NRL transfer news: Expansion Dolphins working to poach North Queensland forward Jeremiah Nanai
An off-contract teenage North Queensland future star is in the expansion Dolphins sights. Will a big-money offer keep him at the Cowboys?
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North Queensland are under siege for one of their best forward talents since Jason Taumalolo with Queensland expansion rivals the Dolphins targeting boom back-rower Jeremiah Nanai.
The Sunday Mail can reveal the Dolphins are making moves to poach the off-contract Nanai in a bid to complement the signing of senior trio Jesse and Kenny Bromwich and Felise Kaufusi with some emerging forward talent.
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But the Cowboys have hit back, with football operations chief Micheal Luck ramping up negotiations by tabling a lucrative extension to ensure teenage sensation Nanai remains at North Queensland.
The 18-year-old powerhouse and fellow back-rower Heilum Luki, 20, represent the most exciting forward duo to emerge from the Cowboys ranks since Taumalolo burst onto the scene as a 17-year-old in 2010.
Luki played 11 NRL games in his rookie season last year, while Nanai was blooded in the final month of the season, tallying four games and scoring a try in a dream debut against the Wests Tigers.
A number of rival NRL scouts believe it is only a matter of time before Nanai becomes an NRL superstar and that has prompted Dolphins recruitment chief Peter O’Sullivan to lodge an expression of interest in the tackle-busting dynamo.
Luck is mindful of the NRL vultures circling Nanai and Luki, who is also off-contract, but is backing North Queensland’s set-up and upgraded offers to convince the young guns to stay loyal.
“We’re confident our offer will be as good as anyone else’s to keep Nanai and Heilum at the Cowboys,” he said.
“We have been in discussions for a few months with Jeremiah. He is a good young guy and a great talent, so it doesn’t surprise me that there’s plenty of suitors wanting his signature.
“He is in a position now where he will sign a reasonable money contract.
“He is only 18, but we’ve been in constant dialogue over the last few months and we are continuing to stay in touch with his manager. We will give Jeremiah all the support he needs to make a final decision.
“The way our club was set up was to allow North Queensland’s best young kids to play in the NRL without leaving their home region and Jeremiah ticks those boxes.
“We’re equally confident of keeping Luki.”
Born in New Zealand, Nanai moved to North Queensland as a child and began playing rugby league at age 13 with Cairns Kangaroos, the junior club that produced former Broncos and Queensland star Justin Hodges.
At 186cm and 104kg, Nanai is already well built and Luck believes the explosive back-rower can enjoy a long career in the NRL.
“Jeremiah is an elite talent,” he said.
“Our other young back-rower Heilum Luki has great physical gifts, whereas Jeremiah is a different player. He has beautiful soft hands and can pass and has some subtlety in his game. He is big and strong and has a presence on the edge, but he has some talent with the footy as well, so he has all the tools.
“He has a big future in the game.
“We’re not alarmed that he hasn’t signed yet, it’s a big decision he has to make.
“We believe this is the right place for him to stay, Jeremiah has trained well in pre-season and is forming good combinations with his teammates.
“We’re excited to see what he can do this season.
Bennett hits back at Dolphins Dad’s Army critics
Wayne Bennett has hit back at suggestions he is trying to destroy Craig Bellamy’s mighty Melbourne dynasty after the Dolphins landed a third recruitment strike on the Storm.
The most successful NRL club of the past 20 years was buffeted by another impending player departure, with premiership-winning Storm forward Kenny Bromwich inking a three-year, $2 million deal to join the Dolphins from 2023.
The Dolphins’ acquisition of Bromwich comes just a week after his older brother, Storm front-row spearhead Jesse, agreed to terms, while the NRL’s 17th team poached Felise Kaufusi from Melbourne as their inaugural signing.
Bennett and Bellamy butted heads more than a decade ago over Melbourne’s wrestling tactics and the Dolphins’ incessant poaching raids on the NRL powerhouse is sure to reignite tensions with the Storm super coach.
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Bellamy has now lost three key premiership-winning Origin and Test stars from his pack, totalling 616 games of NRL experience, but Bennett scoffed at claims he is trying to bring down the Storm.
“I have no comment on what the Storm think,” he said.
“We’re in the market to build a squad to play in the NRL in 2023. Every player off-contract is someone we could be interested in and that’s our thinking.
“The club is irrelevant. We simply need players and it just so happens three of them have come from the one club (Melbourne).”
Bennett also hit out at the view the Redcliffe-based franchise is in danger of becoming the ‘Dad’s Army’ Dolphins for their foundation campaign.
The Dolphins’ four frontline recruits are in their twilight years. Kaufusi will celebrate his 31st birthday in 2023, Souths import Mark Nicholls turned 32 last month, while Jesse and Kenny Bromwich will turn 34 and 32 respectively during the Dolphins’ maiden season.
“You know my mantra … If I start listening to people who want to criticise me, I will be sitting in the stands with them. They don’t build monuments to critics,” Bennett fired.
“What does age matter?
“How old was Cameron Smith (Storm legend) when he retired? Tom Brady played into his 40s in the NFL.
“I know what our recruits bring and what they have to offer.
“We are pleased with the guys we are buying. I look at their playing ability, not their birth certificates.”
Bennett was rapt with the acquisition of the younger Bromwich, who is one of the most improved forwards in the code, having amassed 192 games for the Storm and 10 Tests for New Zealand since his NRL debut in 2013.
“Kenny will be coming to join his brother and they both have had great success at the Storm,” he said.
“I know what Kenny brings, he has delivered every week for the Storm and he can play a couple of positions on the edge and in the middle.
“He adds to that maturity we need in the forward pack. Kaufusi, Kenny, Jesse and Mark Nicholls are guys who have played a lot of football and they are highly respected in the game.
“Kenny has improved a lot at Melbourne. We now have four top-line forwards out of six for our starting side in 2023.”
Storm chief executive Justin Rodski said the Dolphins’ triple attack on Melbourne’s star-studded roster is no surprise.
“Storm players have been targeted by rival clubs for years, this is no different,” he said.
“We never want quality players to leave our club, but we understand the system and how expansion will impact on future planning for all clubs.
“Importantly, we still have Jesse, Felise and Kenny this year, and I know they are as hungry as ever to achieve success for the Melbourne Storm.”
NRL TRANSFER MARKET: STORM BLOW AS DOLPHINS POACH ANOTHER STAR
The Dolphins have landed another sledgehammer blow on the Melbourne Storm after signing New Zealand International Kenny Bromwich to a long-term deal.
The Dolphins are expected to confirm the Bromwich coup later on Thursday, meaning he will join his older brother and Storm teammate Jesse at the game’s newest franchise for their inaugural season in 2023.
Kenny Bromwich has played more than 190 games for Melbourne and 10 Tests for the Kiwis. He will add more experience to the Dolphins pack as they plan for their entry to the competition in 2023.
His signing also continues the Storm flavour when it comes to the Dolphins’ recruitment. As well as the Bromwich brothers, the Dolphins have also signed Queensland States of Origin forward Felise Kaufusi for 2023.
They have also been linked with Storm stars Jahrome Hughes and Harry Grant, although both players are under contract until the end of 2023.
The Storm took out an insurance policy against Bromwiuch’s departure earlier this month when they signed young back rower Jack Howarth to a contract extension.
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