NRL contract news: Warriors sign Bulldogs star and close door on Albert Hopoate, Tigers poach Panthers young gun
Albert Hopoate is one of the best teenage prospects in rugby league — but where will he play in NRL season 2021?
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The New Zealand Warriors are locked and loaded for season 2021 after new coach Nathan Brown finalised his top 30 roster with the signature of Canterbury flyer Marcelo Montoya.
Montoya agreed to a two-year deal from season 2021 on Tuesday afternoon.
The 24-year old was one of eight players including Aiden Tolman and Kieran Foran who were not part of Bulldogs coach Trent Barrett’s rebuild at Belmore, which officially kicked off on Monday.
The Canterbury local junior joins Manly prop Addin Fonua-Blake, Parramatta forward Kane Evans and St George Illawarra centre Euan Aitken - who have all agreed to join the Warriors for season 2021 and beyond.
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Montoya, who made his NRL debut for the Bulldogs in 2017, only managed 20 games in his final two seasons at the club.
A season-ending knee injury in 2019 was compounded by a serious hamstring year this which resigned him to only nine games.
But coach Brown’s show of faith in Montoya will see him compete with the likes of David Fusitu’a, Ken Maumalo and Adam Pompey for a spot in the starting side.
Montoya’s addition to the Warriors roster closes the door on any chance for rising Sea Eagles back Albert Hopoate to join the club.
Hopoate was loaned to the Warriors in August but was recalled to Manly only 10 days later after an injury crisis at Narrabeen.
Despite returning to Manly, where he made his debut in round 16, Hopoate had remained a target for the Warriors with veteran recruitment guru Peter O’Sullivan labelling the teenager as one of the best prospects of his age group.
Elsewhere, the Wests Tigers are closing on Penrith Panthers fullback Daine Laurie.
Laurie played three games in season 2020 after making his NRL debut in round 13 and has one more year remaining on his development contract at the club.
The two parties are in negotiations to finalise the move but it’s believed the Wests Tigers have offered Laurie a two-year deal from season 2022.
Born and raised in Iluka on the NSW north coast, Laurie joined Penrith’s SG Ball outfit in 2017 and went on to the named the Jersey Flegg player of the year in 2018, where he scored 17 tries, made 119 tackle busts and 20 line breaks from 22 matches.
But after a resurgence from Dylan Edwards, Laurie found himself down the pecking order for the no.1 jumper at Penrith.
The 21-year old is one of 13 players off contract - without a contract option - at the end of season 2021 at the Panthers.
Penrith’s salary cap squeeze has meant the grand finalists are open to exploring a number of early releases, including for the likes of Laurie, rising halfback Matt Burton and Josh Mansour.
The Bulldogs have offered Burton a two-year deal from season 2022 believed to be worth in the vicinity of $800,000.
But new coach Barrett, who was Ivan Cleary’s assistant at Penrith, is keen to have Burton join his ranks as soon as this pre-season.
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Last week, The Daily Telegraph also revealed that veteran winger Josh Mansour was told he is free to look for a new club despite being contracted at Penrith until the end of season 2021.
Mansour has already garnered interest from the Tigers and the Parramatta Eels but is in no rush to make a decision on his future.
The Eels remain the frontrunner to hand Bryce Cartwright a NRL lifeline for season 2021. Cartwright’s playing future was on the rocks after an unsuccessful stint at the Gold Coast Titans.
There is a view that Cartwright would flourish in an established system and under a coach like Brad Arthur, who is known for his no nonsense approach.
Originally published as NRL contract news: Warriors sign Bulldogs star and close door on Albert Hopoate, Tigers poach Panthers young gun