The Canberra Raiders have moved to keep Jamal Fogarty away from the Manly Sea Eagles, offering the halfback a two-year deal to keep him in the nation’s capital.
With Manly tabling the veteran playmaker a two-year deal worth $1.2 million to replace departing skipper Daly Cherry-Evans from next season, Canberra have moved to make their offer more appealing.
The Raiders did not take up the club option worth around $650,000, but have since decided they would be willing to keep him at the club for two seasons on a deal worth up to $1 million.
It’s unclear whether the new deal has any options or clauses - as was the case in his previous contract.
The Raiders declined to comment when contacted on Thursday.
The Sea Eagles identified Fogarty as Cherry-Evans’ likely replacement months ago, with coach Anthony Seibold ruling out any play for Lachlan Galvin despite his ugly fallout at the Tigers.
“We haven’t discussed Lachlan,” Seibold said.
“I don’t know where Lachlan will end up. I admire him from a distance, but he won’t be at Manly. I’ve only watched him play live once, and I was really impressed with him. But, again, he won’t be coming to Manly.
“We’ve got a couple of plans in place, what we want to do going forward, and Lachlan hasn’t been discussed internally.”
Michael Chammas
Eels release Ofahengaue
Parramatta has granted an immediate release to former Maroons prop Joe Ofahengaue in a move that could give the club more salary cap space to pursue departing Tigers star Lachlan Galvin.
Ofahengaue, who was contracted until the end of the year, was dropped for the Eels’ Easter Monday clash against the Tigers and was listed to play reserve grade at Lidcombe Oval. However, he has been granted permission to leave immediately and has been linked to Super League club Leigh Leopards.
Joe Ofahengaue has left the Eels.Credit: Getty
“Joe has shown strong commitment to our Club since joining the Eels. He’s been a valued team member, and we’re particularly pleased that he was able to celebrate his 200th NRL game in Blue and Gold – a significant milestone in any player’s career,” said Eels general manager of football Mark O’Neill.
“One of Joe’s great strengths has been his willingness to mentor and support our younger players as they transition into the NRL environment. He’s made a lasting impression on the group, and we thank him for his leadership and service to the club.”
The Eels are likely to pursue the signature of Galvin, should he become a free agent. Galvin is contracted to the Tigers until the end of next year, but could find himself on the move earlier due to tensions with coach Benji Marshall and some of his senior teammates. Adrian Proszenko
Knights take gamble at halfback
Knights coach Adam O’Brien insists Jackson Hastings is still a selection option and remains confident his team can get their season back on track, declaring: “We’ve been in deeper holes than this in the past.”
O’Brien named Tyson Gamble as the team’s new halfback on Tuesday, with Phoenix Crossland shifting back to hooker and Jayden Brailey to the bench.
After opening the season with back-to-back wins, Newcastle have suffered three consecutive defeats against Gold Coast, Canterbury and Wests Tigers and slipped to 12th on the ladder.
Of even greater concern is Newcastle’s faltering attack, which has produced just two tries in the space of three games, or four hours of football.
The Knights have scored only 46 points across five games this season, the fewest in the NRL by a significant margin.
That raises the question of why veteran Hastings has not played in first grade since July 20 last year, despite being one of Newcastle’s highest-paid players on a deal reportedly worth around $800,000 a year.
Jackson Hastings has yet to play a first-grade game for Newcastle this season.Credit: Getty
The 29-year-old has appeared in 101 NRL games – 38 of which have been for the Knights. He is their most experienced playmaker and was the regular halfback during their 10-game winning streak in 2023 that culminated in a home final.
But he was dropped twice to NSW Cup last season, in among 16 NRL appearances, and this year he has not been sighted in the top grade.
Hastings was unavailable for last week’s 20-4 loss to the Tigers, his former club, because his partner was close to delivering their first child, a baby girl.
But O’Brien insisted he remains in the selection mix going forward.
“I’m not saying that he would have played [against the Tigers],” O’Brien said.
“I think he was certainly considered. Every single member, every contracted player here is considered, and it’s just what is the best fit for the team.”
Asked why Hastings had spent nine months on the outer, O’Brien replied: “I just think that there’s guys there that suit the style of play that we want to play at the moment.
“But that’s nothing against Jackson. It’s just the way that we want to play our footy in that position at the moment.
“I don’t get obsessed with pay packets. You know, that’s irrelevant … we want to make sure that we’re getting the whole team playing well and the guys that best suit that are the ones that I’ll pick.”
Knights coach Adam O’Brien.Credit: Getty
Gamble (back) and Jack Cogger (finger) are expected to be fit for Sunday’s clash with Cronulla in Newcastle, with Gamble winning a call-up this week.
O’Brien’s greater concern is how to get his depleted pack to match Cronulla’s big men, in the likely absence of Jacob Saifiti (calf), Dylan Lucas (hamstring), Jack Hetherington (shoulder) and Adam Elliott (calf).
Tyson Frizell has been shifted to prop to cover for Saifiti, with Mathew Croker starting at lock. Tyrone Thompson, Jermaine McEwen and Brodie Jones join Brailey on the bench.
“We can’t rely on an influx of experience to come back to us,” O’Brien said.
“We’re just in a situation now where we’re going to have to rely on youth. But, you know, there’s an opportunity there too to grow.
“I don’t think we’re a team that is going to get through the season without getting squeezed.
“Right now we’re getting squeezed with a bit of pressure, and I think that can be a good thing.
“It’s not pleasant to go through, trust me, when you’re going through it.
“But we probably need to go through those situations in order to grow to get to the heights that you want to achieve … so I do see it as an opportunity for growth, whilst that’s not blind faith.”
O’Brien pointed to seasons 2021, 2023 and 2024 as evidence the Knights are still alive in the finals race. In all those campaigns, Newcastle started their campaigns slowly but qualified for the play-offs with late-season hot streaks.
“We’ve been in deeper holes than this in the past, and we haven’t hoped or, I guess, talked our way out of the situation,” he said.
“We’ve relied on some hard work and attention to detail and some accountability.
“We’ll be looking at those three things internally and making sure that we work our way back on track.
“And we’ve got some evidence over the past couple of seasons that when we do work ourselves back on track, we can gather some momentum and sort of snowball it.
“But right now, we need to go and make that happen.” Robert Dillon
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