NRL Market Watch: Bulldogs release Ava Seumanufagai, Aaron Schoupp joins Titans, clubs chase Corey Allan

The Bulldogs’ roster overhaul has continued, with one star a shock absentee from their Top 30 squad list, despite re-signing just months ago.

Will Smith is heading to West Tigers next season.

The Bulldogs bid to make room in their salary cap for a major recruit continues with another NRL forward unexpectedly leaving the club.

Veteran prop Ava Seumanufagai has joined the likes of former captain Josh Jackson (retired) and Aaron Schoupp (Titans) in making a sudden departure from Belmore over the past 10-days.

Seumanufagai was contracted to the Dogs for the 2023 season.

He featured in seven games for Canterbury last season, averaging just over 100m per game.

However, the 141-game forward, who joined the Dogs in 2021 after previous stints at Leeds, the Sharks and Wests Tigers, was a surprising omission from the club’s press release on Monday that listed their top 30 contracted players.

Ava Seumanufagai was contracted to the Dogs for the 2023 season, but was a shock absentee from their Top 30 Players list. Picture: Getty Images.

The Daily Telegraph understands his exit has been amicable yet it’s unclear whether Seumanufagai will continue his NRL career at another club or opt to retire.

The Bulldogs let go Jeremy Marshall-King (Dolphins), Jack Hetherington (Newcastle), Paul Vaughan (Warrington) and Joe Stimson (Gold Coast) in order to sign new buys Viliame Kikau, Reed Mahoney, Ryan Sutton and Hayze Perham.

A host of big name players remain unsigned beyond 2023 including Mitch Moses, Stephen Crichton and Spencer Leniu.

ONE DOG’S GONE, ANOTHER BEING SHOPPED

—Travis Meyn, Dean Ritchie

The Titans have moved to strengthen a problem position by signing rising Bulldogs centre Aaron Schoupp.

Schoupp is expected to be released from the remainder of his Canterbury contract to join Gold Coast immediately.

At 21, Schoupp is a long-term prospect for the Titans and has played 32 NRL games for the Bulldogs since debuting in 2021.

He made 19 appearances last season, scoring six tries, and will bolster a position the Titans have struggled with over recent years.

The Titans have bolstered their outside back stocks, after securing talented Bulldog Aaron Schoupp. Picture: Getty Images.

Titans coach Justin Holbrook has experimented with a number of centre options, with Brian Kelly and Patrick Herbert struggling to nail down the role in 2022.

Young gun Jojo Fifita is a long-term centre prospect along with Schoupp, who was signed at Canterbury until the end of 2024.

However the Bulldogs have salary cap and roster problems and need to shed players, with Schoupp the latest to exit Belmore.

The Titans and Bulldogs are expected to confirm the transfer on Wednesday.

Schoupp has impressed during his time at Canterbury, but the Bulldogs are battling with salary cap pressure. Picture: NRL Photos.

Meanwhile, Canterbury and former Queensland fullback Corey Allan is being shopped to rival clubs and could land at either Parramatta or Manly for 2023.

Allan, 24, has another season to run on his current contract at Belmore.

Despite being primarily a winger or fullback, there are suggestions Allan could be offered to Manly and Parramatta as a centre.

Any deal struck would include Canterbury paying up to 50 per cent of Allan’s salary.

Canterbury will accommodate Allan for this coming season if interest at rivals clubs is minimal but the ex-Maroons star would be permitted to leave should he secure a deal.

Canterbury's Corey Allan could be leaving Belmore. Picture: NRL Imagery

Allan does have a relationship with former Bulldogs coach and new Eels assistant, Trent Barrett.

The Roosters had been linked with Allan but winger Tui Katoa is now on a train-and-trial deal at Bondi.

It is understood any rival club seeking to sign Allan would take him immediately.

Allan, who was named in the Bulldogs’ 30-man roster released this week, is on a salary believed to be around $500,000 for the 2023 season.

Parramatta’s starting centres for next season are expected to be Will Penisini and Bailey Simonsson.

Regular Eels centre Tom Opacic has joined Hull KR.

Manly’s centre pairing to start next season will come from Tolu Koula, Brad Parker or Morgan Harper.

Talk that Canterbury may allow English forward Luke Thompson to join Wests Tigers – should the Concord club miss out on Newcastle’s David Klemmer – has been denied.

Canterbury have been impressive in recruitment, signing Viliame Kikau, Reed Mahoney, Ryan Sutton, Andrew Davey and Franklin Pele for next season along with impressive young utility Jacob Preston, who comes from the North Sydney Bears and Sydney Roosters.

Bulldogs general manager of football, Phil Gould, continues to rework and revamp his playing roster with leading player agents suggesting he wants to make room in his club’s roster for two more rookies.

