NRL transfer news: Bulldogs veteran set for new deal; Matt Dufty meets Raiders coach Ricky Stuart
A veteran Bulldogs forward, who arrived on a train and trial contract, is set to secure a new deal at the club. Get all the latest transfer news here.
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Ava Seumanufagai is set to survive the Canterbury cull with the wrecking ball one of the few unsigned Bulldogs in line for a new deal.
The 30-year-old prop has been told he has a future at the club and is expected to be offered a new deal as soon as next week.
While another 14 Bulldogs remained unsigned beyond the end of the year, Seumanufagai has done enough to earn himself a new contract, according to sources at the club.
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Arriving on a train and trial deal at the beginning of the year after two years in the Super League, the 114kg front row forward has been one of the few Bulldogs that has been able to bend back the defensive lines of opposing teams.
The Bulldogs off-contract list includes; Dean Britt, Christian Crichton, Will Hopoate and Dylan Napa, Renouf Atoni, Sione Katoa, Tui Katoa, Lachlan Lewis, Jeremy Marshall-King, Nick Meaney, Ofahiki Ogden, Jayden Okunbor, James Roumanos and Chris Smith.
The Bulldogs have already pounced to sign a bevy of big names for next season with Matt Burton and Josh Addo-Carr headlining the recruitment coup list.
Elsewhere, Scott Sorenson is in line for a new deal with the former Shark in talks to extend his stay at Penrith. A last addition to Ivan Cleary’s 2021 squad, Sorenson has added depth to a star-studded pack that includes three State of Origin representatives.
Raiders roll out red carpet for Dufty
St George Illawarra fullback Matt Dufty travelled to Canberra on Thursday for a tour of the club’s $19m facilities and a meeting with Raiders coach Ricky Stuart.
It was a clear sign that Dufty is eyeing a switch to the Green Machine after this season.
Unwanted by the Dragons after this year, Dufty is being pursued by Canberra and the Brisbane Broncos.
Dufty and his manager, Clinton Schifcofske, were shown around Canberra’s state-of-the-art Centre of Excellence in Braddon and given a quick tour of Canberra.
Ironically, Schifcofske, who flew from Brisbane for the meeting, is a former Canberra fullback. Canberra has won just one game this season when regular fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad has been unavailable.
“Fullback is such an influential part of your team this year,” Stuart said.
“It was an initial catch-up with Matt. As a club, it’s always important for us when a player wants to come to us that he experiences our facilities and sees what Canberra is like.
“It’s great that Matt has shown that initiative with his manager, Clinton Schifcofske, who is one of Canberra’s ex-fullbacks. This all came about by Clinton speaking to me. He knows the background of Canberra and the club and he also knows what we do for our players.”
Dufty was spotted in Canberra at around 10am on Thursday. He stayed for several hours.
The Raiders hope to have a decision from Dufty as soon as possible, although management hasn’t yet started talking terms with Schifcofske or Dufty.
Other than Canberra and Brisbane, there don’t appear to be any other suitors for Dufty, who was told last week he would not be re-signed by Saints after this season. Canterbury showed some preliminary interest.
Upset Dragons fans started an online petition to retain Dufty but St George Illawarra management is sticking solid – the fullback won’t be re-signed.
Dufty has sizzling speed but some have pointed to defensive deficiencies.
Well-placed sources indicate new Broncos halfback, South Sydney’s Adam Reynolds, is extremely keen to play alongside Dufty in Brisbane from next season.
Should he sign with Canberra, there are suggestions Dufty would play fullback. Stuart would then use the utility value in Nicoll-Klokstad, who is signed until the end of 2023.
“Dufty always wants to be in the game,” NRL great Billy Slater said.
“One thing I do know is that Matt Dufty does have a future in this game and there will be a number of clubs looking at him.”
Origin star tours Cowboys facility
Penrith forward Kurt Capewell has toured North Queensland Cowboys’ $40 million state of the art facility as the Queensland utility weighs up a possible move to Townsville.
Newscorp can reveal Capewell was invited to tour the Cowboys’ centre after a training sessions with the Maroons before Game One at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Wednesday night.
Capewell has emerged as one of the hottest prospects on the open market with a number of clubs, including Brisbane, eagerly chasing the 27-year old.
It’s believed both clubs have offered Capewell a two-year deal on around $400,000 a season.
Capewell’s contract with ladder leaders Penrith is worth around $380,000 a season.
Premiership favourites the Panthers are keen to keep the backrower but with the club is in a battle to retain and upgrade a number of stars, meaning Capewell is likely to be squeezed out of the foot of the mountains.
Capewell said he would look to finalise his NRL future after this year’s Origin series as he focuses on game two at Suncorp Stadium, as the Maroons looks to equalise the series.
