NRL 2023: Thomas Burgess signs on again at Rabbitohs; off-contract stars and where they may end up
A popular Rabbitoh now has the opportunity to become one of the club’s greatest-ever forwards after extending his contract at Redfern.
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Rabbitohs forward Thomas Burgess has given fans something to cheer about ahead of a huge clash with the Roosters by re-signing with the club.
Burgess can become one the club’s greatest-ever forwards after extending his future with Souths until 2024.
Burgess, 30, has played 211 NRL matches, all for the Rabbitohs, since making his first grade debut against the Parramatta Eels in 2013.
He will move to fourth on South Sydney’s all-time most-capped player list when he plays against the Sydney Roosters tomorrow night.
“I’m over the moon to be extending my time with Souths. It’s a very special club and I’m honoured to wear the colours every day,’ Burgess said.
“Souths has been a big part of my family since moving to Australia. I couldn’t envisage myself playing for any other club in Australia.
“It’s great to be going around for another year for our members and fans.
“This is a special place and we can certainly do some special things for our supporters in the next few years.”
23 for 2023: Off-contract stars have market value slashed
The new NRL season may have just kicked off, but Cronulla second-rower Teig Wilton is set to be the surprise winner from the free agent class of 2023.
The Roosters made shockwaves prior to the start of this week’s season-opening round when they pinched Penrith premiership-winner Spencer Leniu and re-signed Victor Radley and Egan Butcher.
It proved again that clubs are already safeguarding their future, with a host of big names, including Mitchell Moses, Luke Brooks, Tom Burgess, Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Jake Wighton free to talk to rival clubs.
Some are in line for bumper pay days with Suaalii and Wilton expected to be the big winners.
Others such as Brooks, Tyson Frizell, Luke Thompson and David Fifita could see their contracts slashed by up to half of their current deals.
Fifita is being chased by the Raiders and his former club the Broncos while the Titans are keen to retain the back-rower. Canberra are resigned to missing out on Fifita to one of the Queensland-based sides.
Burgess is close to inking a new deal at the Rabbitohs. In 2013, Thomas Burgess arrived from England on a one-year deal to play with his brothers Sam, George and Luke, at South Sydney.
A decade later and the 30-year-old is poised to retire as a Rabbitohs legend with a new contract that will cement his position as the longest-serving front-rower in the club‘s history.
In what shapes as the ultimate gift to launch the Rabbitohs 2023 season, Burgess is poised to sign at least a new 12-month contract despite interest richer deals on the deal from the Super League.
With 209 NRL games for the Rabbitohs, Burgess can move into fourth position this season as the Bunnies most-capped player behind John Sutton (336), Adam Reynolds (231) and Nathan Merritt (219).
The great Bob McCarthy sits at 211 games.
The Rabbitohs and Burgess will continue discussing the prospect of a two-year deal, but for now, the powerful big man will be at Redfern for 2024.
NATHAN BROWN (EELS)
Market value: $350,000
Was close to joining the Tigers this year but that deal fell through at the last minute. The former NSW player has been on the lookout for a new club for months after being granted permission by the Eels to leave. Struggling to find a suitable home. The Bulldogs and the Dragons, two teams needing middle forwards, have shown no interest. May have to wait for a club to have a few injuries before he finds a new home.
DAINE LAURIE (TIGERS)
Market value: $350,000
Has a verbal offer of a one-year extension to remain at the club but both parties are now set to wait to see how Laurie starts off the season. Has beaten out new recruit Charlie Staines for the fullback role but his future may rest on what happens in the halves. Adam Doueihi has re-signed for another season and could be switched back to fullback should the Tigers land Mitchell Moses.
LUKE BROOKS (TIGERS)
Market value: $600,000
In the final year of a million-dollar contract. Won’t see those sorts of numbers again regardless of how he performs this year. Another player whose future will be influenced by what Moses does. The Tigers hope to have Moses and Brooks reunite long-term. Likely to stay at the club.
SHAUN JOHNSON (WARRIORS)
Market value: $220,000
A change in coach has given Johnson’s career at least another season. Johnson was battling to keep his spot in the Warriors side at the midpoint of last season but has been given a reprieve by new coach Andrew Webster. Strong chance he retires at the end of this year or is given a cut-price 12-month deal to remain at the Warriors if he can replicate some of his best football.
DANIEL TUPOU (ROOSTERS)
Market value: $400,000
The Roosters have made it clear that this is likely the last season for Tupou at the club. He should break Anthony Minichiello’s record as the all-time leading tryscorer for the Roosters this year. The arrival of Dom Young next season means Tupou’s future is likely in the Super League. Would have a market if he wanted to remain in the NRL but is likely to opt to move overseas.
JARED WAEREA-HARGREAVES (ROOSTERS)
Market value: $750,000
Another decorated Rooster who could be on the way out at the end of the season. His battered body is starting to let him down and the Roosters – like they have done with Tupou – are planning for life after Waerea-Hargreaves given their pursuit of Spencer Leinu. A shift to the Super League could be in the works for the Kiwi star.
CONNOR WATSON (ROOSTERS)
Market value: $425,000
A serious injury has come at a cruel time for Watson who has entered the final year of his deal. Is expected to miss half of the season because of a knee injury. The injury will impact his market value but the Roosters will be keen on retaining Watson whose Mr-fix-it abilities are very valuable off the interchange bench.