Brisbane-born Allan was part of the history-making Queensland side which claimed the 2020 State of Origin against the odds. He debuted in game three.

A former Prime Ministers’ XIII representative, Allan joined Canterbury from Souths in 2021 on a three-year deal from Souths.

Canterbury returned to training this week under new coach Cameron Ciraldo in preparation for 2023.

The Bulldogs are paying $21 to win next season’s NRL grand final, according to TAB, alongside Brisbane and Canberra.

TIGERS SWOOP ON MR FIX-IT JOURNEYMAN

The Wests Tigers have moved quickly to fill the utility spot vacated by Tyrone Peachey, signing Will Smith for the 2023 NRL season.

It comes as English star John Bateman refused to deny last week’s report in The Daily Telegraph linking him with a move to Concord next year.

News Corp also revealed the 29-year-old met coach Tim Sheens in the UK and the club was in the final stages of signing Bateman to a three-year deal.

“I’ll sort out what I need to sort out after the World Cup and the decision will come then,” Bateman told Fox Sports.

“I’ve got a contract at Wigan and rumours are rumours, but it’s always good to be liked — I don’t care what you say.

“I’ve got a World Cup to focus on and that’s what I am going to be focusing on, I’ll answer the questions after the World Cup.”

English star John Bateman has been linked with a move to the Tigers. Picture: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Meanwhile, former Penrith, Parramatta and Gold Coast utility Smith joins the club on a full-time training contract after a brief stint in the English Super League.

The 30-year-old joined the Titans on a two-year deal at the beginning of 2022 but was granted a mid-season release after playing just nine games for the Gold Coast. He then linked up with Hull FC, coached by former Wests Tigers premiership-winning fullback, Brett Hodgson, where he made seven appearances.

“Will is a talented player who can cover a lot of positions,” Sheens said of Smith, who has played 84 games over nine NRL seasons.

“His experience will be very helpful because we have such a young squad.”

CEO Justin Pascoe said Smith was a welcome addition to a recruitment drive that has already netted the Tigers Parramatta back-rower Isaiah Papali’i and premiership-winning Penrith duo Apisai Koroisau and Charlie Staines.

Mr Fix-it Will Smith has joined the Tigers for 2023. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

“Will brings experience and he brings leadership, qualities that will certainly contribute value to the club,” Pascoe said.

“It’s a pleasure to welcome Will and his family to Wests Tigers.”

Staines was involved in what was essentially a player swap with Peachey, who returns to Penrith after a forgettable time at Concord.

Coincidentally, Smith joined the Titans at the end of the 2021 season following Peachey’s departure to the Tigers.

Smith made his NRL debut with the Panthers in 2014 and played five seasons with Parramatta Eels (2017-2021) before joining the Titans.

Brothers in arms? Rabbitohs’ big play to keep Latrell

Shaq Mitchell has signed a two-year extension with the Rabbitohs as South Sydney now turns its attention to his brother Latrell who is off-contract at the end of 2023.

A trimmed-down Shaq got his first taste of NRL last season and played three games for the Bunnies and represented the Indigenous All Stars as well.

The 26-year-old has been promoted to the club’s top-30 roster and could receive more game time as his fitness and skills continue to improve.

Shaq Mitchell got to make his NRL debut this year. Picture: NRL Imagery

“I’m very happy to be here for the next two years. South Sydney feels like home to me,” Mitchell said.

“This club feels like family, it really does, and family is very important to me.

“Souths gave me the chance to make my first grade debut which I will never forget and I can see a way forward here at this club.

“This contract allows me and my little family to have some stability. I can look after my three little ones, and I can concentrate completely on my footy.

“I can’t wait to get back into training and prepare for a big season in 2023.”

Shaq’s decision to stay is music to the ears of South Sydney supporters who are hoping to see Latrell commit his future to the club, with reports Cody Walker and Damien Cook are also on track to put pen to paper.

Shaq Mitchell has become a fan favourite in Redfern. Picture: Supplied

“Shaq has worked so hard to get to this point in his career and he is reaping the rewards,” Rabbitohs head of football Mark Ellison said.

“He has done an enormous amount of work on his fitness and it’s paying dividends for him, as we see him play regular football on a weekly basis, playing long minutes, and earning three games in first grade last season.

“He is enormously skilful as well, offering something a little different to many front rowers in the NRL. He has great footwork for a big man and has the hands of a halfback.

“Shaq’s best football is certainly in front of him and his commitment to the club and his body shows he has the maturity to play more NRL at the Rabbitohs this coming season and next.”

Originally published as NRL Market Watch: Bulldogs release Ava Seumanufagai, Aaron Schoupp joins Titans, clubs chase Corey Allan