Dolphins meet with Sharks star Tom Hazelton, close in on England international Morgan Knowles

Kristian Woolf is ramping up the Dolphins’ recruitment drive, secretly meeting with a Sharks enforcer as they explore a contingency plan for injured Queensland Origin star Tom Flegler.

Monster Cronulla prop Tom Hazelton has secretly met with the Dolphins as Redcliffe explore a contingency plan for injured Queensland Origin enforcer Tom Flegler.

This masthead can reveal Hazelton has become one of the most sought-after forwards in the code with seven clubs expressing interest in the hulking Sharks bookend.

The 116kg man mountain is off-contract at season’s end and the Sharks face an uphill battle to retain Hazelton, who is seeking around $1.6 million for a three-year deal.

The poaching war for Hazelton is hotting up with the 26-year-old flying north on Monday for talks with Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf, who is ramping-up his recruitment drive.

Woolf is closing in on the signature of Englishman Morgan Knowles and the Dolphins are keen to add Hazelton’s size to complement the power of off-season Knights recruit Daniel Saifiti.

Sharks forward Tom Hazelton has met with the Dolphins, as they prepare a contingency plan for Tom Flegler. Picture: Getty Images

Hazleton toured the Dolphins’ $100 million headquarters at Redcliffe and could become a valuable addition as former Broncos prop Flegler fights to save his NRL career.

Flegler underwent nerve-transfer surgery at the end of last season and is not expected to return to the playing field until June or July – if at all.

The Dolphins remain hopeful the Maroons enforcer will play again but the pursuit of Hazelton is evidence the NRL’s 17th team is considering an engine-room safety net should Flegler be forced into a medical retirement.

It’s understood Hazelton is seeking in excess of $500,000 annually and has attracted interest from half the league, including Newcastle, the Dragons, Parramatta and the Warriors.

Hazelton will look to finalise his future in the coming weeks ahead of Cronulla’s season-opener against Penrith in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 2.

“Tom’s got a lot of interest,” said his management.

“The Dolphins are one club in the mix.

“They’re not sure what the future holds for Tom Flegler so Tom could be an option for them.

“There’s seven clubs chasing him and I don’t know if the Sharks can afford to keep him.

“Some of the clubs have offered in the vicinity of $600,000 and Cronulla have outlaid a lot of money for Addin Fonua-Blake.”

Flegler’s future in the NRL remains uncertain after having nerve-transfer surgery. Picture: NRL Images

Hazelton had a breakthrough season for the Sharks last year, playing 25 games and fashioning a reputation as a Cronulla cult hero after scoring seven tries, including a four-pointer in three consecutive games.

Most props would be lucky to score three tries in their entire career and for that reason, the Sharks are desperately hoping to stave-off a bidding war for the late-blooming Goulburn product.

But with the Sharks having outlaid $4 million to poach Tongan Test ace Addin Fonua-Blake from the Warriors, Cronulla could be blown out of the water by a more lucrative offer for Hazelton.

The 198cm Hazelton has played 44 games since his NRL debut in 2022 and would be a handy pick-up for a Dolphins side chasing a maiden finals berth in 2025 after narrowly missing the playoffs last season.

“Tom was outstanding last year. He was the highest tryscoring prop in the NRL,” said his management.

“It’s understandable if the Sharks can’t afford him because they have big-money invested in other players and that happens everywhere.

“Tom would be an asset for any NRL club and we’ll see what the Sharks can do to keep him.”

DOLPHINS COUP: WOOLF SET TO SIGN SUPER LEAGUE GREAT

—Travis Meyn and Michael Carayannis

Kristian Woolf is on the verge of landing his first signing of the year since taking over from Wayne Bennett, with England Test star Morgan Knowles set to join the Dolphins.

Knowles has indicated he will leave Super League powerhouse St Helens to test himself in the NRL.

The Dolphins have been in talks with the powerful forward for a number of weeks and are in the last stages of finalising a multi-year contract from 2026.

If the deal is finalised, Knowles will play the 2025 Super League season with St Helens before joining the Dolphins.

Knowles and Woolf have a long association.

They combined for three Super League premierships with St Helens from 2020-22 when Woolf was in charge of the club.

Morgan Knowles played under Kristian Woolf at St Helens.

Woolf returned to Australia after the last triumph to be Bennett’s right-hand man during the Dolphins’ first two NRL seasons.

With Bennett returning to South Sydney this year, Woolf has now taken charge of the Redcliffe club and is putting his stamp on the Dolphins.

He played an active role in recruitment and retention last year with Bennett on the way out, but Knowles is his first big-name signing since taking full control of the NRL’s youngest club.

Knowles, 28, will head to Australia in the prime of his career and with eight Test appearances for England next to his name.

He has played Test football for England alongside Dolphins star Herbie Farnworth.

Dolphins CEO Terry Reader last week confirmed the club’s pursuit of Knowles.

“Woolfy coached him and they won three premierships together at St Helens,” he said.

“He wants to test himself in the NRL.

“There is interest to talk to him but that’s where it is at the moment.

“We are always interested in good players, especially if they want to play for us.

“We’ll have a chat and see what happens.”

That chat has now progressed to the verge of the Dolphins signing one of the Super League’s top talents.