Canterbury lock in promising backrower Renouf To’omaga
Despite having two years left on his current contract Melbourne’s star swinger could be heading “home”, while the Bulldogs have continued their rebuilding job and more.
NRL
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The Bulldogs have re-signed their third player this week with backrower Renouf To’omaga extending his stay until 2021.
The 24-year-old has played 13 top grade games and joins Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Lachlan Lewis in extending their deals at the club this year.
Chief executive Andrew Hill said the signing was another step in strengthening the squad.
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“The club has committed to creating depth in our playing group and having someone like Renouf commit to the future with us is a major plus for the club,” Hill said.
“He is a tough, uncompromising forward who really found his feet at NRL level in the second half of last year and we are confident that he can continue to make further strides next season.”
IS FOXX READY TO FLY IN SYDNEY
Could Melbourne Storm and Kangaroos flyer Josh Addo-Carr be close to making a shock return to Sydney?
Some Sydney clubs certainly think so and would be obviously interested in bringing Addo-Carr back to do his thing on the wing.
Addo-Carr has been a revelation since joining the Storm in 2017 from the Wests Tigers, where he has risen from a fringe first grader to a bona fide premiership and State of Origin-winning representative star.
And despite two years left on his deal with Melbourne that’s worth about $700,000, there has been a suggestion Addo-Carr could be on his way back to Sydney — sooner rather than later.
When asked last week if Melbourne or Sydney was home, Addo-Carr made it clear the Harbour City is where his heart is.
“Sydney is always home for me," Addo-Carr said. “I’m grateful for what Melbourne have done for me. They’ve turned my career around. They’ve turned me into the player I’ve always dreamt to be.
“Sydney (though) is always going to be home. My whole family is there. If I want to start a little family, I want my kids to grow up with my family.”
Addo-Carr said it was the Storm’s values under supercoach Craig Bellamy which helped transform him on and off the field.
“It was the culture of Melbourne,” Addo-Carr said. “We have good leaders. You have to work hard to be in the side. You don’t get given the jersey. You earnt it.”
KATOA EYES DOGS NO.9
FRESH from helping Tonga secure a shock win against Australia, Sione Katoa is eyeing a new challenge – grabbing Canterbury’s No.9 jersey.
Katoa joins the Bulldogs after a 47-game stint at the Panthers and will compete with incumbent Jeremy Marshall-King for the hooking role.
“It’s the best thing for me,” Katoa said. “I was at Penrith, coming through all the grades. I’m looking forward to the new challenge. They have Marshall-King (at hooker) who I respect a lot.
“It’s not a walk in the park. I’m looking to get there and prove myself playing first grade, starting or off the bench. I’m ready for whatever is thrown at me.”
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THE NRL has launched a new competition management system called MySideline. The product will help grassroots clubs and reduce payment processing fees on all payments.
WBBL STARS SERVING UP
SYDNEY Thunder’s WBBL team has been cooking up a storm on the field — and are doing much the same off it, too.
Skipper Rachael Haynes was part of a Thunder contingent who put their cooking skills to the test as part of the club’s commitment to helping OzHarvest raise funds to provide 150,000 meals to people in need.
GAL’S BOOK A RIPPER
PAUL Gallen is showing how much people are willing to buy a sport book if an athlete is prepared to leave no stone unturned.
One week after launching his autobiography Heart And Soul, Gal is currently the second biggest selling sports book in the market behind the autobiography of former AFL coach and prominent motor neuron research campaigner Neale Daniher.
NIKORIMA’S BIG QUESTION
KODI Nikorima called it the most “nerve-wrecking” moment of his life. And it wasn’t being a shock Kiwi call-up to play Great Britain last week.
The Warriors playmaker was on a pre-planned holiday in Queenstown where he had just proposed to his girlfriend.
“I didn’t make the tour originally,” Nikorima said. “During the Nines, Madge (Michael Maguire) asked if I could stay on and tour. I had a pre-planned holiday where I was going to propose to my partner.
“It had this mad speech ready to go but I never said anything of it. It was the most nerve-wrecking thing.”
Nikorima’s week took another dramatic turn when Madge phoned on Thursday morning and asked if he would play hooker two days later. Regular Kiwi hooker Brandon Smith was stood-down before of breaching team protocols.
“It threw me off,” Nikorima said. “I was shocked but grateful for the opportunity.”
Nikorima topped the tackle count with 50 and kept his place in the Kiwis squad to play Great Britain on Saturday.
SHOOSH I: Which former player could reunite with Wayne Bennett as part of his coaching staff?
SHOOSH II: Which contracted fullback have the Titans identified as a potential signing?
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