NRL transfer news: Wayne Bennett rules out poaching Brandon Smith, confirms move for Euan Aitken, Damien Cook to leave Rabbitohs for Dragons in 2025,
Wayne Bennett has ruled out a move for Brandon Smith to the Bunnies as a replacement hooker for Damien Cook, but confirmed another player that is set to join him at Redfern. MARKET WATCH.
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Wayne Bennett has ruled out another poaching bid for Brandon Smith as the South Sydney-bound super coach confirmed Dolphins utility Euan Aitken is set to follow him to Redfern.
Already bitten once by Smith, Bennett is twice shy, with the Dolphins mentor declaring the Kiwi Test star is “too expensive” amid reports linking the troubled hooker with a move from the Roosters to South Sydney.
Smith was on the verge of becoming the Dolphins’ marquee signing two years ago. He toured Redcliffe’s facilities and had given Bennett a verbal indication he was keen to join the NRL’s expansion newcomers, only for Smith to sensationally backflip and ink a deal with the Roosters.
The Rabbitohs are on the hunt for a topline hooker following Damien Cook’s impending departure to the Dragons, but Bennett says he won’t risk being burnt again by the enigmatic Smith.
Smith is on around $900,000 at the Roosters and insists he is committed to his deal, which expires at the end of next year, despite his recent dramas at Bondi.
Asked if enjoyed watching Smith play and would consider luring him to Souths, Bennett said: “I do enjoy watching him play.
“He was nearly here (the Dolphins) but he changed his mind and didn’t come.
“He would be too expensive for South Sydney, too expensive.”
Bennett, meanwhile, confirmed Aitken is going from Redcliffe to Redfern with the 29-year-old veteran to continue his 190-game NRL career at the Rabbitohs.
“I understand that, yes,” Bennett said when asked if Souths have signed Aitken.
“I haven’t been told that officially, but I do understand that’s what’s going to happen.”
South Sydney have progressed talks with Aitken while they continue to pursue Royce Hunt from Cronulla.
Jack de Belin had been linked with South Sydney but it is understood that move is now unlikely.
Aitken has been a mainstay under Bennett since joining the Dolphins next season and offers versatility to the Rabbitohs squad. They also added English halfback Lewis Dodd prior to Bennett’s announcement as coach.
Bennett will monitor the form of Tevita Pangai Jr at the Dolphins before deciding if he will offer the former NSW Origin forward a contract at the Rabbitohs next year.
A host of South Sydney players are continuing to play for their futures. The likes of Isaiah Taas, Izaac Thompson, Leon Te Hau, Michael Chee Kam, Shaquai Mitchell and Taane Milne are off-contract.
The Rabbitohs have put in a two-year offer to retain the brother of Latrell Mitchell and have been in talks to keep Taas despite the outside back likely to miss the rest of the season through injury.
Back-up halfback Dean Hawkins has been told he won’t be offered a full-time deal next year while Lachie Ilias remains contracted despite being told he is free to leave the club.
Despite attracting interest from elsewhere, Ilias is yet to land a new deal.
-Peter Badel, Michael Carayannis
COOK TO RETURN TO DRAGONS
Damien Cook will have a St George Illawarra homecoming next season with the veteran hooker set to join the club on a two year deal.
Cook will link up with the Dragons next season despite having 12 months left on his South Sydney contract.
The 32-year-old made his NRL debut at the Dragons where he played two games in 2013 before joining the Bulldogs.
Bennett spoke with Cook in recent weeks and told the 32-year-old that he was free to leave the club at season’s end.
He is the second big name given permission to leave the Rabbitohs with Lachie Ilias also on the lookout for a new club.
Jack Bird will also remain at the Dragons for another 12 months.
Bird has taken up his side of an option to remain at St George Illawarra after the Dragons decided against taking up the deal from their end. Under the contract either party had a chance to take up the contract for another 12 months on differing values.
Bird had until June 30 but has decided to take up the deal now to guarantee his future.
The utility is expected to be right to return to the NRL next week having missed recent weeks through injury. He will be joined by Cook at the Dragons next year after the former NSW and Australian hooker was granted an early release from the final year of his contract.
—Michael Carayannis
BENNETT CLOSES IN ON FIRST BUNNIES SIGNING
Euan Aitken is set to be Wayne Bennett’s first South Sydney signing with the utility expected to follow Bennett from the Dolphins next season.
South Sydney have progressed talks with Aitken while they continue to pursue Royce Hunt from Cronulla. Jack de Belin had been linked with South Sydney but it is understood that move is now unlikely.
Aitken, 29, has been a mainstay under Bennett since joining the Dolphins next season and offers versatility to the Rabbitohs squad. They also added English halfback Lewis Dodd prior to Bennett’s announcement as coach.
Bennett will monitor the form of Tevita Pangai Jnr at the Dolphins before deciding if he will offer the former NSW forward a contract at the Rabbitohs next year.
A host of South Sydney players are continuing to play for their futures. The likes of Isaiah Tass, Izaac Thompson, Leon Te Hau, Michael Chee Kam, Shaquai Mitchell and Taane Milne are off-contract.
The Rabbitohs have put in a two-year offer to retain Mitchell and have been in talks to keep Taas despite the outside back likely to miss the rest of the season through injury.
Back-up halfback Dean Hawkins has been told he won’t be offered a full-time deal next year while Lachie Ilias remains contracted despite being told he is free to leave the club.
Despite attracting interest from elsewhere, Ilias is yet to land a new deal.
HOW TIGERS SIGNED COMEBACK STAR IN ONE DAY
—David Riccio, Brent Read
It took Adam Doueihi 14-months to get back onto a rugby league field.
Yet it took the Wests Tigers talent just one day to negotiate a new contract.
Doueihi, who made a successful return from his third ACL knee injury last weekend in NSW Cup, has signed until the end of next season as he backs himself to rediscover his best form over the next 12 months.
Such was the promise in Doueihi’s comeback match at halfback in the NSW Cup, Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson phoned the 25-year-old with a question on Tuesday.
“Richo called me yesterday and said, do you want to get a contract done?,’’ Doueihi, one of few NRL players without a manager, said.
“We settled on the terms there and then on the phone and he said can you come and sign the papers tomorrow (Wednesday)? “That was it. It was all done in one day.’’
Doueihi said head coach Benji Marshall made a point of telling the playmaker that his leadership for the club was crucial to their pursuit of climbing out of the competition cellar.
“Benji gave me a call last night and told me he was happy with the way I have trained the last 12-months,’’ Doueihi said.
“He spoke to me about my leadership skills and how that has grown and how he loves having me around the group.
“I wanted to back myself and this contract allows me some stability to focus on just playing good football and being a good teammate.’’
Richardson added: “It’s been a very long road back from injury for Adam and it was so pleasing to see him out there last weekend.
“He is a tremendously talented footballer whose resilience and mental toughness cannot be questioned. And more importantly, he is a very good person.”
Doueihi insists his best football is in front of him as he aims to play another NSW Cup game on Sunday.
“I’m still only 25 and I know my best years are ahead of me,” he said.
“I’ll be working as hard as I can over the rest of this season and next season and I’m excited about the years ahead.”
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