NRL transfer news 2023: Gold Coast Titans pull out of race to sign Raiders star Jack Wighton

Ten NRL clubs formally expressed an interest in Jack Wighton the second he opted to test the market. But one club has officially pulled out, saying they simply can’t afford his asking price.

Hynes has become one of the game’s most reliable matchwinners and is the face of the Sharks. Picture: Getty

The Titans have pulled out of the race for Jack Wighton, leaving the Dolphins as the sole Queensland threat to Canberra’s hopes of retaining the NSW Origin star.

Titans coach Justin Holbrook concedes Gold Coast have no interest in a bidding war for the signature of Wighton ahead of his side’s home game against the Dragons on Sunday.

Wighton dropped a bombshell on the Green Machine last week by revealing plans to test his value on the open market.

One of Wighton’s reasons for seeking free agency was to potentially experience living outside of Canberra for the first time in 14 years.

It prompted a frenzy that saw 10 NRL rivals lodge formal expressions of interest.

The Titans were one of the potential suitors, alongside the Dolphins, Parramatta, Newcastle and Wests Tigers, but Gold Coast will not be converting their interest into a formal offer.

The Titans have a number of playmakers under contract, including AJ Brimson, Kieran Foran, Tanah Boyd and Toby Sexton, and Holbrook says the Coast cannot compete with Canberra’s beefed-up four-year, $4.4 million package.

The Titans have pulled out of the race for Jack Wighton, unable to meet his asking price.

“To be honest, it will be too hard to fit Jack in at our club,” Holbrook said.

“We have a lot of depth in the halves and I have no doubt Jack is worth what he is asking, but it’s highly unlikely for us.

“Jack is a versatile guy and he can play just about anywhere in the backline.

“He played centre for Australia in a World Cup final (last year).”

It is understood if Wighton leaves Canberra, he would prefer to continue his NRL career with a Queensland club, rather than making a move to Sydney.

Gold Coast utility back Jayden Campbell, off-contract next year, has been linked with an eventual move to Parramatta, which would free-up funds.

But Holbrook believes Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins are a bigger threat to the Green Machine than the Titans.

“Our recruitment guy Ezra (Howe) talks to the managers and Jack has been linked with about 10 clubs,” Holbrook said.

“Naturally, there is always interest in any quality player, but it would be hard for us under the salary cap to make it happen.

“The Dolphins seem to be one club with the money under the salary cap. Canberra are throwing a heap at Jack to keep him there and the Tigers are chasing players as well, so they are the likely clubs I would have thought.

“The money Wighton is going to command is just going to be too much for us.”

Wayne Bennett is ramping up his plans to bring Wighton to the Dolphins. Picture: NRL Photos.

Wighton met with his management team last week to discuss the options that are set to be presented to him.

While the Raiders have upped the ante to retain Wighton, Bennett is ramping up his own poaching raid.

The Dolphins supercoach has contacted Wighton’s management to set up a formal meeting with a view to making a face-to-face pitch to the former Dally M Medallist in the coming weeks.

There were suggestions the Dolphins were reluctant to pay $1 million a season for Wighton, but Bennett says he is prepared to match Canberra’s $1.1 million offer annually if he believes the 30-year-old is the right fit as Redcliffe’s franchise player.

Asked if he wants to sign Wighton, Bennett told News Corp: “That’s true.

“We’re looking at him. We haven’t made an arrangement yet (to meet) but we will go down that path.

“Jack is a highly competitive player, he is very skilled, he has been a great servant of the game.

“He has had 10 or 12 years now in the NRL and he plays a number of positions.

“We won’t reveal what we have in our salary cap and what we haven’t got, but if we thought he was the right fit for the club and brought the things that we need, we would probably pay more than $1 million.

“That’s not the issue. The issue is: does Wighton fit our needs, do we suit him and that’s what we need to talk about and work out.”

BROOKS’ TIGERS FUTURE STILL UP IN THE AIR

They have circled Mitchell Moses, Cameron Munster and Mitchell Pearce in recent months but Tigers whipping boy Luke Brooks says he is yet to talk to the club about his own future.

News Corp watched on at the club’s freshly minted Concord headquarters on Friday where assistant coach Benji Marshall proved he still may be the best half at the club.

Marshall was tasked with mimicking Moses ahead of the clash between the Tigers and Eels on Monday.

And the head coach in waiting showed he had lost very little of the attacking brilliance which captivated the Tigers faithful for years as he lined up with the Tigers reserves squad in an opposed session against the first grade team.

“He could still play,” Brooks said shortly after the session.

“It’s great especially for our defence. He is pretty hard to stop. It is valuable for us. He is fit. I think it’s seeing how his body would hold up.

“He was in the spine. Getting their plays on. It’s good to have someone like him to run their attack so we know what’s coming.”

Luke Brooks declared Benji Marshall ‘could still play’ after the Tigers assistant coach helped out during a training session.

The Tigers prepare to face Moses for the first time since he rejected their advances in what would have made him the highest paid player in the competition.

He will remain an Eel for the next five years and pocket $6 million for his troubles. Brooks was a factor in trying to convince Moses back to the club.

