NRL 2023: Bradman Best transfer rumours, Dragons confident Ben Hunt, Zac Lomax could stay

Clubs are lining up for Newcastle star Bradman Best after his incredible Origin debut - and the Knights could be powerless to stop it.

St George's Zach Lomax celebrates a try scored by St George's Ben Hunt during the Bulldogs v St George NRL match at ANZ Stadium, Homebush. Picture: Brett Costello

NSW Blues centre Bradman Best will test the open market in November rather than commit long term to Newcastle.

The 21-year-old centre is hot demand after his outstanding performance for the Blues in the Game 3 victory over Queensland in which he outplayed Valentine Holmes.

Knights general manager Peter Parr inherited a huge problem with their salary cap and is unlikely to be in a position to match offers from rival clubs for Best.

He is an obvious target for a club like the Roosters, who will need to replace the rugby-bound Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii in 2025.

Could salary cap pressure force Bradman Best (right) out of Newcastle? Picture: AAP.

WANTAWAY DRAGONS COULD BE LURED BACK

Shane Flanagan has walked away from meetings with St George-Illawarra’s two best players – Ben Hunt and Zac Lomax – convinced both will remain at the club.

Despite weeks of uncertainty over their futures, Flanagan insists both will be wearing the Red V for the remainder of their contracts.

On Hunt, who asked for a release five weeks ago, Flanagan said: “It was a really positive meeting. We spoke about next year, recruitment, the culture at the club, everything.

“He’s our halfback and he’s our captain.”

Those closest to the Maroons and Kangaroos star say he is in a much better frame of mind than when he asked for the release during the Origin series.

Shane Flanagan is confident both Ben Hunt and Zac Lomax will stay at the Dragons. Picture: Brett Costello.

That he is contributing with his opinion on recruitment planning is a strong indicator he will play out the final two seasons of his career with the Dragons.

“Just speaking to Ben he reminds me of when I had Paul Gallen, Luke Lewis and Michael Ennis at Cronulla,” Flanagan said, “he’s that experienced and has so much to offer a football club.”

As for Lomax, Flanagan could not be happier with his attitude.We revealed on these pages three weeks ago that Flanagan had offered him the opportunity to apply for permission to look elsewhere.

“Zac’s 100 per cent on board,” Flanagan said.

“All of our conversations have been 100 per cent positive and committed.”

The incoming Dragons coach has met with both Hunt and Lomax. Picture: Getty Images.

Flanagan has spoken to Lomax about the possibility of playing fullback, where he can inject himself on both sides of the field rather be stationed as a right centre.

The Dragons will have plenty of cap money to pick up players on the open market.

Jayden Sullivan has been given permission to leave and is expected to join the Wests Tigers this week.

Experienced utility Moses Mbye has been released to the UK Super League.

SAINTS

Peter V’landys and Andrew Abdo for fast-tracking the induction of South Sydney Rabbitohs icon George Piggins and legendary former Daily Telegraph chief rugby league writer Ian Heads into the NRL Hall of Fame when it became known both men were not in the best of health. It was a fantastic tribute for two men who have made such magnificent contributions to the game.

Good on Peter V'landys and Andrew Abdo for fast tracking George Piggins and Ian Heads into the NRL Hall of Fame, writes Phil Rothfield. Picture: Supplied.

SINNER

Victorian Premier Dan Andrews. He announced Victoria would host the Commonwealth Games before the last election to get voters onside in regional Victoria. He gets their support, wins the election – and then scraps the Games. He says the potential financial blowout was $7bn but refuses to provide a cost breakdown on where that figure came from.

Shame on Daniel Andrews for scrapping the 2026 Commonwealth Games, writes Phil Rothfield. Picture: NCA Newswire.

SHOOSH

A lot of rugby league types, including the late Jack Gibson, often visit criminals in jail to encourage their rehabilitation. It has always been done in strict privacy. That’s why it was so disappointing that one particular official had to big-note himself last week and leak it to the media he had visited ex-Sea Eagles star Manase Fainu.

SHOOSH

Old Sharks warhorse Paul Gallen is still fit enough to play footy and regularly runs the notorious Wanda sandhills. He is no longer interested in fighting Sonny Bill Williams but is now aiming to run a marathon.

