NRL Market Watch: Broncos swoop on Tigers halfback Jock Madden, Dolphins target Herman Ese’ese
The Broncos have slipped under the radar to sign a promising young playmaker, while the Dolphins have a Titans big man in their crosshairs.
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The Broncos have bolstered their playmaking stocks to support skipper Adam Reynolds by signing promising Wests Tigers halfback Jock Madden.
News Corp can reveal the off-contract Madden has agreed terms on a two-year deal with the Broncos after months of dithering from the Tigers over whether to retain the promising playmaker for next season.
Madden’s preference was to stay at the Tigers on the proviso he got first crack at the No.7 jumper, but with Wests committed to a $1 million deal for maligned halfback Luke Brooks, the 22-year-old went to the open market.
The former Australian Schoolboy was linked with the Dolphins, Newcastle and Gold Coast, while the Panthers held talks with Madden as a possible understudy for Panthers champion Nathan Cleary.
But the Broncos have come from the clouds to win the signature of Madden, who played 14 games this season and 17 NRL matches overall since his Wests Tigers debut last year.
The Broncos have lost five-eighth Tyson Gamble to the Knights and Madden will give Brisbane some depth at the scrumbase with his competitiveness, clever kicking game and playmaking vision.
Brisbane coach Kevin Walters is set to show faith in 19-year-old five-eighth Ezra Mam to partner veteran halfback Reynolds as his first-choice halves next season, but the highly-rated Madden is another option.
With the 32-year-old Reynolds likely to retire at the end of 2024, Madden will back himself to be Brisbane’s next long-term halfback.
Madden was outstanding against the Broncos earlier this season, playing a starring role in the Tigers’ 32-18 boilover in round 20 at Suncorp Stadium which kickstarted Brisbane’s shock slide from finals contention.
Last month, Madden’s manager Chris Orr said the rising playmaker was open to changing clubs if the Tigers would not come to the party with an upgraded deal.
“He would certainly consider a move to Queensland,” said Orr of Pacific Sports Management.
“Jock just needs a team to give him the No.7 jersey. Now whether that’s going to be the Wests Tigers in due course or someone else, he needs a chance to be the seven and run a team. That’s what he wants to do.
“He was a halfback for the Australian Schoolboys with (Matt) Burton in the halves. He was the NSW under-20s halfback, he was a premiership halfback in the lower grades. He has gotten some opportunities at five-eighth with the Wests Tigers but he would love a chance to be a No.7 in the NRL.
“Do they see him as a fill-in at halfback or do they see him as the long-term solution at No.7?
“If that’s not the case, then Jock will be looking at his options to further his NRL career.”
Dolphins caught in another bidding war
-Peter Badel, Travis Meyn
Former Bronco Herman Ese’ese is at the centre of a Queensland expansion tug-of-war with Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins circling the Titans prop.
News Corp can reveal Ese’ese’s management has met with Dolphins hierarchy as the NRL’s 17th team look to continue their raid on the Titans after snaring former Queensland Origin prop Jarrod Wallace earlier this season.
Ese’ese, who turned 28 on Wednesday, remains off-contract and the Titans are desperately trying to offload another player from their full-time roster in a bid to retain the one-time New Zealand Test forward.
But Ese’ese is seriously considering defecting to the Dolphins, who have 10 full-time positions on their inaugural roster left to fill before the launch of their maiden pre-season in November.
Ese’ese was on $350,000 at the Titans this season and it is understood he would face a pay cut to join the Dolphins, who have outlaid more than $2 million to secure big-name forward trio Jesse and Kenny Bromwich and Felise Kaufusi from Melbourne.
The Dolphins have constructed a handy middle rotation led by Jesse Bromwich, Mark Nicholls, Wallace and Queensland Origin rookie Tom Gilbert and they view Ese’ese as a handy back-up prop off interchange.
The hulking 118kg Ese’ese caught the eye with some bullocking performances for the Broncos in 2016-17, leading to his selection for Samoa at the 2017 World Cup before his Test debut for the Kiwis the following year.
After a three-season stint at Newcastle, Ese’ese joined the Titans last year and has struggled to crack Gold Coast’s starting side on a regular basis due to injury and fitness issues.
But after producing a strong finish at the back of this season, the hard-running bookend piqued the interest of the Dolphins at a time when the Titans were exploring ways to keep Ese’ese under the salary cap.
A veteran of 109 NRL games, Ese’ese is leaning towards joining the Dolphins and is tipped to make a definitive call within the week.
Pressure point: Lodge facing salary cap squeeze
By Fatima Kdouh
Matt Lodge already feels at home in Bondi but the powerhouse prop knows salary cap pressures at the Sydney Roosters could squeeze him out of the club.
Lodge has played a key role in the Roosters’ resurgence since arriving on a short-term deal in late June. But the Tricolours are expected to face salary cap pressures next season with seven players, including James Tedesco and Luke Keary, in the NRL’s 100 highest-paid players.
Melbourne’s Brandon Smith, who is reportedly set to earn up to $800,000 per season, will be added to that list next year. While halfback Sam Walker, who can field offers from November 1, is in line for an upgraded deal.
“Obviously every team plans their salary cap ahead and I was probably you know … no one knew I was gonna end up here or fit in so I’m not sure that they planned for it,” Lodge said.
“But hopefully, some room comes it’s a good club. So I‘m not a rush.
“I haven’t sorted out anything yet. So I’ll just keep playing hard and hopefully find a way in the squad.”
It’s believed the Roosters are confident of retaining Lodge but a deal is unlikely to be struck until the salary cap for next season is determined as part of the new collective bargaining agreement.
