NRL Transfer Market 2021: Broncos re-sign Tyson Gamble, Titans snare Isaac Liu, Bulldogs re-sign duo
The back room wheeling and dealing is in full swing at Red Hill, and this time it’s a Broncos playmaker that has put pen to paper. Latest transfer news.
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Brisbane playmaker Tyson Gamble has been rewarded for his physical tenacity after the club signed off on a two-year extension to his contract on Wednesday.
The Red Hill retention drive is in full swing following the re-signing of young forward Kobe Hetherington and discussions in place to sure up promising outside back Tesi Niu.
And now, new football boss Ben Ikin has moved to lock down Albany Creek playmaker Gamble – who has quickly become a fan favourite.
The 25-year-old made his Broncos debut last year, playing just two games, before an injury to Brodie Croft and the departure of Tom Dearden saw Gamble become Brisbane’s regular No.7 since Round 8 this year.
His meteoric rise comes after the 95kg playmaker was brought into Brisbane’s top 30 squad this year after impressing the club’s coaching staff while on his development list contract for the 2020 season.
With Adam Reynolds arriving at Red Hill next year and Kotoni Staggs in line to take the No.6 jersey, Gamble offers the Broncos plenty of depth in the playmaking role.
Gamble said he was excited for the future of the Broncos after joining the likes of Brendan Piakura, TC Robati and Selwyn Cobbo in committing to the club beyond this year.
“It’s unreal to re-sign with the Broncos,” Gamble said.
“I love the way the club is going, the direction that Kev is taking us and I’m looking forward to the future.
“It’s good to keep the young blokes around.
“It’s a good crew that we’ve got here at the moment and the longer we keep all of us together, the better we can go.”
Gamble pulled off a momentum-shifting play during Brisbane’s 26-18 boilover of the Sharks last Sunday afternoon when he forced Cronulla’s Jesse Ramien to knock the ball which led to Tesi Niu scoring a runaway try.
He said he was confident the club could add to their winning tally at the back end of the year.
“We’ve had a bit of a refresh mid-season and after that win against the Sharks, there’s no reason we can’t get a few more to finish off the season and we can then build into 2022,” he said.
Chook coming home to roost
Dual premiership-winning forward Isaac Liu is returning home to the Gold Coast after inking a three-year deal with the Titans from next year.
The 30-year-old informed the Roosters last week that he will be leaving at season’s end as he eyed a move to be closer to family on the Gold Coast.
With 192 first-grade games under his belt, the Titans were quick to secure Liu’s services after identifying him as a forward mentor for their young engine room stars.
Liu came through the famous Keebra Park State High School rugby league nursery before making his debut for the Roosters in 2013.
He has since gone on to play for the tricolours across nine seasons, including the 2018 and 2019 NRL Grand Final wins and has also represented New Zealand and Samoa on the international stage.
Titans coach Justin Holbrook described it as “a really important signing” in helping develop the club’s rising stars.
“His experience and the fact that he is a big game player that has won competitions makes him a player that is very valuable for us,” Holbrook said.
“He is such a professional guy, he’s capable at playing at both prop or lock and he brings so much off the field as well.
“We’ve got some of the most exciting young forwards in the game in Moeaki Fotuaika, David Fifita and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui but they are all still 21-years old.
“To have someone like Isaac be able to mentor our young forwards and also drive the culture we are building at the Titans makes him a really important signing.”
The Gold Coast retention and recruitment team have been busy this week having re-signed Beau Fermor and Jaimin Jolliffe for a further two years to lock them in until the 2024 season.
Dogs kennel clean out
Canterbury has re-signed two of the 14 players with no contract at the Bulldogs after this season, as the club looks to overhaul its roster for 2022.
News Corp understands prop Ava Seumanufagai has been offered a two-year extension, which will keep him at the club until the end of season 2023.
Hooker Jeremy Marshall-King has also re-signed for a further two years but the fate of almost half of coach Trent Barrett’s roster is unknown.
The club’s recruitment and retention committee is currently having discussions about which of the other off-contract stars they want at Belmore beyond 2021.
Last month, News Corp was told the Bulldogs are looking at retaining around four of the off-contract players.
It’s believed the club was in deep discussions with at least two players at the start of the season but decided to halt all contract talks until the side started winning football games. Barrett’s men have managed only two wins this year.
A foot injury has resigned Marshall-King to just five games this year but the 25-year-old has been one of Canterbury’s brighter lights in an otherwise dire season.
Marshall-King and Seumanufagai aren’t the only Bulldogs to secure their futures, outside back Nick Meaney will join the Melbourne Storm in 2022 on a two-year deal.
