NRL news: Eels prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard open to joining Dolphins

Eels enforcer Reagan Campbell-Gillard says sunny skies and life under Wayne Bennett’s eye is enough to tempt him away from Parramatta in 2023.

Wayne Bennett will kick-off contract negotiations with the Dolphins. Pic Annette Dew

Reagan Campbell-Gillard has dropped an expansion bombshell on Parramatta by informing the Eels he will not take-up a player option as he considers joining new Brisbane franchise the Dolphins.

News Corp can reveal Campbell-Gillard’s management advised Parramatta powerbrokers on Friday night the Eels enforcer will not be activating a 12-month option in his favour for the 2023 season.

The former NSW Origin prop will head to the open market from November 1 — opening the door for Campbell-Gillard to be one of Wayne Bennett’s first signings for the Dolphins’ debut season in 2023.

Parramatta football boss Mark O’Neill is aware of Campbell-Gillard’s contractual stance with his manager confirming the prop will explore the prospect of quitting the Eels to be a foundation Dolphin.

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Reagan Campbell-Gillard is keen to be the ‘face’ of the Eels. Picture: Matt Roberts/Getty Images

“We’ve informed Parramatta that Reagan isn’t taking up his option for 2023,” said Campbell-Gillard’s manager Mark Stewart.

“I want to stress there is no issue with Parramatta.

“He is grateful for all the Eels have done to resurrect his career after leaving Penrith and we will be giving Parramatta every chance to keep him because he has really enjoyed his time at the club.

“We will go to the open market and clubs will want to speak to us come November 1, which brings a second Brisbane team into the equation.

“He would certainly entertain being the face of a new Brisbane franchise.”

Campbell-Gillard has found a home at Parramatta since losing his way at Western Sydney rivals the Panthers, amassing 41 NRL games for the Eels since his arrival at the start of 2020.

But the 28-year-old’s stint this year living in Queensland, following the Covid-enforced relocation of the premiership, has opened his eyes to the appeal of helping launch the NRL’s newest expansion club the Dolphins.

Bennett will need seasoned players to ensure Brisbane’s second team is competitive from day one and Campbell-Gillard ticks the boxes. He has played one Origin game for NSW in 2018, five Tests for Australia and is one of the code’s most experienced bookends, having compiled 155 games since his NRL debut in 2015.

(L-R) Junior Paulo and Reagan Campbell-Gillard have formed a powerful prop pairing for the Eels. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

The composition of his Eels contract is unusual. Off-contract at the end of 2022, Campbell-Gillard has an option in his favour for the following year, with the Eels having a further 12-month option in their favour for the 2024 season.

But with Campbell-Gillard declining to trigger the 2023 component of his deal, Parramatta’s club option is ostensibly voided.

Campbell-Gillard will be open to offers from all 16 rivals but playing for the Dolphins under Bennett is a serious consideration.

“A second Brisbane team would certainly be attractive,” Stewart said.

“Reagan and his partner are expecting their first child in January and they are weighing up some family considerations. They spent the last few months in Queensland during Covid and it was quite appealing to raise a young family.

“Wayne Bennett’s track record speaks for itself. Like Brad Arthur (Eels coach), Reagan would thrive under Wayne’s coaching.

“Reagan is close to a lot of players at Parramatta, Brad has been fantastic for him and he really enjoys being coached by him. However, we need to explore our options before we make any decision on which way he will move going forward.

“He has the chance to be the face of a new organisation.”

Dolphins bid chief Terry Reader is flattered by Campbell-Gillard’s interest in the 17th team.

“Reagan is a quality player and you have to take notice of a player of his calibre,” he said.

“Until we get the coach locked in, it’s hard to work out which players we will sign.

“It’s great to hear a player of Reagan’s calibre is interested in the Dolphins, but we cannot approach players until November 1, so we will respect the process.”

BENNETT DOESN’T WANT ‘CHOIRBOYS’ AT DOLPHINS

Dolphins coach-in-waiting Wayne Bennett has put out the welcome mat to Cameron Munster, declaring their Queensland Origin bond can be a winning formula for Brisbane’s new NRL franchise.

Bennett will kick-off contract negotiations with the Dolphins on Friday and the NRL super coach will tell Redcliffe consortium bosses that Munster is the No. 1 target on his recruitment hit list.

A poaching tug of war is brewing over Munster, with Storm chairman Matt Tripp insisting he will fight to retain the Maroons ace, who is contracted until the end of 2023 and would require an early release to be the Dolphins’ marquee signing.

Speculation over Munster’s future at the Storm has intensified following the white-powder scandal that saw the five-eighth superstar check into rehab last week to address issues with alcohol.