Lodge was sacked by Wests Tigers in 2015 after he was charged with assault following a late night incident in New York. After spending time in the Queensland Cup with Redcliffe, Lodge signed an NRL deal with Brisbane in 2018 before leaving mid-season in 2021 to join New Zealand.
After a fallout with Warriors owner Mark Robinson, Lodge quit the club with a $700,000 handshake without a deal line-up elsewhere.
“I don‘t like the perception that I left somewhere … or culture stuff (was the issue) because I don’t think it’s true,” Lodge said. “And yeah, I would have rather not played at that point than play for somewhere that I knew wasn’t going to be good for me.”
The 27-year old said he did not want to be known for not being able to hold down a regular NRL spot after two contract releases in 12 months.
“I don‘t like bouncing around to clubs,” Lodge said. “I actually did a full five-year stint at Broncos, then went to the Warriors and it didn’t work out so I moved quickly.
“But I don’t like bouncing around and that’s why when I quit there I didn’t know to organise a deal that matched up or take the first thing possible because I didn’t want to just go somewhere then go down again.”
Lodge revealed his regret at not taking up the chance to join the Roosters on a number of occasions during his NRL career.
He opted to join Melbourne right out of high school instead of moving to Bondi and then signed with Brisbane rather than the Roosters after the New York incident.
“I think it’s probably been four or five years in the making coming here,” he said. “Every time I was off-contract I would tell (my manager) to ring them (Roosters) and see if they were keen.
“I just always had that regret about not coming here. I’ve been always trying to come here and it finally happened.”
Clune rejects switch to Super League
-Paul Crawley
Knights halfback Adam Clune has knocked back an approach from Warrington to move to the Super League.
It comes as speculation mounts fellow Knights playmaker Jake Clifford won’t be at the club next year. Clifford started this season with a bang in the opening rounds but has fallen out of favour with coach Adam O’Brien.
Even though Clifford still has a year to run on a contract reportedly worth $450,000, the mail is both parties would be willing to cut ties if Clifford can find a new club.
Clifford, 24, has long been regarded as one of the most naturally gifted young halves in the game, but his career is reaching the crossroads given he is yet to realise his full potential.
He had some well-publicised personal issues this season that at one point led to him being left out of the NRL team.
The Knights have signed Tyson Gamble from the Broncos for next season to cover the loss of Anthony Milford, and the club continues to chase a top halfback. It’s no secret they want Luke Brooks but Wests Tigers have repeatedly said Brooks will not be released.
Clune is thought to be on considerably less money than Clifford, so even if the Knights sign another halfback on big money, Clune’s wage would not be as big a salary cap burden as Clifford if he was forced back to NSW Cup.
Though it is still a worrying situation for the club to be in after such a disappointing season.
Brooks bombshell: Tigers reveal contract negotiations
-Dean Ritchie
Wests Tigers have started preliminary discussions to extend the contract of Luke Brooks - a move which could keep the halfback at Concord for the rest of his playing career.
The Daily Telegraph was told Newcastle was zeroing in on Brooks again but the speculation was quickly denied by Wests Tigers management.
One source close to Newcastle felt Brooks was a “99 per cent” chance of being at the Knights next season.
Wests Tigers officials scuppered the speculation before claiming the club had spoken to Brooks’ manager, Isaac Moses, about a new deal.
Club recruitment manager Warren McDonnell met with Moses on Monday.
“We are looking at the future and are talking about numerous options and we broached the subject with his management,” McDonnell said.
“But that’s all – broached the subject. He’s not off contract until the end of next year. We are in discussions with numerous players coming off contract after next year and we are only in the early stages of discussions (with Brooks).
“Luke is one of the players whose manager we have spoken to but we haven’t put an offer to him and we won’t in the short-term.”
Brooks has told friends he is keen to work under the club’s newest coaching staff of Tim Sheens, Benji Marshall, Robbie Farah and David Furner.
Contract extension discussions were brief and no money was lodged.
Brooks was at the club’s Centre of Excellence on Wednesday and has already held meetings about next season with club director of football, Tim Sheens.
Even after being told Wests Tigers wanted to retain Brooks, sources close to Newcastle believed the halfback would be at McDonald Jones Stadium next season.
Player managers claimed Knights officials were holding meetings this week about recruitment for next season.
It seems the Knights will continue to quietly pursue Brooks.
Sheens is a known fan of Brooks, the often-maligned halfback who comes off contract after next season.
It is understood Sheens, the new head coach from 2023, and Benji Marshall, the coach from 2025, will further talks with Brooks early next season.
Brooks’ possible exit to Newcastle has created headlines for two years although the player has never sought a release, despite reports suggesting he had last off-season.
He will be 28 years old when his deal expires at Wests Tigers after next season.
While no contract extension details have been finalised, a new deal could ensure Brooks plays out his career at Concord.
One well-placed source close to Wests Tigers, when asked about Brooks joining Newcastle, said: “In all honesty, not a hope in hell. Sheens is keen on him and wants to keep him. Absolutely not.”
In April, Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis angrily hit out at the ongoing criticism of Brooks.
“If it was in an employment environment, it would be tantamount to bullying,” said Hagipantelis, the Principal of Brydens Lawyers.
“The level of focus and attention on Luke I think is unwarranted and unhealthy. We often speak about welfare issues in the game. The level of scrutiny and criticism, I think, has been excessive.”
Meanwhile Wests Tigers forward Joe Ofahengaue has claimed the Kelly-Barnes Medal after being voted the club’s 2022 NRL player of the year.
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