James Tedesco, Aaron Woods, Kieran Foran: NRL triple signing winners and losers

THE Kieran Foran, James Tedesco and Aaron Woods signing news has huge ramifactions for clubs around the NRL. We look at the winners and losers.

THE news that three of the NRL’s biggest names — Kieran Foran, James Tedesco and Aaron Woods — are on the move next year has massive ramifications for clubs around the NRL.

The departure of Tedesco and Woods in 2018 is a massive blow for the struggling Wests Tigers, while the Bulldogs and Roosters look to be all smiles.

The after-effects will spread to the Newcastle Knights, St George Illawarra Dragons, Melbourne Storm and New Zealand Warriors.

We look at the winners and losers from the triple signing.

WESTS TIGERS

The Tigers are reeling after losing three of their so-called “big four” players. Of the off-contract quartet, only halfback Luke Brooks will be at Concord in 2018, with fullback James Tedesco (Roosters) and captain Aarons Woods (Bulldogs) joining five-eighth Mitchell Moses (Eels) in committing their futures elsewhere.

Verdict: Losers — re-signed just one of the “big four”, leaving their 2018 roster looking vastly inferior to the one that has struggled to a 2-6 record so far this campaign.

BULLDOGS

They missed out on Tedesco but they’re getting an elite playmaker in Kieran Foran to partner with Josh Reynolds, Matt Frawley or Moses Mbye in the halves plus a top-line prop in Aaron Woods to give their ageing pack a much-needed boost.

A few of Canterbury’s higher-paid squad members are likely to be squeezed out of the club to accommodate Woods and Foran while also leaving salary cap space to re-sign five-eighth Josh Reynolds.

Verdict: Winners — two marquee signings instantly catapults the Bulldogs into premiership contention for 2018, although some current players will need to make way.

Foran’s move to Canterbury makes the Bulldogs real contenders. (Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)

ROOSTERS

They nearly didn’t get their No. 1 target in James Tedesco but they have once again latched on to a star free agent.

Tedesco’s acquisition is a massive upgrade from retiring veteran Michael Gordon at fullback and it allows young gun Latrell Mitchell to focus on making the centre position his own.

Verdict: Winners — replace a veteran with the NSW State of Origin fullback.

DRAGONS

They potentially had a rival bidder for Josh Dugan’s services in the Roosters but that is now no longer the case.

They’ll still need to stump up big bucks to keep the NSW and Test star.

PHIL ROTHFIELD: How the triple signings fell into place

FRUSTRATION: Why Woods finally gave up on Tigers

Canterbury’s signing of Kieran Foran means there is one less club in the market for star playmaker Gareth Widdop. However, the Tigers are likely to now pursue Dugan and Widdop with massive coin.

Verdict: Losers — still at long odds to re-sign their key retention targets, Dugan and Widdop, with the Tigers now well in the mix to land at least one of the star duo.

WARRIORS

They were desperate to keep Kieran Foran as he’s already shown in a short space of time he’s the perfect foil for star halfback Shaun Johnson.

Young prospects Ata Hingano and Tuimoala Lolohea are the likely candidates for the No. 6 jersey once Foran departs.

Verdict: Losers — With Foran gone, the Warriors go back to the drawing board. They also still have to re-sign Johnson.

KNIGHTS

Yet again they’ve missed out on a big fish. Newcastle coach Nathan Brown met Kieran Foran on the Central Coast last weekend but he joins Jack Bird, Matt Scott, Matthew Prior and Dale Finucane in rejecting interest from the Knights.

Verdict: Losers — another big-name signing goes begging.

Attention and speculation now turns to Josh Dugan’s next move. (AAP Image/Paul Miller) N

STORM

Unfortunately for them Cooper Cronk hasn’t changed his mind about leaving Melbourne but former Storm five-eighth Widdop is still on the market. They’ll have to compete with the Tigers now to try to lure him back from the Dragons.

Verdict: Losers — missed out on Foran and another cashed-up club is now in the market for key playmaking target Widdop.