL.
“It’s hard trying to debut for Melbourne as they’ve got outstanding depth in the forward pack,” he said.
“If I can hold on to a bench spot or something like that and play some finals footy, it would be awesome.”
Storm will be looking to make it a remarkable 18th consecutive win when it faces Canberra in Queensland on Thursday night.
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