SPOTTED

No one has a heavier workload than Greg “Brandy” Alexander. He’s on the payroll at Fox Sports, SEN, the NSWRL and even the Penrith Panthers. This is why it was so nice he was seen at Sydney airport last week to take a well-deserved European summer break with his family.

SPOTTED

Old footballers who played as hard and strong as Cronulla Sharks legend Gavin Miller were always going to have physical issues in retirement. Miller, 63, is now recovering from a recent hip replacement.

SPOTTED

A wonderful turnout at the funeral of Coogee SLSC legend and larrikin Stewart Crowe on Friday. The mourners included turf legend Kenny Callander, former ARL boss Geoff Carr, David ‘Cement’ Gillespie, Joe Thomas and many colourful eastern suburbs punters and characters.

Sea Eagles forward Haumole Olakau’atu has bought a house for his parents.

OLAKAU’ATU BUYS HOUSE FOR PARENTS

It’s fantastic to see NRL players entering the property market, especially in the case of Manly’s star forward Haumole Olakau’atu.

The 24-year-old has used the cash from a recent contract upgrade at Manly to buy his mum and dad their first family home in Hinchinbrook.

It is a beautiful gesture before he starts to save to buy one for himself.

We would love to give you more details and speak to the Sea Eagles second-rower about what is obviously such a proud life moment.

It again shows how stupid this RLPA media ban is – preventing us from sharing great stories like this one in more depth.

SEVEN WANTS TO USE FOX SPORTS CALLERS

Channel 7’s long-term bid to pinch State of Origin TV rights from Channel 9 will be very much geared around using Fox Sports’ commentary teams.

The network’s chief James Warburton is a huge fan of the Fox League channel and will have talks with Foxtel boss Patrick Delany and Fox Sports chief Steve Crawley around a broadcast joint venture and production cost sharing if they can outbid Channel 9.

The likes of Andrew Voss, Mal Meninga, Cooper Cronk and Michael Ennis would be used on both channels.

Warburton has met Commission chairman Peter V’landys and NRL boss Andrew Abdo to launch Seven’s bid for the TV rights.

The likes of Andrew Voss, Bryan Fletcher, Matty Johns and Mal Meninga could feature on Channel 7 under a proposed broadcast joint venture with Fox Sports. Picture: Fox League

ABC RATINGS CRASH

The ABC’s NRL ratings are a real concern for the national broadcaster on Sundays.

Since last year they have dropped from 5.3% to just 3.8% in the latest rating survey.

It’s even more alarming in that Aunty was rating 7.3% on Sundays in 2021.

Maybe it’s time to get the great David Morrow back from the 2GB Continuous Call team.

Your columnist has said all along that losing the highly respected Craig Hamilton would also have an effect on the ABC’s ratings.

GALLOP’S PRIDE FOR MATILDAS

The man who delivered the women’s soccer World Cup to Sydney was 17,000 kilometres away from Accor Stadium on Thursday night.

Former Australian soccer boss David Gallop was instead at the Ashes cricket Test at Old Trafford in Manchester as the Matildas played in front of 75,000 fans.

Your columnist was with Gallop in Russia five years ago when he and Westfield tycoon Frank Lowy and his son Stephen launched Australia’s bid to host the World Cup in talks with FIFA heavyweights in Moscow.

We ran this double page spread in this column on June 23, 2018, in what seemed at that time an impossible dream for sport in this country.

Gallop and Lowy convinced then prime minister Malcolm Turnbull to contribute $5m to support the bid.

Sam Kerr with David Gallop.

It was with enormous pride Gallop spoke before the second day’s play at the Ashes of his personal satisfaction for the Matildas.

“To see the highlights with more than 75,000 people at a Matildas game was quite mind-blowing,” Gallop said.

This was the man who left soccer back in 2019, driven out by bitter and ill-informed critics and the rich and powerful owners of
A-League clubs, who insisted on running the competition themselves.

The game has gone backwards since — but for the Matildas.

Gallop clearly remembers those initial meetings in Russia.

“We decided there and then to bid for the Women’s World Cup,” he said.

“I had developed a great relationship with Sam Kerr and the team, and knew the country would get behind them if we could secure the hosting rights.

“In those days the team was playing in front of a few thousand people at home.

“The legacy of the tournament will be massive. Girls, boys and adults will join football clubs and the global nature of the world game will be reinforced – that’s something the other codes cannot match.”