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CANTERBURY have re-signed rising star Lachlan Lewis while two other clubs have also managed to hold onto their up and coming talent.
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LEWIS RE-SIGNS WITH BULLDOGS
Canterbury have received a boost with promising five-eighth Lachlan Lewis re-signing with the club for a further two years.
Lewis has been something of a bright spot in a tough season for the Bulldogs, impressing with his strong tackling and smart kicking game.
The former Raider has been earmarked as a long-term player for the club.
A full statement from the Dogs is below.
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have continued the development of their squad for next year by re-signing exciting halfback Lachlan Lewis for a further two years.
The nephew of the great Wally Lewis, Lachlan has transitioned into the Bulldogs NRL side this season with some excellent performances that have showed strength in defence and a vision to play what is ahead of him.
Bulldogs Chief Executive Andrew Hill was delighted at being able to secure Lewis’ services for another two years:
“Despite being only 21 years of age, Lachie has shown that he has the desire and ability to be a big part of our club going forward. He has transitioned well into our NRL squad in recent weeks and his signing is a positive sign for what lies ahead for the club, as well as another important stage of our recruitment process for next season.”
BELLAMY’S CHALLENGE FOR REBORN CROFT
Craig Bellamy has brought Brodie Croft back to the NRL but the young halfback is by no means guaranteed to stay there.
More here: https://bit.ly/2Jx8tp6
PEARCE KEEN TO ENHANCE CHEMISTRY WITH PONGA
The finals may be just out of reach but Newcastle co-captain Mitchell Pearce believes building chemistry with Kalyn Ponga will be crucial for their NRL ambitions next season.
Ponga will miss his second straight game due to a hamstring injury but is a chance of returning for the Knights’ match against his former club North Queensland next week.
Injuries to Pearce and Ponga have meant the pair have played just seven matches together this season – four of them resulting in victories.
The Knights were in the top eight when Pearce tore his pectoral muscle and they have since lost seven of their past 10 to tumble out of the finals equation. “Whether we make the top eight or not it’s probably a bit mathematical,” Pearce told AAP.
“But for us it’s just about developing our standards and improving as a team, as well as building combinations with me, Kalyn and Connor (Watson).
“That’s the biggest thing for the team right now.”
Should the Knights fail to finish in the top eight – as expected – it will be just the second time since 2012 that Pearce won’t be featuring in the finals.
The only other time the former NSW State of Origin halfback missed September was when he was suspended for half of the 2016 season because of his drunken Australia Day antics.
He said it was crucial the Knights – with only Slade Griffin and Tautau Moga sidelined for the rest of the year – begin forming a successful culture this year to make a push in 2019.
Queensland representative Tim Glasby, as well as Cronulla pair Jesse Ramien and Edrick Lee, are signed on for next year, while the club also has more room to sign free agents.
But Pearce said the time for improvement is now.
“We want to try and win as many games as we can and fight for wins,” he said.
“That becomes a culture thing that you can build on for next year. “To be honest, the way we started the season, it exceeded my expectations a bit.
“It was disappointing getting injured and we’ve had a lot of young boys play. “It was a tough trot there and we were fighting above our weight.
“Hopefully we have a good finish to the end of the season.”
– Matt Encarnacion
TARIQ BACKS KORBIN TO THRIVE AT THE DRAGONS
Tariq Sims has backed brother Korbin to come into his own at St George Illawarra after the Brisbane prop signed a three-year deal with the Dragons.
Sims will link with the Dragons from next season, filling the void left by Auckland-bound Leeson Ah Mau who has signed with the Warriors.
Driven by the rise of a number of the Dragons’ forwards to representative football, the Fijian international will head to the Saints with 112 NRL games- and-counting under his belt along with having previously been 18th man for Queensland in State of Origin.
“He’s at that ripe age where you’d want a front-rower to be at. He’s got some good role models too in James Graham to learn his trade under,” Tariq said.
“Korbin’s just as big and just as ugly as Leeson so he’ll do a good job there. “I’m really looking forward to seeing Korbin coming back to the type of football he can play.
He’s been unfortunate with injuries but it also means his body has been given a bit of a rest, so we’re going to get the best out of him.”
The brothers last played together at Newcastle in 2016, before Tariq left mid- season to head to the Dragons.
But the fact their reunion will come in Wollongong makes this family affair even more special, given they grew up in nearby Gerringong.
“There is an old demountable shed down the side of our training ground (at WIN Stadium) where mum used to sit on the side and hurl abuse at us every day,” Tariq said.
