NRL Expansion: Kotoni Staggs, Ryan Papenhuyzen and Sam Walker on Perth recruitment list
Perth’s NRL expansion bid has been urged to enter the race for player signatures from November 1, a move which would put some of the biggest names in the game in play for big pay rises.
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Perth expansion bid organisers have been encouraged to commence negotiations with some of the game’s biggest names from November 1 with the likes of Kotoni Staggs, Ryan Papenhuyzen, Clint Gutherson and Sam Walker among the potential hit list.
In a move that could have major ramifications on the NRL transfer market, the advice to get moving on players has emerged in the anticipation that Perth will be the next NRL franchise, creating an 18-team competition from 2027.
West Australian MP Peter Tinley, chair of the government working group responsible for the Perth bid, has spent the past few months meeting with key stakeholders across the game, including the Bulldogs GM of football Phil Gould and most recently former Eels mentor Brad Arthur.
NRL executives and Foxtel boss Patrick Delany have also met with Tinley. Tinley has been gathering reams of advice and information on how best the Perth franchise can set themselves up for sustained success.
The build of a competitive roster is paramount.
The Sunday Telegraph has learned that Tinley is being advised that the Perth team should enter the race for players from November 1, when some of the game’s biggest stars enter the final year of their existing deals and are able to negotiate with rivals.
Under current NRL contract laws, all players off-contract at the end of 2025 will become free to negotiate from November 1. By then, the NRL is expected to have confirmed their plans for expansion with Perth looming as the 18th team ahead of Papua New Guinea.
The Perth team could immediately commence negotiating with players off contract at the end of 2025 and urge them to sign a one-year extension with their current clubs or spent 12 months at an existing side before linking with the new Perth franchise in 2027.
The list of players the Perth franchise could talk to from November 1 is both star-studded and plentiful.
Players yet to sign a contract beyond 2025 include Reece Walsh, Selwyn Cobbo, Kotoni Staggs, Josh Addo-Carr, Bronson Xerri, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Briton Nikora, Ryan Papenhuyzen, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Reece Robson, Reuben Cotter, Clint Gutherson, J’maine Hopgood, Lachlan Ilias, James Tedesco, Connor Watson, Sam Walker and Spencer Leniu.
Of the list, any new franchise would be aiming to make a signing statement from the outset with Walsh, Walker or Leniu huge names to target as foundation players.
The new Perth franchise are expected to enjoy a longer lead-in time to sign players than what The Dolphins and before them, the Gold Coast Titans, had when they were first granted an NRL licence.
The Dolphins were given just 12 months to build their roster ahead of their first season in 2023.
They were given the green light in October 2021, just a month before the November 1 trade window opened.
Veteran Felise Kaufusi was their first signing on November 26, 2021.
The Titans landed two marquee players in Preston Campbell and Luke Bailey midway through 2005 ahead of their first season in 2007.
The pair were granted special permission to talk before the then June 30 deadline otherwise the Titans had just months to piece together a team.
“We had six months to get a side together and ideally you would’ve wanted a bit longer,” inaugural Titans coach John Cartwright said.
“I would suspect that any new franchise are being advised to get moving on players as soon as they can and I can understand that”
An Australian Rugby League Commission meeting in Melbourne before State of Origin II is believed to have settled on a timeline to expand from the current 17 teams to 20 by 2030.
The ARLC has called for expressions of interest with interested parties asked to lodge their bids within a month.
A decision on the 18th, 19th and possibly 20th teams is expected to be announced by October.
Perth have been locked in talks with the Jets and Bears this week as they explore a potential partnership as part of their bid to join the NRL.
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