NRL 2021: Kurt Capewell adressess Brisbane Broncos move rumours
The Broncos have been chasing Kurt Capewell since the pre-season, and now the Panther has broken his silence on rumours he could be forced out of Penrith.
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Penrith forward Kurt Capewell says he is open to a Queensland homecoming at the Broncos amid fears a salary-cap squeeze could force him out of the Panthers.
The Broncos have been targeting Capewell since pre-season and coach Kevin Walters got a close-up view of his value with the off-contract utility scoring the opening try of Penrith’s 20-12 defeat of Brisbane on Thursday night.
In an ideal world, Capewell would finish his career at a Panthers club surging towards this year’s premiership, but Penrith’s battle to retain and upgrade a host of stars could force him to look elsewhere.
That opens the door for the Broncos, who are desperate to add some hard-headed experience to bolster a youthful squad that would have craved Capewell’s composure when scores were locked 12-all inside the final 10 minutes.
Capewell, who turns 28 in July, is relishing his time at Penrith but says he will explore all opportunities as four NRL rivals, including the Broncos, circle the Queensland Origin utility.
“I have plenty of options and at the moment I am keeping it all open,” he said.
“Why would I want to leave a team like Penrith? They are flying and there is such a good culture at the club and I am loving every day at training.
“Ultimately, the goal is to continue playing for a team like that.
“I will see how it goes. I’m not really too worried about next year yet, it’s hard to worry about next year when you are in week-to-week mode throughout the season because you are so consumed about the next game.
“The other stuff will take care of itself.”
Walters is on the lookout for edge forwards, especially if Broncos skipper and back-rower Alex Glenn announces his retirement at season’s end.
The Broncos launched a bid for Capewell over summer, tabling a two-year deal worth around $350,000 per season. Capewell’s management politely declined the offer considering the 79-game NRL forward is already on around $380,000 at Penrith.
An offer in excess of $400,000 could deliver Capewell to the Broncos, but the grand-final utility from the Queensland town of Charleville says there are other factors besides money and location.
“Being a Queenslander … that won‘t affect my decision at the end of the day,” he said.
“I want to go to a club that’s got the same culture as me and believes in the same sort of stuff, which is hard work and having that team culture.
“When you are making a decision like this, it’s not about money so much or where you have to live.
“That comes into it a bit, but as long as the club aligns with my values, that’s what I will look for.”
ROOSTERS’ SHOCK TARGET TO EASE INJURY CRISIS
—Christy Doran
Last year they gave Sonny Bill Williams a SOS, now the Roosters are in talks to sign All Blacks World Cup-winner TJ Perenara to fill the void left by Jake Friend.
A report from 1 NEWS in New Zealand said Perenara is “seriously considering” the code switch, with the halfback uncontracted beyond 2021.
The 29-year-old, who played 69 Tests for the All Blacks and featured at two World Cup campaigns, left Super Rugby last year to take up a short-term contract with Japanese Top League team Red Hurricanes.
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He is contracted to New Zealand Rugby until the end of 2021 and said late last year his Japanese sabbatical “doesn’t mean it’s the end for me” in New Zealand.
But life after Perenara has already begun and there are a number of young No.9s on the rise across the ditch despite playing five of six Tests for the All Blacks last year.
While Perenara’s agent Warren Alcock said they remain in talks with NZR, it’s understood the Roosters are primed to snare him.
“We are talking to NZR and other parties that have approached us,” Alcock told 1 NEWS.
Last week the Roosters lost club great Friend, who retired because of concussion.
It’s understood the NRL powerhouse haven’t filled their 30 player list and so the All Black could be brought in immediately. The Japanese Top League season concludes on May 23.
Perenara is one of the best defensive halfbacks in rugby and is strong over the ball, but he slotted in at fly half at times for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby.
In 2019, Perenara’s diving effort against Namibia in the World Cup was voted World Rugby try of the year.
His father, Thomas, was a Junior Kiwi and played alongside Kiwis great Kevin Iro. His first cousin, Henry, is an NRL referee.
As a 15-year-old, Perenara travelled to Melbourne with a group of Wellington teenagers, led by former Kiwis international John Lomax. He was offered a contract with the Storm but did not sign.
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The Roosters have a strong rugby influence, with former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika in his second year at the NRL club where he works on a part-time basis. He is good friends with Roosters coach Trent Robinson, with the two coaching masters sitting together at the SCG to watch the Waratahs and Brumbies earlier this month.
Former French playmaker Frederic Michalak is also working at the Roosters.
Injured Roosters star Luke Keary told foxsports.com.au on the eve of the season Michalak had been warmly embraced at the club.
Perenara is close with Williams, who won a premiership with the Roosters in 2013 and made a controversial return late last season after leaving the Toronto Wolfpack, and played alongside the dual international at two World Cup campaigns.