“I’m very excited. It’s going to be a bit weird seeing his face, especially down here at WIN Stadium, we haven’t trained down here together since I was 15 and he was 14.”
There’s no chance of a full-scale Sims reunion in Wollongong yet though, with sister Ruan Sims having chosen to sign with the Sydney Roosters earlier this year for the inaugural NRL Women’s competition.
Former North Queensland prop Ashton Sims is also based in Canada with the Toronto Wolfpack where Tariq, who played with him at the Cowboys, is confident he will stay as they continue their climb towards the top-flight English Super League.
“If we’re looking for a 40-year-old front rower who is barely walking, we’ll talk to Toronto,” Tariq laughed.
“We’ve got a really close family and he’s enjoying his time over in Toronto. It’s really exciting times over there and I’m getting excited for them.
“He’s spearheading that … It’s something our family is really proud of.”
– AAP
ARTHUR PRAISES HAYNE FOR FORM
Parramatta coach Brad Arthur has hailed Jarryd Hayne as a difference-maker and says their 2018 NRL season would have been more dire if it wasn’t for the star’s presence.
A fit and rejuvenated Hayne signalled he still has plenty to offer after turning in his best performance in years in last week’s error-riddled loss to Newcastle.
Hayne chalked up a massive 189 metres, 14 tackle busts and was the spark behind two of the Eels’ three tries.
The former NSW and Australian outside back is off-contract at the end of the year but the code-hopping star has repeatedly stated he won’t address his future until the conclusion of the season.
Hayne has this year been hobbled by a niggling hip injury which he brought into the season, but after starring against the Knights he said he was feeling fit for the first time since coming back to the blue and golds.
The Eels are sitting at the bottom of the table with just three wins.
Arthur said on the two occasions Hayne had returned from injury, the 30-year-old was the difference between winning and losing – against Manly in round seven when they broke a seven-game losing streak and against North Queensland when they ended a five-game winless run.
“Maybe, when I moved him to fullback in round three, it was too early, he wasn’t quite fit enough to play that role,” Arthur said.
“He came back against Manly, probably a week too early because he wanted to get out there for his teammates, and he made a real difference for us, that was our first win.
“Then his next return was against the Cowboys and if doesn’t play we don’t win. “From there, his last four games, he’s been in our best three players every week.
“On the weekend was probably our best game for us but it’s not coincidental, it’s because he’s fit. He’s back to doing full training, his body is really good so we need to maintain that and keep giving us a chance to win.” Asked if he wanted to see Hayne play on, Arthur said: “That’s something me and Jarryd have had a brief conversation about.
“We’ll address it at the end of the year, he’s happy to wait. “The priority for him and for us is for him to continue to play the way he is.”
– Steve Zemek
PANTHERS RE-SIGN KIKAU
Some good news for Penrith fans with the club re-signing barnstorming backrower Viliame Kikau until the end of 2022.
More here: https://bit.ly/2mn81AO
DOGS AIM TO KEEP MARTIN IN THE KENNEL
He’s been one of the few bright spots in Canterbury’s NRL season marked by disappointment and turmoil.
And now the Bulldogs have declared their desire to hold onto boom rookie back-rower Rhyse Martin.
The 25-year-old has shown his class in his maiden seven appearances this year and notched a 24-point haul in the Bulldogs’ heartbreaking loss to Canberra – an individual record for player in a losing side.
The goal-kicking forward is off-contract at the end of 2018 and seeking a well- deserved upgrade.
And Pay said the club, despite its salary cap problems, had begun talks to hold onto the far north Queensland product.
“He needs to keep improving on what he’s doing,” Pay said.
“He’s come in and played some good football for us. For the last three to four weeks he’s put some good performances in.
“We’re going through those negotiations with him at the moment.”
Martin is representative of the Bulldogs’ troubles as they seek to rebuild amid a salary cap squeeze.
For the next several years, the club has been locked out of the market in terms of pursuing marquee players because a host of back-ended contracts – signed under the former administration – have come back to haunt them. They must find value for money and invest heavily in youth.
“We’ve got to be really careful with who we buy and how much,” Pay said.
“We’ve got spots that we need to fill and we’re working through that.”
Despite their problems, the term rebuild sits uncomfortably with Pay. He says there’s no reason the club can’t be competitive in the near future – pointing to the fact that seven of their 13 losses this year have been by six points or less.