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Ikin draws up contract hit list
New Brisbane head-of-football Ben Ikin has ramped-up his retention drive by securing boom forward Kobe Hetherington and opening talks with Broncos man-of-the-moment Tesi Niu.
News Corp can reveal Hetherington has inked a two-year deal with the Broncos, staving off a poaching raid from the Bulldogs for the son of former Queensland Origin and Canterbury hooker Jason Hetherington.
Ikin is not stopping there, with the newly-appointed Broncos football boss kicking off negotiations with off-contract teenager Niu, who has rocketed into the frame for Brisbane’s fullback spot next season after his Sharks masterclass.
Hetherington has played six games for Brisbane since making his debut in the Round 11 upset win over the Roosters and will remain at Red Hill until the end of 2023.
The 22-year-old is a no-nonsense back-rower who displays the same tough-tackling tenacity that made his father Jason one of Canterbury’s most inspirational players during his stellar 133-game career.
Hetherington has averaged 40 metres and 17 tackles per game off the bench this season, impressing Broncos coach Kevin Walters with his commitment to rebuilding Brisbane as a finals force.
“Kobe is a player of strong character that suits the type of person we need to have on our roster,” Walters said.
“He’s honest and hardworking and is well respected at our club.”
Having secured Hetherington, Ikin is now turning his attention to keeping 19-year-old flyer Niu at Red Hill.
The Titans expressed interest in Niu last season and there are fears the Tongan Test rookie could emulate former teammate David Fifita and quit the Broncos to chase a regular starting spot at the Gold Coast next year.
But Ikin is determined to retain Niu, who underlined his potential as an NRL star with a superb two-try effort against Cronulla last Sunday - including an 80-metre solo special which sealed a 26-18 victory.
Ikin means business after releasing Matt Lodge last week and the Broncos football boss insists he wants the well-built teenager to spearhead a ‘Niu’ era at Red Hill.
“Tesi is one of the players we are talking with at the moment, absolutely,” Ikin said.
“Tesi is a good young player.
“I can’t give a percentage on what Tesi will do, but we would like to keep him.”
Broncos scouts last year described Niu as their best fullback prospect since a young Darren Lockyer burst onto the scene 25 years ago and such is his talent, he made his Test debut for Tonga as an 18-year-old in 2019.
But Niu had a difficult rookie year last season under former coach Anthony Seibold, playing just six games during Brisbane’s losing streak before undergoing wrist surgery which ended his 2020 campaign.
Niu has scored six tries from nine games this season and has showcased his ability in recent weeks, scoring three tries in his past three games, terrorising the Sharks with 199 metres and five tackle busts.
The Broncos are on the lookout for a permanent fullback next season after missing out on Storm ace Nicho Hynes and Ikin confirmed Niu is in the mix for the crucial No.1 position in their playmaking spine.
“Tesi is one of several fullback options we are looking at. Kevin (Walters, Broncos coach) will be looking at that area over the next eight weeks,” Ikin said.
“We have several centre or fullback options. We have Selwyn Cobbo, we have Brenko Lee coming from the Storm, we have Jesse Arthars and Tesi was fantastic against the Sharks.
“Tesi is playing fullback at the moment and there are some other classy outside backs we have on our list.
“Herbie Farnworth was named there against the Raiders (in round 14) before Tesi came in late and he is another option.
“Kev is going through the process at the moment. It’s good for the club, there will be healthy competition for spots.”
Broncos look to lock up rising star
Brisbane have opened contract extension talks with explosive teenager Tesi Niu, who has rocketed into the frame for Brisbane’s fullback spot next season in the wake of his sizzling display against the Sharks.
Niu remains off-contract at season’s end but new Brisbane head-of-football Ben Ikin is keen to keep the 19-year-old at Red Hill as the Broncos ramp-up their recruitment-and-retention drive to hit back as a finals force in 2022.
The Titans expressed interest in Niu last season and there are fears the Tongan Test rookie could emulate former teammate David Fifita and quit the Broncos to chase a regular starting spot at the Gold Coast next year.
But Ikin is determined to retain Niu, who underlined his potential as an NRL star with a superb two-try effort against Cronulla last Sunday – including an 80-metre solo special which sealed a 26-18 victory.
Ikin means business after releasing Matt Lodge last week and the Broncos football boss insists he wants the well-built teenager to spearhead a ‘Niu’ era at Red Hill.
“Tesi is one of the players we are talking with at the moment, absolutely,” Ikin said.
“Tesi is a good young player.
“I can’t give a percentage on what Tesi will do, but we would like to keep him.”
Broncos scouts last year described Niu as their best fullback prospect since a young Darren Lockyer burst onto the scene 25 years ago and such is his talent, he made his Test debut for Tonga as an 18-year-old in 2019.