“I would’ve loved to have him here,” Brooks said. “It is what it is. I am happy for him. He got the best deal for him and where he will be happy.

“We didn’t speak too much about it. A couple of times but once the season started I left him to do his thing.”

While Moses’ future is settled Brooks is far from knowing where he stands.

The Tigers have loosely indicated they would wait until round six before they made a decision on Brooks.

Which means Brooks could know where he stands before he takes to the field again for the Tigers after their traditional Easter Monday clash with the Tigers having the bye next week.

Brooks said Moses’ decision had no impact on him and also understood the club’s decision to look for a marquee half.

Benji Marshall still displayed the magic while mimicking Moses ahead of the clash between the Tigers and Eels.

“I haven’t spoken to them at all,” Brooks said. “When you look at those sorts of players (such as Moses, Munster and Pearce) you’d welcome then and they are great players. They would benefit me and the team.

I haven’t thought about it. I’m just worried about playing footy. We haven’t had a good start. I just want a win. In a perfect world I’d love to (Stay here). I know it (sometimes) doesn’t work out that way. Whatever happens, happens.

“I’m happy here. Even though we haven’t won a game. We’re still in a place where we’re going to get better. At the start of the season if a couple of things went our way it would be different. I’m still happy that I stayed.”

Whatever happens though Brooks’ won’t be able to command the million dollar payday he enjoys right now.

Whipping boy Luke Brooks says he is yet to talk to the club about his own future.

More pressing for Brooks is keeping his place in the team. Once again players around him have been shuffled with Adam Doueihi recalled to the side at the expense of Brandon Wakeham.

“If that’s the way it goes, that’s the way it goes,” Brooks said when asked if he feared getting dropped. “We need to start winning - that takes that out of the equation. In my position as a halfback and getting paid well that’s the way (criticism is) going to be. I’m just used to it now.

“My role doesn’t change. Ads wants to play five-eighth. He is a runner of the ball. I want to give him room to do his thing.”

Confirmed: Hynes a Shark for life with monster $7m deal

The Cronulla Sharks have secured superstar halfback Nicho Hynes to a life contract worth up to $7 million.

It is the most lucrative deal in Sharks history, taking the popular playmaker through until 2029.

Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon and club chairman Steve Mace secured the six-year deal that will average out at just over $1 million a season.

It is a significant pay increase from the $600,000 salary the Dally M champion – and it is now the longest current deal of any player in the NRL.

Nicho Hynes has joined the top tier of NRL stars since his move to Cronulla. Picture: NRL PHOTOS

The Sharks have acknowledged Hynes, 26, for the manner in which he conducted himself in negotiations.

Hynes wasn’t off-contract until the end of 2024.

He had the ability to take himself to the open market on November 1, but never considered it.

Instead, the extremely humble Hynes insisted all contract dialogue with the Sharks be kept private to avoid publicity similar to that of Mitchell Moses and his talks at the Parramatta Eels and Jack Wighton at the Canberra Raiders.

“To Nicho’s credit he wasn’t interested in testing the market,” Mace said.

“Nicho didn’t want to play anywhere but Cronulla.

“He is such a selfless and humble person.

“This is a wonderful outcome for Nicho, the club and our supporters.”

Hynes surged to a record-breaking tally to win last year’s Dally M.

Hynes’ new contract continues the Sharks impressive recruitment drive that has included the re-signing of the entire starting backline, which began the pre-season all off-contract.

In negotiations the parties also spoke about opportunities after football.

Hynes is on his way to becoming the sole captain of the Sharks having led the team in the absence of Wade Graham at-times last season.

He eventually wants to become a coach or even look at a role in administration.

The halfback is fast approaching club legend Andrew Ettingshausen as the club’s most popular all-time player.

His popularity and brand drives memberships and sells merchandise.

The former Melbourne Storm star is the game’s most inspiring story.

Hynes has become one of the game’s most reliable matchwinners and is the face of the Sharks. Picture: Getty

How he has overcome a difficult childhood and widely documented family struggles.

How he has become such a powerful Indigenous ambassador and a mental health advocate.

And to think he was not considered good enough for NRL and was dumped by the Manly Sea Eagles in Under 20s.

That he fought back through the Queensland Cup competition to earn a start at Melbourne Storm and now the richest deal in Sharks history.

On the back of Fitzgibbon recently committing for five years it gives the Sharks great stability moving ahead.

Off the field the club is in its strongest ever financial position with blanket sponsorship and corporate sales.

Cronulla head coach Craig Fitzgibbon has locked in the cornerstone of his team. Picture: Getty

The Sharks also have property assets of more than $80 million, a far cry from the day Mace and his new board started less than five years ago when the club was given a financial show cause notice by the NRL.

Hynes’ biggest fan is independent commission chairman Peter V’landys.

“This is a great result for Cronulla and rugby league,” V’landys said.

“Nicho’s an absolute inspiration. The perfect role model.

“He has shown you never give up no matter how hard it gets.

“Last year at the Dally M’s his speech at the Dally M’s was as good as I’ve heard from anyone.”

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