NRL market watch 2022: James Tamou poised to join North Queensland Cowboys
James Tamou is poised to backflip on his retirement plan and continue his career with one of the NRL’s premiership contenders.
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In a recruitment shock, former Penrith and Wests Tigers prop James Tamou is poised for a final season back where it all started – with North Queensland.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal Tamou has spoken with the Cowboys about a 12-month contract which would conclude his stellar rugby league career.
While in Sydney for Wednesday night’s Dally M Medal, North Queensland coach Todd Payten held talks with Tamou.
No deal has yet been struck but the chances of Tamou returning to Townsville are looking increasingly likely.
There was strong interest from the English Super League but Tamou and his family wanted to remain in Australia.
The Daily Telegraph was told Wakefield Trinity, who finished tenth in Super League this season, were keen on Tamou.
It is understood Payten told Tamou he wanted him back at North Queensland.
And Tamou, in reply, is understood to have told Payten he wanted to “come home” to Townsville.
Tamou is expected to accept a reduced contract. He would become North Queensland’s first significant signing for 2023.
North Queensland officials weren’t commenting when contacted on Thursday afternoon.
Tamou, 33, played with the Cowboys between 2009 and 2016 before further stints with the Panthers and Tigers.
He played this year with Wests Tigers.
If a deal could be reached, the experienced Tamou would be called on to mentor North Queensland’s young forwards.
Tamou wants to play for one more season before retiring.
Born in New Zealand, Tamou played juniors at the Sydney Roosters before being signed by North Queensland.
He played 170 games for North Queensland along with 14 matches for NSW and 12 Tests for Australia.
Tamou played in Penrith’s losing 2020 grand final side before joining Wests Tigers.
BENNETT RAID PROMPTS TITANS TO HIT BACK
Travis Meyn and Peter Badel
A contract spat has broken out between the Dolphins and Titans after super coach Wayne Bennett continued his recruitment drive by poaching Gold Coast prop Herman Ese’ese for next year’s NRL launch.
But Bennett’s raid has sparked Queensland expansion fireworks with the Titans, who have tabled a $400,000, two-year extension in an eleventh-hour bid to keep Ese’ese at the Gold Coast.
Ese’ese has agreed to a one-year contract with the Dolphins to reunite with coach Bennett, who he played some of his best football under.
The 28-year-old signed a Heads of Agreement with the Dolphins last Friday within hours of the Titans finally hitting back with a two-year deal after weeks of dithering.
Ese’ese stands to earn an extra $250,000 by staying at the Titans, leaving the prop in two minds about whether to sensationally renege on his Dolphins deal.
Ese’ese’s 2023 deal has yet to be formally lodged with the NRL, but the Dolphins are confident the hard-running bookend will be part of their foundation squad next season.
The Titans had urgent talks with the forward’s management on Thursday in a desperate bid to convince Ese’ese to backflip on his Dolphins deal and remain at Parkwood.
Gold Coast have offered an extra 12 months and more money than the Dolphins.
A Test player for both New Zealand and Samoa, Ese’ese has played 109 NRL games for the Bulldogs, Broncos, Knights and Titans, where he has spent the past two seasons.
Ese’ese played under Bennett at the Broncos in 2016-17 before securing a bumper deal at Newcastle, where he spent three years before joining the Titans.
He will join an engine room at the Dolphins that already includes middle forwards Jesse Bromwich, Tom Gilbert, Mark Nicholls, Ray Stone and Jarrod Wallace.
“Herman is an experienced campaigner who will give us another strong option as a middle forward,” said Dolphins CEO Terry Reader.
“He is a solid professional that has been around several different systems and has played over a hundred NRL matches in one of the toughest positions on the field.
“We are excited about what he could do again under our coach Wayne Bennett and are confident he can replicate that form for the Dolphins to become an important part of our pack.”
TUIVASA-SHECK TIPPED FOR STUNNING NRL RETURN
By Brent Read, Michael Carayannis
Former All Black and Auckland coach John Kirwan has dropped a bombshell in the lead-up to Sunday night’s grand final after claiming Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is on the verge of a return to the NRL.
Kirwan, speaking on The Breakdown on New Zealand Sky television, suggested Tuivasa-Sheck had an offer on the table from the Sydney Roosters.
Roosters officials have understandably dismissed the claims given the club already has three handy fullbacks in their system — James Tedesco, Joey Manu and Joseph Suaalii.
