Transfer news: Nick Cotric leaves Bulldogs to rejoin Raiders
NRL transfer news: Nick Cotric is a Raider once more having signed a lengthy deal upon his return to the nation’s capital.
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Canberra have confirmed the return of Nick Cotric on a three year deal.
Cotric was released from the final two years of his contract to again link-up with Canberra after rejecting interest from the Tigers.
“We’re looking forward to having Nick re-join the club for the next three seasons,” said Raiders boss Don Furner. “Nick is a local boy who made his way through the local rugby league pathway program to the NRL, NSW and Australia while playing for us and we know the skills and capability he has as a player.”
“Nick has indicated to us that he’s really excited about returning to Canberra and the Raiders, and we’re confident he can play his best football for us.”
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Cotric burst onto the scene as a Raider scoring 16 tries from 24 matches in his debut season.
He went on to play for NSW and Australia in Canberra before opting to make a high profile switch to Canterbury this year.
However his stint at Belmore has been short-lived.
A toe injury not only ended his season prematurely but it also doubled as his last appearance in a Canterbury jersey.
Cotric still had two seasons left on his deal worth about $1.3 million and had returned to Canterbury pre-season training.
The move could be announced as early as Monday.
Canterbury is tight on the cap for season 2023 — after already adding Viliame Kikau and Reed Mahoney — and although they were reluctant to lose Cotric they needed to move on a player that other teams wanted.
Prop Luke Thompson has also been linked with a move elsewhere for 2023 despite two years left on his deal.
When it became clear he would no longer stay at Belmore, Cotric’s attention was drawn to a return to Canberra. The Tigers met with Cotric but he has opted to head back to the nation’s capital, where he played 93 top grade games – including the 2019 grand final loss to the Roosters.
The Daily Telegraph reported two months ago that Cotric could be on his way out of Belmore, but Bulldogs football boss Phil Gould hosed down the speculation on social media, declaring “Cotric going nowhere” and that “Bulldogs do not have cap problem”.
Bulldog fans: Nik Cotric going nowhere. Rival club made quiet approach a month ago. The offer was never serious consideration. We said no. Nik very happy at Bulldogs. Doesn’t want to leave. Bulldogs do not have cap problem. We have a losing problem, which we will work hard to fix https://t.co/jK7ymOdzAD
— Phil Gould (@PhilGould15) September 25, 2021
Cotric’s move was made possible after the Raiders released Bailey Simonsson to join the Eels immediately on a three-year deal.
The Raiders also released outside back Curtis Scott during the season. Scott is still awaiting NRL clearance before he join officially join the Eels on a one year deal.
Cotric will headline a list of recruits for the Raiders. He will be joined by ex-Bulldogs teammate Adam Elliott, former Titans skipper Jamal Fogarty and ex-Cowboy Peter Hola.
It has been a big few days in the player market for the Raiders.
They lost Simonsson and gained Cotric. But veteran hooker Josh Hodgson also announced he would join the Eels on a two year deal from 2023.
RICKY PAYS DEPARTING RAIDER ULTIMATE COMPLIMENT
David Riccio
Josh Hodgson changed the way NRL clubs view players overseas and can lay claim to launching the careers of several of his fellow Englishman.
That’s the opinion of Raiders coach Ricky Stuart, who has lauded Hodgson with the ultimate compliment, while confessing the Green Machine were on a mission to send their champion hooker out with an NRL premiership next year.
Stuart made the comments – and reaffirmed Hodgson wouldn’t be leaving the club in 2022 – after it was confirmed the 32-year-old had signed a two-year deal to join Parramatta from 2023.
Stuart said Hodgson’s decision to sign with Canberra from Hull in 2015 has proven as impactful on the NRL as what former English forwards Adrian Morley, Gareth Ellis and Sam Burgess have had on the game in Australia.
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“I’ll always be indebted to Josh for being my first Pommy recruit,’’ Stuart said.
“His success in the NRL has reignited the desire for NRL clubs to look at English players overseas.
“It has all been on the back of the success story of Josh Hodgson.
“The last successful Englishmen to really achieve here were Gareth Ellis (Wests Tigers), Adrian Morley (Sydney Roosters) and Sam Burgess (South Sydney).
“Off the back of ‘Hodgo’ came Elliott Whitehead, Ryan Sutton, George Williams, John Bateman and Harry Rushton (Raiders lower grades), who will play first grade.
“Harry is another tough, competitive Pommy.‘’
Stuart added: “The way he, Kirby and his kids came over to Australia and made Canberra his home. Both his kids were born here in Canberra.
“He’s been a wonderful ambassador, wonderful captain and he has helped turn this club around in the time that he has been here.
“We’d love to do something special next year for Josh.’’
Stuart was firm in his answer when asked if there was any possibility that Hodgson wouldn’t see out the final 12-months of his contract.
“Josh will be here in 2022,” Stuart said.
“An early departure doesn’t even need to be mentioned.
