NRL 2021: Panthers young gun Dean Blore signs with Shute Shield club
As Penrith continues its fight to protect its talent nursery, one rising Panthers star has signed with a Shute Shield club.
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An up-and-coming NRL talent has switched codes to revive his sporting career.
Junior Kiwi Dean Blore is a highly rated five-eighth who came out of Penrith’s renowned rugby league development system.
But his younger brother, Wests Tigers forward Shawn Blore, revealed to The Daily Telegraph Dean will be making a switch to the 15-man game.
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“I think he is going to sign with a team up in Warringah ... the Rats,” Shawn said.
He’s unsigned [in the NRL] but he is currently playing union at the moment and killing it, which is good to see.
“He played Shute Shield and carved up. He had a few different offers from union clubs. He obviously still loves league.”
Dean’s career at Penrith was hampered by a number of serious shoulder injuries. The 22-year old wasn’t included in the Panthers bubble in season 2020.
With no reserve grade competition this year due to Covid, Dean’s league career was left in limbo.
The Samoan rugby league international decided to try his hand at union and played for the Penrith Emus in the Shute Shield.
“It’s good to see a smile back on his face, because he has gone through the motions... he had a couple of shoulder surgeries and it wasn’t going his way in league,” Shawn said.
Tigers move on young gun after Reynolds exit confirmed
Wests Tigers will not re-enter the hunt for Josh Addo-Carr but will target more outside back speed in the wake of Josh Reynolds’ decision to take up an offer in the English Super League with Hull FC.
In what’s likely to spark another round of NRL player transfer musical chairs, the Tigers will now have close to $500,000 available in next season’s salary cap.
Reynolds has agreed to link with Hull’s newly appointed coach and 2005 Tigers’ grand final-winning fullback Brett Hodgson in the north of England.
Wests Tigers on Monday morning confirmed Reynolds’ exit, the former NSW Origin five-eighth signing a two-year deal (with an option for a third season) with Hull.
The Tigers are also trying to negotiate an early release for boom Penrith youngster Daine Laurie who has already signed for 2022 and beyond.
Laurie will get first crack at fullback if he is allowed to join his new club early, otherwise Moses Mbye is in line to start the season wearing the No.1.
That’s not to say the Tigers won’t now go looking for other options.
Players the calibre of Josh Mansour are still looking for a new club while Souths would release Corey Allan if he can find a longer deal elsewhere.
The Tigers are also privately convinced Addo-Carr is still manoeuvring to negotiate his way into Souths despite the lucrative offer that has been tabled by Canterbury.
That could potentially cause other players out.
Of course, Addo-Carr won’t be available until 2022 but regardless the Tigers aren’t interested.
What is clear is this is the best salary cap position the Tigers have been in under Michael Maguire.
Reynolds’ exit means they have three spots to fill in their 2021 roster.
They have already signed James Roberts to partner Joey Leilua in the centres.
Adam Doueihi is expected to move to five-eighth with Luke Brooks at halfback.
They also have David Nofoaluma, Tommy Talau and Paul Momirovski to throw into the mix along with young Jock Madden and Billy Walters.
Roberts and fellow recruit Joe Ofahengaue met up with their new teammates on Friday.
Ofahengaue is due at training on Monday while Roberts is expected to arrive the following week.
Reynolds had one year to go on his monster $3m four-year deal signed when Ivan Cleary was in charge.
Reynolds has been promised a starting spot at Hull after an up-and-down stint at the Tigers where it just never worked out for him.
Reynolds, 31, was always under enormous pressure at the Tigers because of the big money he was on and ongoing injuries didn’t help his cause, having made only 22 NRL appearances in three seasons.
He will leave the NRL with a reputation as a fierce and tenacious competitor who always gave nothing but his best on the field.
Why the Bunnies won’t entertain Addo-Carr talks
by Fatima Kdouoh
Josh Addo-Carr has a lucrative offer from Canterbury on the table but the Storm flyer’s desire to play in the cardinal and myrtle of South Sydney has not waned.
