NRL Market Watch: Knights set to offload Jake Clifford as chase for Luke Brooks heats up

Rumours of maligned Wests Tiger Luke Brooks’ impending switch to the Knights have intensified as the club battles to lockdown its superstar winger. NRL Market Watch.

Rumours of Luke Brooks' (left) future continue to swirl as the Knights look to offload Jake Clifford.

Newcastle is facing a battle to keep boom winger Dominic Young as five rival clubs join the chase to secure the services of the flyer.

The Daily Telegraph understands the Knights, who took a punt on the English outside back, are yet to table a formal extension to keep Young at the club.

It’s understood the Knights have expressed a desire to keep Young beyond his current deal, which expires at the end of season 2023.

But without an offer from Newcastle to stay in the Hunter, Young is set to become one of the hottest November 1 prospects when he hits the open market in two weeks.

Young’s management has had informal talks with five rival clubs already, four of which are Sydney-based clubs.

Dominic Young (L) is one of the premier wingers in rugby league. Picture: Oli Scarff/AFP

All five clubs are waiting for Young to return from his Rugby League World Cup duties for England, when face-to-face contract talks will take place.

Young’s agent Michael Cincotta said his client remained focused on getting the job done for England before switching tact to decide his future.

“Dom’s focus is on the World Cup and he’s so incredibly proud to be able to play in front of his family and friends for England in England. It’s an incredible time for the Young family with Dom’s brother Alex playing for Jamaica,” Cincotta said

Young’s stocks are only set to rise after an impressive two-try performance for England against Samoa in the opening match of the World Cup.

Young cemented his NRL credentials in 2022, his first full season at NRL level, with 14 tries and 78 tackle busts from 20 games, and an average of 134 metres per game.

“The sky is the limit with Dom. He’s a force of nature, he’s 6’7, 107kg and yet, one of the fastest players in the world. People forget that he can play multiple positions, has so many levels to his game and its been great to see him add to these in the last couple of years and see his extremely hard work paying off,” Cincotta said.

The Knights picked up the 200-centimetre flyer on a three-year deal in 2020 from English Super League side Huddersfield.

Before moving to Australia, the towering winger made his senior debut for the Giants as a 17-year old.

SIGN BROOKS IS LOCK FOR KNIGHTS MOVE?

Unwanted Newcastle playmaker Jake Clifford is set to reignite his career in England next season at Hull FC.

It comes as the Knights continue their chase for Luke Brooks.

Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens has consistently said he would not release Brooks but it appears he has had a rethink on that.

Sheens is said to be in England looking at possible options but he already has Jackson Hastings and Adam Doueihi at the club until the end of 2023.

Brooks is on a massive deal next year worth over $1 million so his exit would free up huge salary cap space.

It is believed the Knights are also chasing a fullback so Kalyn Ponga can make the move into the halves permanently.

Rumours of Luke Brooks' (left) future continue to swirl as the Knights look to offload Jake Clifford.

Clifford’s expected move will also free up a good amount of salary cap space given he was speculated to be on $400,000 plus for next season.

Hull FC are coached by Tony Smith and are chasing a halfback to replace Jake Connor who is moving to Huddersfield.

Hull have also signed Clifford’s former Knights teammate Tex Hoy to play fullback.

Clifford is an exceptional talent who at one point was even touted as a future State of Origin contender for Queensland.

But after a blazing start to the 2022 season he fell out of favour with coach Adam O’Brien. He was also dealing with some personal issues that impacted his form.

The Knights also still have Adam Clune and new recruit Tyson Gamble on their books, but the Brooks/Ponga combination is the preferred halves option.

DOLPHINS BOOST FORWARD DEPTH

— Peter Badel

Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins have bolstered their forward stocks by signing Dragons prop Poasa Faamausili.

Just three weeks out from kicking off their first pre-season, the Dolphins have continued their recruitment drive with Faamausili quitting the Dragons after agreeing terms with the NRL’s 17th team for their debut campaign in 2023.

Poasa Faamausili will move from the Dragons to the Dolphins. Picture: NRL Photos

The 26-year-old has signed a one-year deal and will add depth to a Dolphins engine room spearheaded by Jesse Bromwich, Mark Nicholls, Tom Gilbert, Jarrod Wallace and Herman Ese’ese.

Faamausili has amassed 39 NRL matches for the Roosters, Warriors and St George Illawarra since making his top-grade debut at the Bondi glamour club in 2018.

At 188cm and 108kg, Faamausili is a hulking front-rower best known for his hard running and good leg speed for a big man.

Dolphins’ chief executive Terry Reader said Faamausili would add another strong option to the club’s forwards rotation.

“One thing we have tried to do is make certain the Dolphins will have a forward pack that will compete with any other in the NRL,” Reader said.

“Our coach Wayne Bennett is a big believer in that and it has been part of our long-term strategy from the very first moment we started building our roster.

“Poasa will add more depth to that positional group on our list and we congratulate him on being part of the first ever Dolphins’ squad that will begin pre-season training in just a few weeks’ time.”

Identified by the Roosters as a teenager, Faamausili played three years of the NYC under-20s competition and was a member of the club’s 2016 premiership-winning team.

Faamausili started the grand final in the front row in a team that included current Roosters NRL players Joseph Manu, Victor Radley and Nat Butcher.

He made his NRL debut two years later for the Roosters and played 24 NRL matches for the Tri-Colours before being loaned to the Covid-impacted Warriors team for four games in 2020.

After compiling 11 games for the Dragons, the Auckland-born bookend opted for a new challenge being mentored by super coach Bennett at the Dolphins.

Originally published as NRL Market Watch: Knights set to offload Jake Clifford as chase for Luke Brooks heats up