NRL transfer news 2021: Club signings, contract news and rumours
The Sharks are keen to lure a two-time premiership back to the NRL, while the Broncos have agreed to release their teen fullback.
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Former Queensland and Kangaroos centre Will Chambers will meet Sharks officials next week in a bid to make a comeback to the NRL.
The two-time premiership winner is back in Australia after a brief stint with Suntory Goliath in Japanese rugby.
The 32-year-old has fielded interest from Cronulla, who want to meet and assess the possibility of signing the former Storm tryscorer on a base-wage deal for the remainder of the season.
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The prospect of Chambers linking with the Sharks is a storyline few considered possible only a few years ago given the explosive sledging and tension between the Storm star and former Sharks captain Paul Gallen prior to the 2016 grand final between Melbourne and the Sharks.
Chambers also has longstanding relationships with current Sharks including captain Wade Graham, Aaron Woods, Josh Dugan and Andrew Fifita from their time together in the victorious 2017 World Cup squad.
Chambers played 215 games for the Storm and last played in the NRL – on the wing – in Melbourne‘s 2019 preliminary final loss to the Sydney Roosters.
He then moved to Japanese rugby at the end of 2019.
Cronulla view Chambers as a player who could add valuable experience and depth to their outside backs. Sharks coach John Morris has found himself stretched for wing-centre options after just five rounds.
Mid to long-term injuries to winger Sione Katoa (knee) and promising centre Jackson Ferris (foot) has forced Morris to move utility Connor Tracey to the centres, promote back-up winger Mawene Hiroti, while also using backrower Teig Wilton as a Band-Aid solution during matches.
It’s not the first time Chambers has been linked to an NRL comeback. Broncos coach Kevin Walters had a meeting with the veteran centre late last year.
Chambers will be told by the Sharks that he would need to be prepared to commence his road back to the NRL in the NSW Cup with the Newtown Jets.
BRONCO RELEASED TO WARRIORS
Up-and-coming Broncos fullback Reece Walsh will be joining the Warriors immediately after being granted an early release.
Only last month the 18-year-old agreed to terms on a three-year contract with the New Zealand outfit to start in 2022.
“We’re delighted Reece can join us early,” Warriors recruitment manager Peter O’Sullivan said in a statement. “That was always our hope and it was what Reece desperately wanted to do as well once he’d signed with us.
“It’s a great outcome because it allows him to spend invaluable time with Roger [Tuivasa-Sheck] in his final season with us.
“Reece is really looking forward to working with Roger and learning all he can from one of the greatest fullbacks the game has ever seen.
“Roger in turn can’t wait to train alongside Reece and mentor him.”
REYNOLDS HEADING TO QLD?
Brisbane hierarchy have given their blessing for their recruitment arm to target Adam Reynolds in the wake of the Souths half-back’s masterclass against the Broncos.
News Corp can reveal Brisbane’s recruitment-and-retention committee has been given the green light to table a formal offer for Reynolds, whose contract spat with the Rabbitohs has opened the door for a poaching raid.
Brisbane bosses got a close-up view of the playmaking benefits Reynolds can bring to Red Hill following his commanding display in piloting Souths to a 35-6 drubbing of the Broncos on Thursday night at Stadium Australia.
Souths officials have indicated they will not budge on a 12-month offer for the off-contract Reynolds, who will likely quit the Rabbitohs at season’s end if he cannot secure a two or three-year deal.
The premiership playmaker admits he is looking for “security” and will explore all offers, saying he sees parallels between Souths and the Broncos.
“I see it pretty similar to Souths — they’re a passionate supporter base, they’re obviously a big club,” Reynolds said of the Broncos.
“They’ve been a powerhouse for a number of years. Obviously they’re not travelling too well at the moment but they’ve got a lot of future stars in that side.
“I think they are a great club. They have potential there. They still have a young side. Their halves are trying really hard, they are just lacking confidence at the moment.
“I’ll toss up all options and see what’s available out there.”
Reynolds has been linked with the Cowboys, but there is a high-level push at the Broncos to ramp-up plans to recruit the former NSW Origin halfback.
