NRL 2023 Market Watch: The off-contract stars to capitalise on record salary cap increase

Canberra has the coin, but Ricky Stuart has revealed why the Raiders have more than one superstar in their sights as they prepare to make a huge splash in the player market.

Eels coach Brad Arthur and Nathan Brown. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty

With a salary cap figure finally locked in at $12.1 million, up from $9.6 million, which is a 25 per cent increase on 2022, the NRL player market is set to switch gears from a ‘holding pattern’ into overdrive in the new year. Here are some of the standout deals waiting to be done.

TIGERS CIRCLE AS BROWN AWAITS CALL

The immediate playing future of Nathan Brown will become clearer from next week when the Parramatta forward resumes talks with a number of potential suitors, including the Wests Tigers.

Brown, who has one year left to run on his Eels deal, has been a target for the Tigers since the 29-year-old was given permission to negotiate with other clubs.

New Tigers coach Tim Sheens is keen to bring the forward back to the club and the pair were spotted having coffee in Strathfield last month.

Even with Englishman John Bateman locked in at the Wests Tigers, for the next four years, the Concord club still officially has two top-30 rosters places to fill for 2023.

One of those places is earmarked for Brown.

Nathan Brown’s imminent Parramatta exit is another Tigers recruitment target. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty

FORMER MANLY PROP SET FOR SEA CHANGE

Brown’s move back to the club where he made his NRL debut in 2013 will open the door for the unsigned Martin Taupau to join the Eels.

Taupau is said to have five NRL clubs interested in his services but none had been able to table an official offer until the salary cap had been resolved.

Before losing prop David Klemmer to the Tigers, Newcastle had expressed interest in signing the former Manly forward. Klemmer‘s departure is likely to raise Taupau’s stock as a recruitment target for the Knights.

Even with Taupau a genuine possibility at the Eels, the club’s attention is squarely focused on retaining halfback Mitchell Moses after locking in five-eighth Dylan Brown until at least the end of 2025 — with an option to stay on until 2031.

The Eels have maintained Moses is a ‘priority’ for the club and talks are ongoing between both parties.

Moses, who garnered interest from the Tigers and Canterbury, is testing his value on the market, fielding offers worth more than $1 million a season.

Stephen Crichton wants to make the switch from centre to fullback. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty

PENRITH OR BELMORE FOR PANTHERS STAR?

At Penrith, centre Stephen Crichton has been forthcoming about his ambitions to play fullback, and in turn a contract worth fullback money, during extension talks at the club.

Club bosses wanted to keep the talented outside back beyond 2023 but have conceded they would not be able to match the kind of money Crichton is set to command on the open market, or guarantee a shot at fullback with Dylan Edwards owning the position.

Crichton has been linked to Canterbury, where he shares a history with Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo having worked together at the foot of the mountains. Crichton could be a long-term solution at fullback for the Bulldogs.

MORE THAN ONE SUPERSTAR IN RICKY’S SIGHTS

Canberra is preparing to make a huge splash in the player market with a three-year deal worth $2.7 million from 2024 for Gold Coast forward David Fifita.

Ricky Stuart met with Fifita earlier this month in a bid to seal the deal.

Knowing the Titans won‘t give up the Tongan international without a fight, the Raiders also have boom North Queensland forward Jeremiah Nanai in their sights for 2024.

Josh Mansour is hopeful of finding a deal in the NRL for 2023. Picture: Charlotte Tattersall/Getty

VETERAN HOLDING OUT FOR NRL FAREWELL

Unsigned veteran winger Josh Mansour isn‘t giving up on finding a home in the NRL in 2023.

The former Penrith and South Sydney winger showed he still has plenty to offer after a commendable campaign for Lebanon in the Rugby League World Cup.

The 32-year-old is open to a deal in England but won’t make a call on a switch to the Super League until all options at home have been exhausted.

Originally published as NRL 2023 Market Watch: The off-contract stars to capitalise on record salary cap increase