NRL transfer news 2024: Jordan Rapana signs with Hull FC, Eels re-sign J’maine Hopgood, Toby Sexton-Bulldogs contract talks on hold
Fan-favourite Jordan Rapana will play his final games in the lime green this season after signing with the English Super League. Plus, incoming Eels coach Jason Ryles has received a massive boost for his Parramatta rebuild. See the latest transfer news.
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Canberra stalwart Jordan Rapana has played his final season with the Raiders after agreeing to a multi-year deal in England.
Rapana informed coach Ricky Stuart and teammates of his decision to join English Super League side Hull FC on a two year deal from 2025 on Friday.
It’s understood Canberra had tabled the 35-year old winger a one-year extension to remain in the nation’s capital until the end of season 2025.
But Rapana, who joined the Raiders from the Gold Coast in 2013, has opted to join newly appointed head coach John Cartwright at Hull FC instead.
The 218 NRL game veteran also had a two-year deal on the table to join Brad Arthur at the Leeds Rhinos.
Canberra has been looking to the future in the outside backs, already locking in the likes of highly regarded rookie Chevy Stewart (2026), Matt Timoko (2026) and Seb Kris (2027). Xavier Savage and Albert Hopoate are contracted until the end of 2025, and hit the open market on November 1.
The Raiders will also farewell English forward Elliott Whitehead at season’s end after he too called time on his NRL career to join Catalans Dragons in the Super League next year.
Aidan Sezer could be joining Rapana at Hull FC after the Wests Tigers halfback was linked with a move back to England in recent days.
The former Raiders’ No.7 returned to Australia after stints with Huddersfield and Leeds in England to take up a one-year deal with a mutual option for 2025.
Eels re-sign J’maine Hopgood
Incoming Parramatta coach Jason Ryles has been given a huge vote of confidence with Queensland star J’maine Hopgood inking a long-term extension with the club before the November 1 trade window opens.
Hopgood has added two more years to his contract which will now expired at the end of the 2027 season.
“I love this club and I appreciate the opportunities the Eels have given me,” Hopgood said. “I can’t wait to put the jersey back on and represent the Blue and Gold.
“Feel like I still have so much more to give, I’m committed to this team and to this club and I’m excited about the future.
So impressive has the 25-year-old been since arriving from Penrith last year that this is already his second contract extension. He joined the club last year on a two-year contract but had that deal extended by one season in May last year.
Hopgood made his Origin debut this year but underwent back surgery which has limited him to just 12 games for the Eels this year.
Parramatta head of football Mark O’Neill said Hopgood was a vital long-term member of the club.
“We all value J’maine as a player and as a person, he’s a popular teammate and has been one of our most consistent players since joining the Eels last year,” O’Neill said. “We are thrilled he has committed to our club, we know what he is capable of and look forward to seeing him reach new heights with us over the coming years.”
The Eels have a host of players ready to hit the market come November 1. The likes of Brendan Hands, Bryce Cartwright, Clint Gutherson, Joe Ofahengaue, Kelma Tuilagi and Sean Russell will be free to talk to rival clubs in November.
Parramatta recently re-signed outside back Bailey Simonsson until the end of 2027 while impressive Penrith fullback Isaiah Iongi has also signed on for the next three years.
—Michael Carayannis
SEXTON IN NO RUSH AS NOVEMBER 1 DEADLINE LOOMS
—Fatima Kdouh
Toby Sexton will hit the open market in just two months but the rejuvenated Canterbury halfback is in no rush to begin extension talks with the Belmore club.
Sexton is signed until the end of 2025 but is free to field offers from NRL rivals on November 1.
While the playmaker indicated a desire to remain at the Bulldogs, Sexton’s stocks have risen dramatically in recent months.
“No talks at the moment,” Sexton said.
“I’ll leave that up to my manager. My job is to play footy so I’ll just continue to focus on that.
Since Sexton was recalled into the NRL side from NSW Cup in round 12, the Bulldogs have won 10 games with the 23-year-old guiding the side around the park.
His resurgent form for Canterbury, which has helped the Bulldogs secure a finals berth for the first time since 2016, will no doubt attract the attention of rivals outfits if the Belmore club can’t agree to terms before the November 1 deadline.
Sexton, a much-hyped halves prospect coming through the ranks, arrived at Belmore as a mid-season transfer from the Gold Coast in 2023 after struggling to hold down a starting spot in the Titans’ spine.
Sexton feared a similar fate at Canterbury after coach Cameron Ciraldo’s pre-season recruitment spree beefed up playmaking stocks with the likes of Drew Hutchison, Blake Taaffe and Connor Tracey.
Ciraldo favoured Hutchison over Sexton as Matt Burton’s halves partner to start the season, leaving the Queenslander to ply his trade in NSW Cup.
“It’s normal to have worries. In a situation like that, it was a difficult time. You train all pre-season to be the starting No.7 in round one, for that not to happen it was challenging,” Sexton said.
“He (Ciraldo) made it clear when I got back (into NRL) that none of that was to change. Along the way, I’ve been able to understand how the boys want to play and it’s been going on a massive up since then.”
Sexton’s new-found confidence in his game will be put to the ultimate test on Friday night when he comes up against veteran Manly halfback Daly Cherry-Evans.
Sexton admits to being “mesmerised” by Cherry-Evans as a teenager coming through in Queensland but won’t be showing his Maroons hero too much respect at Accor Stadium.
“Yeah, 100 per cent,” Sexton said about wanting to get one over the veteran halfback.
“I’m a mad Queenslander as well, to sit back and what he’s been able to do in the Origin arena. You are mesmerised by it.
“It’s a cool opportunity to play against him this week, I’ll be definitely soaking it up.”
While Cherry-Evans might have been Sexton’s childhood hero, the rising halfback has found a new inspiration in Bulldogs’ attack coach Jason Taylor.
Sexton revealed a truth session about five-weeks ago with Taylor has been the catalyst in a rejuvenated Bulldogs attack, that has averaged 31 points per game since round 21.
“The level of detail he goes through to give us every opportunity to execute our plays, how we can pick teams apart, is beyond anything I have ever experienced before,” Sexton said.
“I’ve been able to form a good relationship with him. He’s an old halfback which makes it a lot better as well.
“Five weeks ago, we had some conversations about our attack and it wasn’t where it needed to be.
“We focused a lot on our defence, rightly so given where we were last year. But if we were going to go to the next level in this competition our attack needed to improve.”
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