TOM BURGESS (RABBITOHS)
Market value: $610,000
Both parties have been in talks about a new-contract and they are close to agreeing to at least a 12-month deal. Burgess could chase a richer and longer-term deal if he wanted to return to the Super League. Is not keen on playing for another NRL club.
DAVID FIFITA (TITANS)
Market value: $750,000
Gold Coast and Canberra thought they were in a straight shootout for Fifita but his former club Brisbane have now emerged as a potential destination. Will need to take a pay cut wherever he goes but a return to Brisbane may be too tempting to ignore.
NELSON ASOFA-SOLOMONA (STORM)
Market value: $750,000
The Storm are working hard to keep big Nelson at the club but they face a fight, not just from rival NRL clubs but also from rugby union. News Corp understands that some of the Storm’s NRL rivals may be willing to pay up to $900,000 a season for Asofa-Solomona. Rugby union will also be at the forefront of his mind — he played the game before joining Melbourne.
TYSON FRIZELL (KNIGHTS)
Market value: $420,000
The Knights will play a waiting game with Frizell this season as they monitor his form and fitness before deciding whether to table an extension to the former NSW forward. At 31, he is closer to the end than the beginning of his career but his leadership and experience is a valuable commodity, a fact not lost on the Knights.
MITCHELL MOSES (EELS)
Market value: $1.2 million
Moses has an option in his favour with the Eels for next season which comes into effect in round 10. Before then, however, he is likely to have re-signed with Parramatta on a long-term mega-deal worth as much as $5 million. The Wests Tigers are still swinging but they look to be losing the fight.
JOSH HODGSON (EELS)
Market value: $375,000
There was a lot to like about Hodgson’s first appearance for the Eels on Thursday night, albeit in a losing cause against Melbourne. Parramatta have an option in their favour for the England international next season and whether they take that up will be determined by form and whether he can avoid injury this season.
SCOTT SORENSEN (PANTHERS)
Market value: $280,000
The Knights were interested in Sorensen as a potential player swap involving departing winger Dom Young. Penrith had no desire to cut him loose, an indication of how highly they rate the no-frills front-rower. The Panthers have opened initial discussions over a contract extension as they look to keep him at the foot of the mountains.
JORDAN RAPANA (RAIDERS)
Market value: $375,000
A Raiders fan favourite who surprisingly will turn 34 next August. Age is but a number for Rapana, with the wing/fullback playing no fewer than 19 games in a season since his debut year at the club in 2014. Rapana wants to finish his career in Canberra and will make a call around June to decide whether to pursue another 12-month contract with the Green Machine.
JACK WIGHTON (RAIDERS)
Market value: $900,000
The NSW State of Origin star is about to enter the final season of a four-year deal with Canberra that includes an option in his favour for 2024. Effectively, Wighton has until April to tell Canberra that he wants to activate the option and he will earn around $900,000 for 2024. Of course, the other move Wighton could make is the bombshell call to leave the Raiders for a rival club next year. The Raiders are confident Wighton isn’t going anywhere soon.
JAKE AVERILLO (BULLDOGS)
Market value:$280,000
Watch for the Dogs to re-sign Averillo, who at 22 has already played 54 NRL games. Within the walls of Belmore, there is a huge belief that Averillo can develop into a serious strike centre after spending last season at fullback and also a dabble in the halves. Coach Cameron Ciraldo is a big fan of the pacy footballer.
LUKE THOMPSON (BULLDOGS)
Market value: $850,000
This is just an awful scenario for the Englishman, who suffered a serious foot injury only a few days before round one. He’s hoping to be back in 12-weeks, but it’s almost impossible to think the front-rower will ever earn the massive contract he originally signed with the Dogs back in 2020. In reality, it’s proven a disastrous buy from the Dogs, who are almost certain to sever ties with the 27-year-old.
KYLE FLANAGAN (BULLDOGS)
Market value: $450,000
Unlike last pre-season, the crafty halfback has been given every opportunity to make the no. 7 jersey his own. He’s trained every session alongside Matt Burton and is being backed by Cameron Ciraldo to steer the Dogs in 2023. Flanagan’s first half of the season will be telling on whether the Dogs entertain a contract extension.
WILL KENNEDY (SHARKS)
Market value: $450,000
Currently in negotiations to re-sign with the Sharks for another 12 months. The last of the entire Cronulla backline to extend their future at the club, the skilful fullback is suddenly a priority for the club after rising star Kade Dykes went down with a season-ending knee injury.
TEIG WILTON (SHARKS)
Market value: $375,000
Approaching his fourth NRL season, the still-developing backrower has been shown the love in no uncertain terms by Cronulla by being selected ahead of club legend Wade Graham, who will play from the bench in round one. The Sharks are eager to re-sign the young talent and have commenced negotiations amid interest from rival clubs. The Knights and Raiders are two clubs on the hunt for a backrower.
WAQA BLAKE (EELS)
Market value: $300,000
Already has had some interest from rival NRL clubs. The Eels may struggle to keep him given the cash they have had to splash on a range of players. Blake at 28 still has plenty to offer in the NRL.
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