There is one problem for Addo-Carr and his Rabbitohs ambitions though: the Redfern club has no plans to initiate contract talks until star fullback Latrell Mitchell and forward Junior Tatola are locked up for season 2022 and beyond.
The Bulldogs entered the race for Addo-Carr’s signature this week with a four-year deal worth around $2 million dollars.
The Daily Telegraph understands the Rabbitohs won’t join the hunt for The Fox with the club already identifying their three top retention priorities: Keaon Koloamatangi, Mitchell and Tatola.
Rising forward Kolomatangi was locked in until the end of season 2023 in November with South Sydney’s attention now turning to Mitchell and Tatola, who are both off contract at the end of 2021.
Also at Redfern, Corey Allan’s manager has moved to quash suggestions the Queensland State of Origin fullback is on the outer at South Sydney.
With Mitchell set to return from a hamstring injury and take his place at fullback Allan could find himself struggling for a regular starting spot in season 2021.
“There has never been a discussion about him being released but the club has said ‘if you come to us with a proposition we can consider, we’ll talk about it then’,” Allan’s manager Sam Ayoub said.
PANTHERS MOVE ON CRICHTON
The Panthers have met with Stephen Crichton’s new manager Sam Ayoub to begin talks about a new contract for the rising star.
It’s believed Penrith had already made a three-year offer worth around $1.5 million for the gun centre, who is already on the radar of the cashed-up Bulldogs.
Crichton’s management will put forward a counter offer in the coming days.
“They (Penrith) have presented us with his old terms and now we are working on establishing his value and we’ll come back to Penrith with that value soon. We’ll proceed from there but obviously we’ll need to consider all his options,” Sam Ayoub said.
DRAGONS EYE FORWARD
The St George Illawarra Dragons have four spots left to fill on their for season 2021 with the luxury of having some room to move within their salary cap.
But Dragons coach Anthony Griffin told The Daily Telegraph that he was in no rush to splash any cash. The new coach is however on the lookout for at least one “quality” forward to add to his top 30 for next year.
“We’re not in a hurry to fill those spots … but mainly we are looking at depth in the forwards. So if we can get one more top-line forward, we’ve got the potential to do that, and then there is a couple of guys training really well at the moment and we’d elevate one of them,” Griffin said.
NEW TIGERS CHECK IN
Tigers recruits James Roberts and Joe Ofahengaue paid a visit to their new teammates at Concord on Friday morning. Former Broncos forward Ofahengaue will report to training on Monday, while Roberts is awaiting final clearance before he can start training and isn’t expected back until after the new year.
SANDOR SAYS GOODBYE
Melbourne back Sandor Earl has called time on his colourful NRL career. Earl returned to the NRL in 2018 after serving a four-year ban for trafficking and using performance enhancing substances but only managed eight games in that time for the Storm.
“I suppose a combination of things, but I guess the people who know me and are closest to me have a pretty good understanding … rugby league has been everything for me,” Earl told Jimmy Smith on SEN.
“ … it’s what I’ve dedicated my whole life to, and I’m really proud, even taking into consideration the rollercoaster it’s been, proud of the things I’ve achieved.”
Earl made his debut in 2009 for the Roosters where he played three games before moving onto Penrith and then Canberra where he played a combined 45 games.
LOCKED AND LOADED
BRONCOS: After three seasons at the Titans, Dale Copley has signed a one-year deal at Red Hill.
KNIGHTS: Rising back Starford To’a agreed to a two-year extension which will see him at the club until the end of season 2023.
ROOSTERS: The Bondi club finally made the signing of playmaker Adam Keighran official, confirming his two-year deal. Teen sensation Joseph Suaaliii’s move to the Roosters was also confirmed.
SEA EAGLES: Josh Aloiai was released from the Tigers to officially join Manly on a three-year deal after a ‘non disclosed’ fee was paid to his former club.
SHARKS: After making his NRL debut in 2020, playmaker Braydon Trindall has extended his time at Cronulla for one more year.
TIGERS: The Concord club confirmed the addition of former Broncos forward Joe Ofahengaue on a three-year deal.
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