Now Bennett is ready to strike.

Wayne Bennett will kick-off contract negotiations with the Dolphins. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

The pair clicked immediately during Queensland’s epic Origin 2020 series boilover of the Blues last November and Bennett said the Rockhampton product would be the right fit as the Dolphins’ marquee recruit.

“If Cameron is available or keen to come home, I will certainly look at him,” Bennett said.

“Everyone will be hard to get out of the 16 clubs, there is no doubt about that, but Cameron is someone I have great admiration for.

“Predominantly, the Dolphins will want a Queensland look, but you always have to sign the best players and Cameron ticks both those boxes.

“We have a 12-month runway (to build a roster), but I need to get myself sorted with Redcliffe first before I get too far in front of myself and worry about what players we have or won’t have for 2023.”

Wayne Bennett and Cameron Munster have already enjoyed success with the Maroons. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

While Tripp is keen to retain Munster, NRL clubs rarely stand in the way of a player if he was to seek a release on compassionate grounds.

Munster’s pregnant partner Bianca is due to give birth in December and the couple were rocked by the passing of her mother from cancer earlier this year, prompting the Storm playmaker to discuss a possible return to Queensland.

In August, Munster exclusively told News Corp he was open to reuniting with Bennett at a second Brisbane club in the wake of their Origin success.

“For sure I will consider it (a second Brisbane team),” Munster said at the time.

“I know Wayne would be very keen to coach a second Brisbane team. He told me in Origin camp (last November) he is keen on a second Brisbane team, so it would be a very competitive side if Wayne was in charge.

“It’s a big decision for me.

Cameron Munster would be a huge signing for Queensland’s newest NRL team.

“The Storm are a great club and they gave me my first opportunity to play NRL. I am a pretty loyal bloke and I will definitely give them an opportunity to keep me, but with the new Brisbane team coming along, it will be a tough conversation to have.

“There is so much potential with a 17th team, especially for Central Queensland where I’m from and all the regions around Brisbane.”

There is a view Munster, one of the code’s larrikins, would be a high-risk signing for a Dolphins franchise that requires squeaky-clean ambassadors to promote the NRL’s newest brand.

But Bennett scoffed at suggestions Munster was a problem child.

“I worked with him in Origin last year and he was magnificent,” Bennett said.

“I said to someone the other day, do you want me to sign a team of choirboys?

“If we have a team of choirboys, we will win nothing.

“I have a great relationship with Cameron. He is a smart footballer. I know Cameron carries on like a larrikin but he is no fool. He is not stupid. I’ve had him in team meetings and he knows what’s going on.

“Cameron was brilliant for me in Origin so I wouldn’t see a problem.”

CLUBS HAVE 1.5 MILLION REASONS TO BE WORRIED

By David Riccio

The Dolphins are about to cause a major splash — by delivering the NRL’s first $1.5 million player.

The impact will reverberate also to 16 other NRL clubs, who should feel very nervous, particularly South Sydney.

Wayne Bennett – the Dolphins inaugural coach – has a habit of taking players from the previous club he worked at.

Darius Boyd, Alex McKinnon, Dane Gagai, Jayd’n Su’A, Beau Scott and Jeremy Smith all followed Bennett to his next club, having worked under him.

Rabbitohs officials would be anxious that “the best five-eighth” that the veteran mentor has ever coached, Cody Walker, could be the first Dolphin to jump through the hoop.

In 19-days, the Dolphins can formally commence recruiting the 36-players they’ll need to build an NRL squad in 2023.

Incoming Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett has a great relationship with Cody Walker. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

The NRL’s official green light for 157 players – including Walker – to negotiate a new deal beyond 2022 on November 1 is suddenly the most important off-season date for club CEO’s, recruiters, player agents and players in 14-years.

Not since the arrival of the Gold Coast Titans in 2007 has the NRL dropped a ripple effect on the player transfer and roster management as significant as yesterday’s expansion announcement.

Player agents will suddenly be taking longer to return calls from current and prospective clubs, simply due to the arrival of a new bargaining chip.

The agents will want to check if the Dolphins are interested in their client before committing to a new deal with their current, or alternative club.

“I’m not doing anything until at least November,” Stan Martin, the agent of soon-to-be off-contract Storm star Brandon Smith said on Wednesday.

“Then we will see what the market says.

“Brandon is not doing anything with anybody. He is just keeping his head down, which is what he should do.”

Brandon Smith is one star sure to be on Redcliffe’s radar. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

What the impending arrival of the Dolphins in 2023 will also do is inflate the player market enough to deliver the NRL’s first $1.5 million player.

