NRL 2022 market watch: Wests Tigers facing big call on Jock Madden and Luke Brooks
MARKET WATCH: Wests Tigers are facing a big decision with talented playmaker Jock Madden keen to test the open market as the club weighs up the future of high-priced halfback Luke Brooks.
NRL
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The Wests Tigers are in danger of losing Jock Madden with the off-contract playmaker to start testing his value on the open market from Friday.
Madden’s preference is to stay at the Tigers and it’s believed the Concord club made contact with the 22-year-old’s management on Monday to start extension talks.
News Corp can reveal Madden is seeking assurances the Tigers view him as a long-term option at halfback, putting pressure on the club to manage the Luke Brooks’ contract situation.
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Brooks is set to earn around $1 million in 2023 but his immediate future at Concord is under a cloud, with the club open to moving the halfback to a rival team.
It’s understood Madden is on $150,000 a season and is seeking a healthy upgrade. If Madden does agree to stay at the Tigers, the Scone junior will be on a collision course with Brooks for the No.7 jumper.
“I want to play at seven, I think seven is my best position but I can play both [positions in the halves]. In the long run I want to play at No.7,” Madden said.
“I definitely would [like to stay at the Tigers]. I came down here in 2019, I have been down here for four years.
“The club is definitely going in the right direction and I want to be a part of that success.”
Tigers coach Michael Maguire called on Madden to replace Jackson Hastings after the five-eighth was whacked with a three-game suspension.
Madden, who is off-contract at the end of this year, has been impressive since receiving a call-up into the NRL side two weeks ago to cover for Hastings.
With Hastings to return in round six, against Parramatta, Sunday’s clash against an in-form Cronulla is shaping as a final 80-minute audition for Madden to not only cement a spot in Maguire’s 17, but prove his NRL credentials to potential suitors.
“I want to play first grade now, I want to be playing NRL footy week in, week out,” Madden said. “That’s my league now, and that is where I want to be.
“It does cross your mind (that Hastings will be back next week) but I don’t let it affect my performance at all.”
Having had a ‘taste’ of NRL football, Madden is focused on adding to the five games he has played since making his debut in Magic Round last year.
A strong performance against the Sharks could convince Maguire to keep Madden in the halves and name Hastings at lock against the Eels the following week.
Hastings is viewed as an option at lock when Adam Doueihi, who also wants to play in the halves, returns from an ACL injury mid-season.
While the Brooks and Doueihi combination is an option from Maguire, the coach can also opt to go with Madden and Hastings in the halves until Doueihi is fit enough to make a comeback.
Madden is no longer content waiting for an injury or suspension for a chance to play regular top grade football
“I want to play first grade, as a young kid growing up all I wanted to do was play first grade,” Madden said. “I’m getting to do that now and I want to keep my spot in the first grade team week in, week out. Things like that will sort themselves out down the track.”
Ponga’s future all but sealed in monster deal
- Dean Ritchie
Newcastle superstar Kalyn Ponga is poised to reject Wayne Bennett and the Dolphins by signing a massive new long-term contract with the Knights.
The deal has not yet been finalised but News Corp has been told it could be announced as early as this week.
He would sign a contract worth between $1.1m and $1.2m a season.
The development comes just a day after revelations emerged from News Corp that Ponga met Bennett, Dolphins CEO Terry Reader and club recruitment manager Peter O’Sullivan in Sydney on Saturday — a day after Ponga’s Newcastle lost to Cronulla.
While desperately keen to sign Ponga, the Dolphins have been more hopeful than confident of securing a deal.
Barring a last-minute hitch, Ponga has told friends he is ready to commit to Newcastle on a deal that could span five seasons.
The impending retention of Ponga ranks among the biggest signing news in Newcastle’s 34-year history.
Ponga’s influential father, Andre, is fully supportive of his son remaining in Newcastle.
It would be a blow for the Dolphins just days after missing out on star players Harry Grant and Jahrome Hughes, who both recommitted long-term with Melbourne Storm.
Ponga is under contract at Newcastle until the end of 2024 but the final two seasons are options in his favour.
While tempted by rival offers, friends say Ponga, 24, never wanted to quit Newcastle.
He has until round 12 to formally trigger an extension in his contract.
Should Ponga remain in Newcastle, as expected, the Dolphins are likely to concentrate on trying to secure the Warriors’ Reece Walsh and Melbourne’s Cameron Munster.
Walsh looks certain to return to Queensland when his deal concludes after 2024 and could end up at either Brisbane or the Dolphins.
“I would love to see Kalyn stay at Newcastle, I really would and I think the best investment for the Dolphins moving forward, and it is just my opinion, is I think they go all in for Cameron Munster,” said Fox Sports commentator and former NSW hooker, Michael Ennis.
“And then they try and get Reece Walsh, I really do.
“I think you can’t afford to spend the amount of money on Munster and Ponga, I think they are far better suited, you get Reece Walsh for half the price of Ponga.”
Ponga has been troubled in recent games by a knee injury.
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