“My manager is doing most of that (contract negotiations) for me. I am concentrating on trying to win games with Penrith,” he said in the lead up to Queensland’s 50-6 loss on Wednesday night.
“We have a pretty good winning streak at the moment. I have not focused on that stuff too much.
“I am not in a massive rush to get anything done. I just want to get through this Origin period and keep playing good footy.”
Capewell admits it would be difficult to walk away from a Penrith side motivated for a premiership after last year’s grand-final loss to Melbourne.
“It’s awesome being at Penrith,” he said. “No-one misses a beat. Everyone is really switched on and trains well.
“It is just great to be a part of a winning club.”
Leilua, DWZ in potential swap
Joey Leilua will move to second row for Western Suburbs this weekend in a positional switch that could possibly open the door for a mid-season transfer to an NRL rival.
The enigmatic centre is under contract until the end of 2022 but has been discussed as a potential makeweight in a player swap for Canterbury fullback Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.
Negotiations between the two clubs are still ongoing and a clearer picture is expected to emerge by next week as Wests Tigers close in on the Kiwi Test skipper, but if Leilua can make a good fist of his move to the back row his versatility could make him a more attractive prospect for the Bulldogs.
After bouncing between first grade and NSW Cup for much of the season as a centre, Leilua will line up at second row for Sunday’s clash with Parramatta, the first time he’s played in the forwards since 2010.
While Leilua has endured an inconsistent season he’s still a dynamic attacking player on his day and his ability to break tackles and offload could be just what the blue and whites need given their attacking struggles so far in 2021.
Leilua has two tries in seven NRL matches this season as well as two try assists, two line breaks and 16 tackle busts.
His form in reserve grade has been stronger with two tries, four try assists and three line breaks from four matches.
The former Raider is a two-time Dally M centre of the year indicated earlier this season he was keen to move to the forwards in an effort to reinvent his career.
“I played my juniors in the back row and would love a return there sometime,” Leilua told The Daily Telegraph’s Dean Ritchie.
“It’s up to my coach where I play and I have found a home in the centres but reckon I could benefit from a change of position at this time of my career.
“I like to get the ball in the hands and keep busy on the field. I like being in the action.
“I handled back row well as a young bloke and reckon I could succeed there again. I’m only 29 so I could adapt back fairly easily.”
Reece Hoffman, a highly-rated prospect who made his NRL debut last season, and Fetalaiga Pauga will be preferred at centre.
The Magpies will have a point to prove against the Eels after they were belted 40-14 by Penrith in last week’s top of the table clash at Lidcombe Oval.
It was Wests first loss since March and they’ll have their hands full against the third-placed Eels, who will once again boast the services of former Origin flyer Blake Ferguson on the right wing.
Shock suitor circling Bryce Cartwright
After bringing his NRL career back from the dead, Bryce Cartwright is keen to stay with Parramatta but St George Illawarra have kept the door open to potentially reunite the backrower with his former Penrith coach Anthony Griffin.
Cartwright has been a revelation off the bench for the Eels in 2021 after his NRL prospects looked dead in the water following an underwhelming three-season stint at the Titans.
But the 26-year old is now showing his best form since his Penrith days, when Griffin helped turn him into one of the most exciting forwards in the league.
Cartwright’s preference is to stay with the Eels and negotiations are expected to begin soon — but if a deal can’t be done, there’s a chance the Dragons could offer Cartwright a spot.
“Definitely (like to stay),” Cartwright said. “They were the only club that gave me a chance. I love it here, I love Brad (Arthur) and all the coaching staff and the whole support team. I’d definitely love to stay.
“But I just have to worry about playing good footy and that stuff works itself out. I just have to worry about improving each week and keep winning games. My manager said they’ll probably start soon. I just have to keep playing good footy and that will sort itself out.”
Cartwright has totally reinvented himself this season, becoming an interchange weapon for the blue and golds.
After his time with the Titans was cut short by injury and off-field problems, Cartwright is once again showcasing his tremendous ball skills and providing a point of difference in attack.
In nine games as an Eel he has four tries, four try assists, four line breaks and four line break assists. To compare, in 43 games with the Titans, Cartwright scored four tries and had seven try assists, one line break and 12 line break assists.
His defence has also drastically improved — he’s making 16.9 tackles per game and has slashed his average missed tackles from 2.3 to 1.1 per game.
“I’m loving it, I’m back with my family and friends and playing with a lot of boys I played with and against when I was younger,” Cartwright said.
“It’s a really familiar feeling for me and I’m comfortable where I am.
“I’m having fun out there, just doing my job. It makes it a lot easier coming off the bench after the boys have ripped in for the first 35-40 minutes. I’ve just kept it simple.”
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