NRL 2023: Rabbitohs set to sign Sean Keppie from Manly, Phoenix Crossland re-signs with Knights
They’ve been quiet on the player market, but the Rabbitohs are finally poised to land another big scalp for 2024, as they target a Manly forward on a long-term deal. See the latest NRL transfer news.
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South Sydney have landed another big scalp with Manly forward Sean Keppie set to join the Rabbitohs on a long-term deal.
It is understood Keppie will sign with South Sydney after being granted permission to negotiate with rival clubs by the Sea Eagles.
The Rabbitohs have been on the lookout to add some size to their pack since Hame Sele opted against re-signing with the club to join the Dragons next year.
Keppie met with the Rabbitohs recently and will become South Sydney’s second signing for 2024 alongside ex-Raiders star Jack Wighton. The prop was contracted to the Sea Eagles until the end of 2026 and his deal with South Sydney is also expected to be for the next three seasons.
He has played 79-top grade games since making his debut at the Sea Eagles in 2019.
Keppie will also be the third player released from the Sea Eagles in recent weeks following Kelma Tuilagi’s move to Parramatta and Kaeo Weekes’ to Canberra.
The impending departure of Keppie clears some much needed roster spot for the Sea Eagles who have been struggling to fit everyone in their 30-man squad.
They are still yet to find a place for the injured Matt Lodge while veteran Aaron Woods is also holding out for a top-30 deal otherwise he may be forced into a train and trial contract.
Lodge is expected to come into the top 30 at some stage next year but there is little rush given he will not be fit until at least the midway point of the season. Keppie’s departure paves the way for one of those players to come into the top 30.
The Sea Eagles have announced the re-signings of Dean Matterson, Brad Parker, Jake Arthur and Raymond Vaega in recent weeks plus the signing of ex-Tiger Aitasi James to a two year deal. They have also expressed an interest in Alex Twal who was given permission to negotiate with rival clubs by the Tigers. Keppie also held talks with the Tigers.
The Sea Eagles would also allow the likes of Zac Fulton, Ben Condon and Karl Lawton to move-on if they found offers elsewhere.
KNIGHTS LOCK DOWN KEY PLAYER
Newcastle’s Phoenix Crossland has continued to celebrate a career best year with the Knights utility set to agree to a long-term deal to remain with the club.
Crossland is expected to avoid hitting the November 1 trade window by opting to extend at the club for a further two years without testing his market value.
The 23-year-old, who is still contracted until the end of next year, will remain at the Knights until at least the end of 2026.
The re-signing alone is a massive boost for the Knights. But Crossland’s desire to accept less to remain at the club than he could command elsewhere is also a huge vote of confidence for the direction the Knights are headed.
Corey Oates takes pay cut in quest to finish career at the Broncos
-Peter Badel
Veteran winger Corey Oates has taken a pay cut to save his career at Brisbane in his quest to be a Bronco for life.
This masthead can reveal Oates’ latest protracted contract saga is coming to an end with the former Queensland Origin flyer to secure his future at Red Hill by inking a 12-month extension.
The parties are in the advanced stage of talks and intend to formally announce Oates’ retention next week.
The deal will come as a relief for Oates, who was in danger of being squeezed out of the Broncos after a turbulent season that saw him battle injuries and overlooked in favour of Jesse Arthars for last Sunday’s NRL grand final.
The Broncos showed their regard for Oates by honouring the 28-year-old for 200 games of stellar service at Brisbane’s Presentation Ball on Thursday night.
Oates broke down twice on stage as he spoke of his love for the Broncos and such is his commitment to the club, the Brisbane fan favourite will accept a reduced deal to remain at Red Hill.
The 201-game stalwart was on around $450,000 this season, but the Broncos cannot afford to retain Oates on the same value as they face salary-cap pressures to keep their grand final squad together.
There were fears Oates could quit the club to join the Knights in 2024 after Newcastle showed some interest earlier this season, but the Biloela product is staying loyal to the Broncos.
Oates is the only survivor of Brisbane’s 2015 grand final team and the veteran of nine Origin games said last month he would accept having his wage slashed to become a one-club Broncos legend.
“Those are the things you have to do (cop a pay cut) when you are an older player and you have been here for long enough,” Oates said.
“I’ve always known that, but that’s the way it happens when you want to keep a great team together.
“The way it works these days, if you have to move on, you have to move on.
“But I have made it pretty obvious in my career that the Broncos is always my place.”
It’s been a wretched season for Oates. He played just nine games in 2023 due to a broken jaw and two knee injuries and he copped a further blow when he was sensationally dumped by coach Kevin Walters at the start of the NRL finals series.
Walters opted for Arthars on the left flank usually occupied by Oates, who is fourth on Brisbane’s all-time tryscoring list behind Steve Renouf (142), Darren Lockyer (122) and Michael Hancock (120) with 118 four-pointers.
Oates originally had a two-year option in his current deal, but his management and the Broncos rescinded that clause to begin talks on a fresh extension.
The bullocking winger has previously signed one-year contracts late in the season and this new deal will ensure Oates is not complacent in 2024 as he plays for his long-term future.
Oates has undergone more than 10 operations in his career, but insists he is not a spent force in the NRL and is ready to challenge Arthars and Deine Mariner for the left-wing spot.
“It’s been a s*** year for me,” he conceded.
“I had a lot of injuries when I was a young kid and they didn’t stop me.
“The last few injuries I’ve had this year won’t limit me or stop me doing anything.
“I always do the hard training because I have to, that’s what you have to do in this game if you want to keep playing and keep playing at a high level.
“I want to go out and prove that I’m still worth it and I can still put the performances in and do my job.”
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