“What people don’t see or hear is the clear communication between Josh and I in regards to what has transpired.
“We’ve spoken at length about his opportunity at Parramatta and the club’s communication has been the same all along.
“If a player has an opportunity to earn more money than we can give him, that’s the nature of the business today.
“It was an opportunity for Josh, at his age, to have stability and a clear picture going forward for him. He goes with our blessing.‘’
Stuart also addressed suggestions that he and Hodgson have endured a tumultuous relationship, particularly after the classy dummy-half asked to relinquish the captaincy halfway through last season.
“Josh and I have had a good relationship, but we have similar personalities, who are strong-minded and have opinions – that’s fine,’’ Stuart said.
“This is his second off-season after a knee reconstruction and it‘s miles apart to where he was last year.
“He was still rehab-running this time last year.
“He’ll start the season in far greater condition next year and that augurs well for Josh and the Raiders.’’
Stuart added that he was disappointed to lose winger Bailey Simonsson to the Eels, but said he couldn’t stop the young talent from wanting to move back to Sydney to be closer to his partner and family.
The Raiders acquisition and return of local product Nick Cotric from the Bulldogs will be formally announced next week.
EELS CONFIRM KEY SIGNINGS
By Michael Carayannis
Parramatta have confirmed the immediate signing of Bailey Simonsson on a long-term deal.
Simonsson will join the Eels for the next three seasons after being granted a release from his Canberra contract. The 23-year-old has played 40 top grade games and is expected to replace Blake Ferguson on Parramatta’s wing.
Parramatta also confirmed Josh Hodgson would join the club in 2023 on a two-season deal.
“We are very excited to add Bailey to our playing roster, he has enormous talent and will bring depth to our backline,” Eels head of football Mark O’Neill said.
“Josh has played for his country and has an incredible knowledge of the game which will add value to not only the NRL squad but our emerging juniors within our elite pathways. I have no doubt that he will have a big impact at our club both on and off the field.”
The additions are a welcomed relief for Parramatta who have been under-siege in recent months. Reed Mahoney, Marata Niukore, Ray Stone and Isaiah Papali’i have all agreed to join rival clubs from 2023, while the Eels are fighting to retain prop Junior Paulo.
EELS ENTER RACE FOR DRAGON
By Dean Ritchie
Parramatta has identified the player who could replace departing forwards Marata Niukore, Ray Stone and Isaiah Papali’i in 2023 – Dragons and NSW star Tariq Sims.
The Daily Telegraph has been told by multiple sources that the Eels have a genuine interest in Sims, who comes off contract at St George Illawarra after this coming season.
And they would be the eighth club across three states linked to Sims, who has represented NSW in three of the past four State of Origin series. His three were all winning series for the Blues.
Niukore will join the New Zealand Warriors, Papali’i has signed at Wests Tigers with Stone off to the Dolphins, the three deals starting from 2023.
Parramatta has manoeuvring room in its salary cap for 2023. No deal has been struck and it remains unknown whether Parramatta has lodged an offer but there is a strong temptation to negotiate with Sims.
The Dragons don’t want to lose Sims but told the rampaging forward late last season that the club wasn’t in a position to lodge an offer after his current contract expired.
Sims, 31, is playing career-best footy and was among NSW’s best in this year’s 2-1 series win over Queensland.
The Daily Telegraph reached out to Parramatta general manager of football, Mark O’Neill, for comment but he declined to return calls.
While unconfirmed, Sims has been previously linked with Wests Tigers, Sydney Roosters, Melbourne, North Queensland, Brisbane, Souths and Penrith, along with English Super League clubs.
Rival clubs will quietly monitor any developments surrounding Sims’ future.
Given Niukore, Stone and Papali’i are leaving, Parramatta wouldn’t need to shed any players to sign a player of Sims’ calibre. He would simply be filling a hole in the club’s roster.
Sims would be expected to accept a pay cut at this stage of his career. He will earn around $600,000 this year, his final with the Dragons.
The well-liked Sims admitted to being “devastated” when told he wouldn’t be offered a new contract at Saints.
“We organised a meeting on two separate occasions to see where their heads were at and where they see me in the Dragons,” Sims told the Sydney media in September.
“On both those occasions, we found out there was no offer to be made for ’23 – that was obviously devastating for me. On the second occasion we found out that if I was to be able to find and secure a longer-term deal somewhere else for ’22 and beyond, they wouldn’t stand in my way.
“The conversations with the Dragons didn’t even reach that point, negotiating length of deals or the financial situations. The conversations we had were pretty short and sharp. I was upset at the start – unfortunately that’s football sometimes.”
Like Canterbury, St George Illawarra has enjoyed a robust recruitment drive which has netted George Burgess, Moses Suli, Tautau Moga, Moses Mbye, Francis Molo, Jaydn Su’A and Aaron Woods.
Sims joined St George Illawarra from Newcastle in 2016 after an earlier stint with North Queensland.