Asked how he would pitch the club to prospective talent, Pay says: “There’s a great opportunity. We’ve got a good base of senior players with Klem (David Klemmer), Jacko (Josh Jackson) and (Aiden) Tolman and Adam Elliott.
“There’s an opportunity here if you want to play first grade. I’m not one for picking people on names, if they’re doing the job, they’ll get a start.”
– Steve Zemek
KIWI LEGEND SET TO CALL STUMPS ON CAREER
Warriors great Simon Mannering wants to go out on a high after announcing the end of his illustrious rugby league career.
Former captain Mannering will hang up his boots at the end of a 14th NRL season, which should see him become the club’s first 300-game player.
Capped 44 times for New Zealand, former Kiwis skipper Mannering last month retired from international rugby league.
After months of wrestling with his decision, the 31-year-old made up his mind after the seventh-placed Warriors’ 26-6 demolition of Brisbane.
It was the second-rower’s best performance of the season but not enough to convince him to stay.
“It has taken a while to reach this point but I’m now comfortable with the decision I’ve finally made,” he said.
“It hasn’t been easy that’s for sure. There has been a lot to think about. I’ve really enjoyed this season and that was one of the factors that was playing on my mind.”
Mannering’s 294th first grade game is against Melbourne in Auckland on Sunday. Another six games and he will join Steve Price and Ruben Wiki as Warriors to reach 300 games, but will be the first to reach the milestone in matches solely for the Auckland club.
A tireless worker since his debut at centre aged 18 in 2005, he is best remembered for his consistent level of leadership and performances over the second half of his career during a lean run of Warriors results.
A club release estimated Mannering had made 9300 tackles and carried the ball 27,000m in about 370 hours of first grade football.
Mannering is urging his team-mates to put his pending departure to one side and concentrate on a strong finish to a season which has promised plenty for the Auckland club.
“It’s not over yet. There are still a lot of games to be played and I want to do all I can to help the team and the coaching staff in our bid to finish this season as well as we possibly can.”
Mannering was grateful to Warriors management for granting him time to make a decision, particularly with the salary cap implications that are at stake.
Coach Stephen Kearney says he saw first-hand how much the decision had weighed on the veteran.
“I know how difficult this would have been for him. He loves playing footy and he loves this club so it’s a really significant day for him and for all of us,” Kearney said.
– AAP
TITANS ON VERGE OF SECURING GREG BIRD CLONE
By Travis Meyn
THE Titans are on the verge of securing young bruiser Keegan Hipgrave after coach Garth Brennan declared he was confident of retaining the man dubbed the next Greg Bird.
Hipgrave has emerged as the Gold Coast’s top signing priority following an explosive start to his NRL career.
The 21-year-old local product will make his 15th NRL appearance in Saturday’s showdown against the Knights in Newcastle when he returns from concussion.
And Brennan believes the Titans will secure Hipgrave’s sought-after signature on a two-year extension despite bids from rival clubs.
The aggressive Hipgrave has attracted interest from at least two Sydney clubs, but Brennan said he would be surprised if the Palm Beach Currumbin product jumped ship.
“I’m certainly confident Keegs will get done,” he said.
“I’ll be very surprised if he leaves the Gold Coast. He is very much a Gold Coast boy.
“We’ve offered him a two-year deal and hopefully we can get that sorted in the near future.
“He is a good guy to have around and the players love playing with him. That is what I look at with players.
“If players love to play with you then you know you’re doing something right.”
Hipgrave will return for the Knights game alongside Queensland Origin prop Jai Arrow, who missed Sunday’s loss to the Roosters with a corked knee.
Hipgrave has gained a reputation for being an enforcer, much like former NSW Origin star Bird, after being charged three times by the match review committee in the early stages of his career, including being suspended on debut.
But Brennan said his aggressive attitude was an x-factor for the Titans if he could control it.
“I love him, I just hope his body holds out,” he said.
“He uses his whole body. He doesn’t hold anything back.
“I love his attitude and mindset. He’s just got to learn how to control that a little bit.
“He brings something we don’t have in our football team. He brings an x-factor.
“Everything is 100 miles-an-hour with him and he is a great guy off the field.”
The Titans must win their remaining seven matches by healthy margins to qualify for the finals, but they will relish the return of Arrow after his maiden Origin campaign.
“He was very close to playing on Sunday,” Brennan said.
“He was talking about doing a fitness test on the Sunday but I made the decision that I wasn’t going to play him.
“He’s had a tough campaign and is only 23. He started in the front row for Queensland in the toughest arena.”