Tuivasa-Sheck has struggled to make an impact since his switch of codes but should he decide to cut short in his stint in New Zealand, he would likely command huge money to play in Japanese rugby.
NRL clubs would also be on alert given his standing in the sport before he left the Warriors. His former club would no doubt explore at signing him again while Wests Tigers, Newcastle and Bulldogs are all potentially in the market for a fullback.
The Tigers are considering a move for Daine Laurie to the halves (see story below), the Knights are weighing up the same with Kalyn Ponga, and the Bulldogs have been linked with the likes of Penrith centre Steve Crichton, who has spoken about a desire to play fullback.
Tigers scramble to lock down star
Wests Tigers are haggling with Daine Laurie over the length of a contract extension as they look to back up the signing of Shawn Blore with a new deal for their No.1.
News Corp understands that the Tigers have offered Laurie a one-year deal as they look to ensure he is taken off the market before the November 1 deadline.
However, sources close to Laurie confirmed he was holding out for a longer deal and may go to market if he can’t secure at least a two-year extension from the Tigers.
Laurie, who starred for the Prime Minister’s XIII side at the weekend, is about the enter the final year of his current deal and can sign with rival clubs from November 1.
The Tigers want him to stay and have taken steps to ensure that happens. It is understood they have even broached the idea of Laurie moving to five-eighth next season should Cameron Munster arrive at the club and play fullback.
Munster’s future continues to clog the player market given a handful of clubs are waiting for him to make a call on whether he will accept an extension from Melbourne or head to the open market.
Munster spoke to his agent Braith Anasta over the weekend and News Corp understands that he has also held talks with Storm chair Matt Tripp this week.
A decision could be only days away as Melbourne await a call from the Queensland and Australian superstar before he leaves for the World Cup.
Meanwhile, Blore has signed a one-year contract extension with the Tigers, keeping him at the club until at least the end of 2024.
The 22-year-old second rower missed the entire 2022 season after suffering an ACL injury in February and says he can’t wait for the new campaign to begin.
“I’ve been working hard all year to get back to full fitness after the injury,” Blore said.
“By the time the new season comes around it will have been like a 12-month pre-season for me, so naturally I’m super keen to get back to what I love doing.
“I want to thank the club for adding another year to my contract even though I didn’t get to play this season. I am very grateful. The club has shown a lot of faith in me, and I will do everything in my power to repay that faith.
“I’m really excited about what’s happening here at the club.”
Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe said Blore had shown tremendous commitment over the past six months.
“It’s been a really tough year for Shawn, but he’s kept at it, put in the hard work, and I’m sure that hard work will pay off,” Pascoe said.
“He’s had a horror run with injury and deserves a bit of luck. We all look forward to seeing Shawn be the best he can be over the coming years.”
PLAYER WATCH
Jackson Topine (Bulldogs): The NSW Cup player of the year has agreed to a new two-year deal with the club. The backrower was off-contract after this season but will now remain at the club until at least 2024. The 21-year-old has played 11 top grade games since making his debut last year.
Morgan Boyle (Manly): Despite an injury-ravaged few seasons, the Sea Eagles will keep the forward on a one-year deal. Boyle, 26, has played just 10 matches in the past three seasons.
Tommy Talau (Tigers): Hasn’t played a game this year due to a serious knee injury but Wests Tigers are ready to show faith in him with a contract extension. Talau was one of the game’s rising stars before he injured a knee at the end of last year. The 22-year-old son of former New Zealand and Samoa international Willie Talau has spent the past 12 months recuperating and is set to be rewarded for his persistence with a new Tigers contract.
Jack Murchie (from Warriors to Eels): Expected to join the Eels next year. Murchie, 25, had interest from the Dragons but is likely to join Parramatta. The Warriors also wanted to keep him but he was keen to return to NSW. He made his NRL debut for the Raiders in 2018 and played 14 games for the Warriors this year.
Andrew Davey (from Manly to Canterbury): The back-rower will join Canterbury next season. Injury ruined his first year at Manly last year but he managed 18 matches this year.
Hayze Perham (from Parramatta to Canterbury): The young outside back is expected to join the Bulldogs next year. The Tigers were interested in the 23-year-old but he is likely to now join the Bulldogs.
Joe Stimson (from Canterbury to Gold Coast): The back-rower is set to join the Titans on a two-year deal. Stimson was billed as a game-changing signing for Canterbury having joined the club as a rising forward from the Storm. He played 21 matches for the Bulldogs this year after injury restricted him to 13 games in his first two seasons.
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