Before the Souths showdown, the Broncos held internal discussions about the pros and cons of signing Reynolds. They have yet to lodge a formal offer, but the interest levels in Reynolds rose after Brisbane powerbrokers watched the 211-game veteran expertly dismantle the Broncos.
Ideally, Reynolds is keen to secure a three-year contract worth $700,000 a season. Given he turns 31 in July, the Broncos have concerns about offering Reynolds a three-year deal, but a two-year arrangement may be more palatable.
Broncos recruitment chiefs are crunching the numbers under the salary cap.
Their priority is retaining Tom Dearden, who is off-contract at season’s end, but the possible release of $1 million pivot Anthony Milford could free-up funds to lure Reynolds to mentor the 20-year-old rookie halfback.
Broncos coach Kevin Walters was tight-lipped about the prospect of signing Reynolds, but lauded his kicking game as the best in the NRL.
“We were well aware of him before the game,” Walters said.
“I’m not sure where is at with South Sydney. I have enough on my plate at the moment to worry about who is playing where next year.
“He is the best kicker in the game in my opinion.
“Reynolds puts most teams to shame. He is a valuable player for South Sydney, that’s for sure.”
Broncos interim chief executive Neil Monaghan believes it will be tough to prise Reynolds from Redfern.
“I expect Adam Reynolds is staying at Souths - he is their captain, he wants to stay, the club wants him to stay, the fans want him to stay,” he said.
“We’re focused on our own players and getting ready for a big home game against the Panthers.
“In terms of our own playing list, Kev has been in the head coach job for five months and during that time has taken a measured approach to develop a very clear understanding of what he needs to be successful.
“We will make sure that he gets what he needs.”
There is a view Reynolds, a local junior, will not leave family in Sydney but his manager Steve Gillis said the 30-year-old is open to a move to Queensland.
“Adam is open to all offers,” he said. “If you are one of the best players in the marketplace, it makes no sense to keep signing one-year deals for three or four years.”
—Peter Badel
PROOF FOX WON’T BACKFLIP ON BULLDOG’S DEAL
Josh Addo-Carr will not be backflipping on his Bulldogs deal with the purchase of a Concord home set to snub out any suggestion that he will cancel his Canterbury contract and stay with the Storm.
In a multimillion-dollar commitment to Canterbury that can be revealed on the eve of the club’s clash with the Storm, Addo-Carr is poised to buy a family home in Sydney’s inner west in a move that proves he is not considering reneging on his $500,000 a year deal to become a Bulldog.
“He is definitely not having second thoughts (about the deal),” said Addo-Carr’s agent Mario Tartak.
“In fact, he is already making plans to move to Sydney and is looking for a property around the Concord area.”
On the eve of the Bulldogs clash with the Storm, News Corp Australia can also reveal that weekly conversations with Trent Barrett have convinced Addo-Carr that his move to Canterbury will not end up being a career killer as some have suggested.
Addo-Carr knocked back a $375,000 a year contract extension with the high-flying Storm to ink a deal with the team that many are expecting to win the wooden spoon.
“He is actually quite excited about making the move,” Tartak said.
“He has been in constant contact with the coach and the chairman and really wants to be a part of the rebuild. They are keeping him well informed about what they are doing and the direction they are moving in. He is confident they will have success after obviously purchasing himself and Matt Burton for next year. They also have a number of players off-contract and will be in a position to recruit.
“I certainly would not have placed him there had I not been confident in their plan. The Fox wants to be there because he wants to be part of a rebuild at a very strong and successful club.”
Reportedly guaranteed the fullback spot when he signed his Bulldogs deal, Addo-Carr will have no issues playing on the wing for Canterbury.
“The Fox will play anywhere on the field,” Tartak said.
“Nothing phases him. If Baz wants him to play fullback he will play fullback. He is just as happy to stay in the wing. As far as I know the Bulldogs have bought him to be the world’s best winger and that is what he intends to be. I think they have bought him as more of a winger than a fullback.”
The Bulldogs will get a first-hand glimpse at the player they have brought to save their attack when they take on Addo-Carr and the Storm at Stadium Australia on Saturday night.
—James Phelps
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