Parramatta has lost hooker Reed Mahoney to Canterbury for 2023 and are currently locked in negotiations with key forwards Junior Paulo and Ryan Matterson, both off contract after next season.
The Eels confirmed interest this week in another senior player, Canberra’s Josh Hodgson.
REVEALED: EELS COULD LOSE SIX MEMBERS OF 2022 PACK
Parramatta is in damage control after losing a fourth forward – and now faces a high-profile fifth star walking out.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal the Dolphins have lodged an official offer for giant Eels front-rower Junior Paulo.
Losing Paulo would be a crippling blow for Parramatta.
The Eels are locked in talks with Paulo’s management and are trying to ensure the NSW State of Origin prop is retained long term.
Revelations about Paulo’s possible departure to Queensland come as hard-hitting Eels forward Ray Stone became the Dolphins’ second key signing.
Stone is the fourth Parramatta forward to leave after Reed Mahoney (Bulldogs, 2023), Isaiah Papali’i (Wests Tigers, 2023) and Marata Niukore (New Zealand Warriors, 2022).
Parramatta is also fighting to retain Ryan Matterson. Eels officials want Paulo and Matterson to re-sign.
Losing Paulo would also be a devastating personal setback for Eels coach Brad Arthur.
It is unknown the length of Paulo’s Dolphins offer but it would almost certainly stretch three years. Paulo is earning an annual wage of around $700,000 at Parramatta.
Paulo, 28, is a free agent given he is off-contract after next season. If recruited, Paulo would become the Dolphins’ forward leader in their inaugural season.
Sources close to Paulo confirmed the Dolphins’ interest when contacted on Tuesday.
While the Dolphins have engaged in contract talks with Paulo, the Redcliffe club isn’t interested in Matterson.
There was speculation Canterbury may target Paulo but Bulldogs general manager of football Phil Gould took to social media to shoot down those rumours.
The Dolphins may have missed the Eels No. 1 hooker, Mahoney, but secured the back-up in Stone for 2023 and 2024.
Stone, who has a contract with Parramatta for next season, is the Dolphins’ second prominent signing after Melbourne’s Felise Kaufusi. He was personally targeted by Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett.
He played in Parramatta’s final series this year after Mahoney was sidelined through injury.
“We need to build some depth to the squad we will ultimately enter the competition with, and Ray is just the type of player we are looking for,” Dolphins chief executive Terry Reader said.
“He is one of the most feared defenders in the NRL and when we sat down to talk about recruitment, Ray Stone was one of the first players that Wayne Bennett spoke about.
“Ray has gained some good NRL experience with the Eels and also covers the hooker position. We look forward to him joining the Dolphins when we begin pre-season training in November next year.”
Stone, 24, has played 28 NRL games after previously representing the Junior Kangaroos, Australian Schoolboys and NSW under 20s.
MORE: Inside the Dolphins’ recruitment net
Big-money Bulldog shopped as Gould eyes top target
Canterbury forward Luke Thompson has been shopped to Melbourne Storm.
While desperately hoping prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona will agree to be vaccinationed, club officials considered an approach from a third party representing Thompson.
After consideration, Melbourne felt the money being asked for Thompson was excessive and rejected the offer.
It showed that Melbourne may be forced to start searching for a replacement should Asofa-Solomona continue his anti-vaccination stance.
The proposition was made in mid-November and was for a two-year deal.
Privately, Melbourne hope the giant forward may have at least one jab before Christmas, meaning he could return late to pre-season training.
Being unvaccinated in Victoria means Asofa-Solomona cannot even train with the team. He was due back to training last Tuesday.
Asofa-Solomona has told Melbourne officials he does not want to leave the club but also knows he cannot stay by refusing a Covid jab.
The Bulldogs want to retain Thompson but are aware his departure — despite having another two years to run on his current contract — would free up considerable space in the club’s tight salary cap.
Thompson was shopped to Wests Tigers earlier this year.
There has been speculation that Thompson and Bulldogs teammate Nick Cotric could sign with Wests Tigers — allowing Canterbury to have a crack at Parramatta and NSW prop Junior Paulo.
Paulo comes off contract at the Eels after next season.
Canterbury would be required to tip in a considerable amount for Thompson to be signed by a rival club.
Melbourne had an interest in Thompson but the transfer finances didn’t stack up. There doesn’t appear to be any chance of talks between both parties reigniting.
The Storm, worried about losing their biggest forward, continue to discuss how to deal with Asofa-Solomona’s anti-vax stance.
The club is becoming increasingly concerned over Asofa-Solomona’s future as each week of the off-season passes.
Melbourne is aware the situation must come to a head over the next month. Asofa-Solomona has been told of the consequences of refusing to be vaccinated.
Even if Melbourne is forced to offload Asofa-Solomona, it remains unclear exactly which club would want to sign an unvaccinated player.
Canterbury continues to move around its salary cap as the club undertakes one of the biggest recruitment drives in its history.
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Originally published as Transfer news: Nick Cotric leaves Bulldogs to rejoin Raiders
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