Last year, another All Blacks star, Ardie Savea, said he was considering a switch to the NRL and nominated the Roosters and Melbourne Storm as clubs of interest.
The Roosters did not respond to calls.
DOGS, TIGERS BATTLE TO SNARE PANTHERS STAR
By David Ricco
The Wests Tigers and Bulldogs are preparing to prise Brent Naden out of Penrith with the misfiring clubs eager to add the strike centre to their backline.
Off-contract at the end of this season, Naden is poised to receive multi-year offers from both the Tigers and Dogs.
Currently playing for the Panthers’ unbeaten NSW Cup team, Naden is in the midst of serving a four-game run in the lower grades.
The relegation decision was made in concert with Naden and the Panthers management in a move designed to earn back the respect of coaching staff and his teammates after testing positive to cocaine prior to the grand final last year.
Naden, 25, played 80 minutes at fullback for the Panthers NSW Cup outfit, coached by Peter Wallace, last weekend. Eager to cement a regular NRL starting spot, Naden is stuck behind a log-jam of outside backs at Penrith.
Even with an injury to fullback Dylan Edwards, the Panthers have ably covered the loss by shifting Stephen Crichton from the centres to play fullback.
The Tigers interest in securing Naden revolves around the club’s inconsistent performances of current Joey Leilua and James Roberts.
Roberts and rookie Asu Kepaoa will line up at centre against the Rabbitohs on Saturday.
There is a suggestion the Tigers could look to squeeze Leilua — dropped to the NSW Cup a fortnight ago and out with a head knock this weekend — from the final year of his 2022 contract.
Canterbury coach Trent Barrett has been unable to settle on two first-choice centres to start 2021 with Will Hopoate, Nick Cotric, Corey Allen all used in the position.
Barrett coached Naden as the Panthers attack coach last season and believes that after scoring 20 tries in 30 NRL games, along with the addition of NSW Origin flyer Josh Addo-Carr onto the wing in 2022, Naden would provide genuine speed and strike to the Canterbury offence.
Canterbury will also have the salary cap space to target Naden with as many as 15 players off-contract including outside backs Christian Crichton, Jayden Okunbor, Nick Meaney and Hopoate.
The Panthers are yet to commence contract discussions with Naden or his management.
TOP DOGS FACE AXE IN KENNEL CLEAN-OUT
By Dean Ritchie
Up to 10 Canterbury stars face being dumped with the Bulldogs seven-member board fast running out of patience at the club’s horrid results.
The Daily Telegraph has been told the Bulldogs are preparing to rip this year’s underachieving squad apart in a desperate bid to be aggressive in the open market.
A 0-5 start has Canterbury’s board nervously monitoring every aspect of the football club’s operations. A loss to fellow cellar-dwellers North Queensland on Sunday in Townsville will only add to the growing angst at Belmore.
There is no suggestion coach Trent Barrett’s position is tenuous but the board won’t be sitting idle as the losses mount. Canterbury’s board is becoming increasingly uneasy over the awful results amid accusations players simply “aren’t aiming up”.
Off-contract players Will Hopoate, Dylan Napa, Sione Katoa, Ofahiki Ogden, Lachlan Lewis, Christian Crichton, Dean Britt, Jeremy Marshall-King, Brandon Wakeham and Chris Smith will all struggle to be re-signed.
The club hasn’t yet formally told any player they are unwanted for 2022 but most are aware their future at Canterbury looks bleak.
Former Melbourne player Joe Stimson – not off contract until the end of next season – also faces an uncertain future.
Napa is the biggest star under increasing pressure to earn a new deal. His tenure at Belmore has been dogged with ongoing speculation about his future and form.
Bulldogs directors are united in offering Barrett as much as support as possible in a desperate bid to halt the heavy defeats. Canterbury has lost each match this year by an average of 28 points.
There had been suggestions the Bulldogs wanted Souths prop Liam Knight in a mid-season transfer but the approach was rejected.
Off field, Canterbury remains in a robust financial position through healthy corporate sponsorship while Canterbury Leagues Club has emerged from COVID strongly.
Publicly, Canterbury management won’t concede season 2021 is over but there is a private realisation the year will be a write off.
A frustrated Barrett continues to work tirelessly to somehow extract his club from their dire predicament.
Canterbury can only see one way out – going hard in the player market.
The Bulldogs continue to express an interest in Kotoni Staggs but the club is aware the Brisbane star is now likely to remain with the Broncos.
Canterbury is aware the hooking position is a problem and that the club needs a further two quality forwards.
Officials from Canterbury also know a new coach at Cronulla – the respected Craig Fitzgibbon – could be immediately active in the player market.
The Bulldogs have lost matches this year by 32-16, 28-0, 24-0, 38-0 and 52-18. The team has scored an average of 6.8 points per game.
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