But Niu had a difficult rookie year last season under former coach Anthony Seibold, playing just six games during Brisbane‘s losing streak before undergoing wrist surgery which ended his 2020 campaign.
Niu has scored six tries from nine games this season and has showcased his ability in recent weeks, scoring three tries in his past three games, terrorising the Sharks with 199 metres and five tackle busts.
The Broncos are on the lookout for a permanent fullback next season after missing out on Storm ace Nicho Hynes and Ikin confirmed Niu is in the mix for the crucial No.1 position in their playmaking spine.
“Tesi is one of several fullback options we are looking at. Kevin (Walters, Broncos coach) will be looking at that area over the next eight weeks,” Ikin said.
“We have several centre or fullback options. We have Selwyn Cobbo, we have Brenko Lee coming from the Storm, we have Jesse Arthars and Tesi was fantastic against the Sharks.
“Tesi is playing fullback at the moment and there are some other classy outside backs we have on our list.
“Herbie Farnworth was named there against the Raiders (in round 14) before Tesi came in late and he is another option.
“Kev is going through the process at the moment. It‘s good for the club, there will be healthy competition for spots.”
Taylor stuck as Titans hold-off on contract
Titans five-eighth Ash Taylor is stuck in contract limbo, with the Gold Coast club yet to inform him if he will be offered a new deal.
Taylor has eight games to go on the infamous $3 million contract which made him one of the highest-paid players in the NRL over the past three years.
Taylor, 26, is keen to remain at the Titans and understands he will not be worth anywhere near the $1 million-a-season he has been pocketing.
But the 109-game playmaker is yet to receive any clarity from the Titans about what his future holds.
“Nope,” Taylor said bluntly when asked if he had been given an indication by the Titans.
While the Titans are yet to inform Taylor of their plans, the club has been locking up its other playmaking talent.
Co-captain Jamal Fogarty (2023) and rising halfback Toby Sexton (2024) last week secured upgraded extended contracts.
Taylor said he was hoping to receive some clarity in the coming weeks.
“The faster I find out, the faster my future is settled. It’s not really up to me,” he said.
“I don’t want to let it get to me. I’m enjoying myself and my life now. I live in the moment.
“As a club we are building. Hopefully I can stick around here and steer the club into the future.
“It’s not in my court at the moment. I’ve got to keep playing footy and let the manager sort that out.
“I hope to get a clear indication in the next few weeks.”
Titans coach Justin Holbrook has previously said he was still assessing Taylor’s future and it was up to the No. 6 to play well enough to demand a new offer.
After missing six games through hand and hip injuries, Taylor admitted his form hadn’t been up to scratch in 2021 but he was hoping to end the season on a high.
“It was pretty frustrating to be told I’d be right for the start of the season and not be right,” he said of his hip struggles.
“It took a toll on myself. Now I’m feeling a lot better and have just got to keep working hard.
“I haven’t really put the line out there (to other clubs) yet. I’m happy where I am.
“I haven’t played too many great games of footy this year so I’m really focused on putting effort areas back into my game and really working hard here.”
The Titans have a bye this weekend after securing a much-needed win against Canberra last Saturday.
They will return to the field on Friday week at Cbus Super Stadium against a Parramatta side that could be missing star NSW Origin players Mitchell Moses and Junior Paulo.
However the Titans will be sweating on the availability of Queensland quartet David Fifita, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Moeaki Fotuaika and AJ Brimson.
Panthers, Roosters lock up big names
NRL powerhouse clubs Penrith and the Sydney Roosters have made moves on Tuesday to lockup some of their biggest stars on long-term deals.
Veteran winger Daniel Tupou and rising forward Lindsay Collins both extended their time at the bondi club, while Kiwi enforcer James Fisher-Harris will remain a Panther until the end of season 2026.
Tupou’s two-year extension takes him one step closer to becoming a one-club player after making his NRL debut for the Tricolours in 2012. The three-time premiership winner is the longest serving member of the Roosters backline.
“It’s home for me and I’m glad to be here for another two years. It makes me feel old a bit, but it’s good to see the young guys come through … but I’m still proving myself as a player and still have a lot to give,” Tupou said.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson has also retained Collins, who is sidelined with an ACL injury, until the end of season 2026. Collins was rewarded with a four-year extension, and Maroons selection last year, after a breakout 2020 season.
“I don’t even think I asked for details. It was just ‘they are offering you a contract’ and I said ‘yep’ straight away. This club means a lot to me, it gave me an opportunity to come down here when I was 20-years old and I haven’t looked back since,” Collins said.
At the foot of the mountains, Fisher-Harris inked a four-year extension which is set to keep him in Penrith colours until the end of season 2026.
The softly spoken enforcer has been instrumental in Penrith’s on-field success in the last 18 months.
— Fatima Kdouh
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