NRL Market Watch: Rivals ready to pounce on Jeremiah Nanai, Panthers eye Jock Madden

Cowboys star Jeremiah Nanai is set to hit the open market from November 1, with clubs preparing multimillion dollar offers for 2024. SEE THE LATEST TRANSFER NEWS.

Josh Reynolds would love to finish his playing career at Canterbury.

Jeremiah Nanai will hit the open market amid fears the Cowboys could be blown out of the water by multimillion-dollar bids for the flying forward.

Following a breakout NRL season, Nanai is set to test his value from November 1 but has declared his intention is to ink a contract extension with North Queensland.

The teenage backrower has scored a stunning 16 tries in 17 games this season and featured in all three Origin games for the victorious Maroons, starring in his starting debut in the decider.

Nanai, 19, inked a one-year extension with the Cowboys earlier this season, tying him up until the end of 2023, and will soon enter negotiations with North Queensland over a longer deal.

The Cairns product will have no shortage of suitors, but insists his priority is to remain in Townsville despite plans to gauge interest from rival clubs.

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Rivals are preparing multi-million dollar offers to snare Jeremiah Nanai for the 2024 season. Picture: Getty Images.

“My contract was about to end so I wanted to get something sorted out for next year so just did the one-year deal,” Nanai said.

“I would love to stay here long-term. When it comes November 1, we can negotiate with the Cowboys and look to stay longer.

“It would definitely be hard to leave. The Cows have been good to me. They have been a good club for myself.

“I’ve got family close by, just four hours away. The missus is here too. It would be hard to make a move somewhere else, especially to a big city.

“I’ll leave it to November 1. I just want to focus on the Cowboys this year.”

The Cowboys have three prized backrow prospects on their books next year in Nanai, Luciano Leilua and the injured Heilum Luki.

Nanai is under contract until the end of 2023 but can field offers 2024 after November 1. Picture: Getty Images.

Nanai is rated highly by the Cowboys, but they may be unable to match big money bids from cashed-up southern rivals and are relying on a strong club environment to help them retain Nanai.

“If there is going to be a club that comes up with a long-term offer worth $1 million bucks a year, it will be difficult to keep him,” Cowboys football chief Micheal Luck said.

“But Jeremiah has put some roots down on and off the field here and I would like to think he is a big part of what we are trying to build over the next few years.

“Without having any formal discussions with his management as yet, we’d like to think we can put forward a competitive offer.

“Both parties were happy with the one year extension so we could get a better gauge of how quickly he had come on. He has done really well and exceeded everyone’s expectations with what he has done on the field.

“I don’t think he can play the type of footy he is if he wasn’t happy. This club was built for North Queensland players to represent their home region in the NRL without having to travel too far from where they were brought up.

“Jeremiah has been in Cairns since his pre-teen years and we would like to think he will want to stay here for a long time to come yet.”

PANTHERS TARGET NEW CLEARY UNDERSTUDY

—James Phelps

The Panthers are set to make a shock recruitment play with the club expressing interest in signing Jock Madden as Nathan Cleary’s understudy.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal the Panthers have begun talks with Madden and are hoping to lure him to Penrith as Sean O’Sullivan’s replacement.

It is understood Madden will seriously consider the approach and may shun the Tigers to sign a 12-month deal to play under Ivan Cleary at the Panthers.

“We are in the market for someone to do Sean O’Sullivan’s role next year,” Cleary said.

“I think it is a good opportunity for the right player. Sean has been able to come in and play with-out pressure and improve his game. He has earned himself a three-year deal now and I think he will go to his new club with so much more confidence than he had when he arrived.”

The Panthers have targetted Wests Tigers’ Jock Madden as the man to replace Sean O’Sullivan at the Panthers. Picture: Getty Images.

The only thing that may stop Madden from joining the Panthers is Luke Brooks.

The Daily Telegraph has been told Madden may resign with the Tigers – but only if Brooks is not at the club.

Brooks has been heavily linked to the Knights and could seek a release from the final year of his deal.

Madden would remain at the Tigers should he be offered the No.7 jersey full-time.

Set to start as halfback on Saturday when the Tigers take on the Sharks, Madden has been reluctant to talk about his future.

“I’m just worrying about my role this weekend for the team,” Madden said.

“I’m just taking it one week at a time and purely focusing on my job

“That’s my manager’s role. I’m just focused on this week and I’ll leave the off-field stuff to my manager.”

REYNOLDS OPENS UP ON SHOCK DOGS COMEBACK

—David Riccio

Josh Reynolds has declared he would “100 per cent love to” finish his playing career at Canterbury, but added he hadn’t been offered a deal at this stage.

One of the Bulldogs favourites sons, the 33-year-old made his NRL debut with the Dogs in 2011 and spent seven seasons at Belmore.

He played in the 2012 and 2014 grand finals for the club before moving to the UK in 2021 to play with Hull F.C.

Reynolds will return from the UK next week and admitted he was surprised when reports emerged last week that he was poised for a swan song season with the Dogs in 2023.

“I love the club but at the same time I’m not sure if Gus (general manager Phil Gould) has those plans but if that doesn’t work itself out, I’d still love to be at the club in some capacity,’’ Reynolds told The Big Sports Breakfast.

Josh Reynolds would love to finish his playing career at Canterbury. Picture: Getty Images

“I was actually in the gym and my phone just started going off. Notifications from my Twitter and stuff and I thought what the hell is going on.

“There were articles galore and people congratulating me and I’m getting free coffees again at Belmore — and I’m gonna take them — but it was just mental to be honest.

“I was actually a bit disappointed because it actually looks like I’ve said something but it clearly hasn’t come from me.

Josh Reynolds was susprised by reports of a shock Bulldogs swan song. Picture: Getty Images

“But look I’ll put it out there — I would 100 per cent love to go there. I’ve always said that I’d love to finish (my career) there.

“I’m coming back in the next week or so and I’m going to start having all those chats but last week was a bit of a whirlwind and it was nice to get some nice messages from people saying they’d love me back there so we’ll see how we go.”