Daly Cherry-Evans is currently the game’s highest-paid player at $1.175 million and Nathan Cleary is expected to surpass the Manly ace next year.

It would be foolish to dismiss the prospect that the new franchise wouldn’t be prepared to throw the biggest pay cheque-ever at Knights star Kalyn Ponga, whose 2021 salary is already $1 million.

And in-return, how far are the Knights willing to go to keep Ponga? The winner will be the player.

It was back in 2013 that we first began reporting superstar Johnathan Thurston was set to become the first $1 million rugby league player.

There’s now nine players earning more than $1 million in 2021.

Number 10 on the News Corp NRL Rich 100 List in 2021 was Ash Taylor on $964,000.

Before Covid hit, the salary cap was due to rise to $10m.

Clubs have since been instructed to work under a reduced to $9.3m.

However, that figure was forecast to rise to as much as $10.2m next year – if not, the year after in 2023.

Just in time for the Dolphins to help drive the salaries of players further north and a summer of negotiations hotter than ever before.

BENNETT BREAKS SILENCE ON DOLPHINS

Wayne Bennett has outlined his plan to turn the Dolphins into a premiership force as the super coach prepares to lead the NRL into a new expansion era at the helm of the second Brisbane franchise.

ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys revealed Bennett will be “critical” to the success of the NRL’s 17th team after the Dolphins staved off bids from the Jets and Firehawks to clinch the second Brisbane licence.

The planets have aligned perfectly for the NRL’s greatest coach.

Out of contract at Souths, Bennett will begin formal talks with Dolphins bosses on Thursday to formalise a $2 million-plus deal that will see the 71-year-old spearhead Brisbane’s new team and take on the Broncos club he departed in 2018.

The new franchise has its foundation coach.

It is understood Bennett had a handshake deal with Dolphins officialdom pending an official announcement for their entry to the NRL in 2023. The Redcliffe-backed consortium will ramp-up plans to secure the seven-time premiership-winning coach to a three or four year contract by the weekend.

“I have not signed with the Dolphins yet, but I am very keen to talk to the Dolphins and we’ll be doing that in the next 24 hours,” Bennett said.

“If we hit it off, I don’t think it will take long to do the deal.

“There’s been reports a player manager Sam Ayoub is helping me with the deal. Sam is not doing any deal for me.

“If there are sticking points, it might take longer, but I’m confident we can get it done.

“This (NRL expansion) is wonderful news for the game.

“It’s disappointing for the two clubs who missed out but the game has chosen the Dolphins and now I’m keen to make it a success.”

It is impossible to ignore the Bennett narrative with the Broncos given he was the club’s foundation coach in 1988, delivered all six premierships and left Red Hill in turbulent circumstances three years ago.

But Bennett insists he will not look back in anger and wants to drive success at the Dolphins without focusing on talk of an explosive new Brisbane rivalry with the Broncos.

“The dumbest thing we can do is worry about the Broncos,” he said.

“When I was at the Broncos, I never feared a second Brisbane team and now that I’ll be coaching a second Brisbane team, the Broncos will be the last thing on my mind.

Bennett helped build the Broncos from the ground up.

“I don’t want the Dolphins to be the Broncos. I want them to be the Dolphins.

“I have no interest in chasing the Broncos. I don’t want the players to think we are competing with them. I am not into that business.

That would be the biggest mistake we could make. We are not in competition with the Broncos, we have 16 other teams to worry about.

“We have to blaze our own trail. We will have a new band of supporters so it’s a great opportunity for the Dolphins.”

V’landys said Bennett had to be the figurehead of Queensland’s fourth NRL team.

“Wayne Bennett is critical to all of this,” he said.

“One thing we want is the Dolphins to be competitive in the first year.

“Someone of the calibre of Wayne Bennett will make sure the Dolphins will be very competitive in the first year. He will mould and develop the players. He is one of the smartest football brains that I have met.

Bennett says he’s had no contact about a return to the Origin arena.

“He is light years ahead of most people and his football knowledge is extraordinary.

“We believe the team has to be competitive from day one and Wayne Bennett will ensure they are competitive.”

It is understood Bennett will work for the Dolphins next year in a part-time capacity setting up their structures, identifying potential recruits and negotiating player contracts.

He is expected to transition to a full-time contract for the Dolphins’ debut campaign in 2023 and will serve at least two seasons as head coach, with the possibility of a third year in 2025, by which time Bennett would be 75.

“I need to talk to Redcliffe about my role next year,” he said.

“It’s important we are singing from the same song book and I want to make sure we believe in the same things for how a new Brisbane club should look.

“That can only happen with conversations, getting together and working out a time frame for what next year looks like and the years after that.”