NRL transfer news: Dragons chase Billy Magoulias, Jason Saab may motor to Manly
New Dragons coach Anthony Griffin has found a new piece in his roster rebuild targeting a highly regarded utility forward from the Sharks.
NRL
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Anthony Griffin is continuing his roster rebuild of the Dragons by making a play for ball-playing Cronulla forward Billy Magoulias.
Off-contract at the Sharks at the end of 2021, Magoulias has also been targeted by the Wests Tigers, but it’s Griffin who is eager to secure the former NSW under-18 and under-20s representative next season.
Unable to secure a regular starting spot at the Sharks last season with coach John Morris preferring Jack Williams and Toby Rudolf in the starting 13 jumper, Magoulias featured in just three matches in 2020.
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The skilful lock-forward who NSW coach Brad Fittler has previously singled-out as “as one of his favourite players” was granted permission in July by the Sharks to look elsewhere for next year and beyond, despite a year remaining on his contract.
Although the Dragons know Magoulias is prepared to stay at the Sharks in 2021 and work hard under Morris, the Red-V hope the lure of a two-year deal and regular NRL football is what could trigger a departure from his junior club.
Griffin sees immense value in Magoulias’ ability to play a number of positions and has encouraged Dragons management to table a two-year deal after speaking with the talented 23-year-old.
The Dragons also know that the signing of Magoulias would also act as credible cover for Saints during a period in which forward Jack de Belin’s playing future remains in limbo.
Griffin has wasted no time attempting to improve the Dragons roster ahead of his first season with the club by recruiting centre Jack Bird from the Broncos and hard-running prop Poasa Faamausili from the Roosters.
OFFICIAL: MATA’UTIA OFF TO ST HELENS
Sione Mata’utia has officially quit the Knights to take up a multi-year deal with St Helen’s.
Mata’utia has agreed to a deal to link up with former Knights coach Kristian Woolf at St Helens which would ends his seven-year stint at the club. A one-time captain of the Knights, Mata’utia is just 24 despite already playing 124 top-grade games.
He is the youngest player to represent the Kangaroos after making his Test debut at 18 and 129 days after just seven NRL matches.
Mata’utia played his first finals game this year.
SAAB EYES RELEASE TO JOIN SYDNEY RIVAL
Wests Tigers will meet with Josh Addo-Carr’s agent on Thursday to try sort out one way or another if the flying NSW winger will be at the Tigers in 2021.
Addo-Carr has told his manager Mario Tartak that he just wants to get through Wednesday night’s State of Origin II in Sydney before making a final decision on where he will be playing next season.
Tartak also has a meeting with new St George Illawarra coach Anthony Griffin set down for Tuesday to try and negotiate a release for young winger Jason Saab to hopefully join Manly before pre-season training starts back next week.
Meanwhile, it is understood Addo-Carr has told Tartak that he wants to know where he will be playing next year before next Wednesday’s Origin decider.
It gives the Tigers one last crack at landing the player now rated the world’s best winger, but it must be said their chances don’t look too crash hot going into the meeting.
Addo-Carr has already committed to a heads of agreement with the Tigers that if he comes to Sydney next year it will be to play under Michael Maguire.
But there is an increasing likelihood Addo-Carr will stay at Melbourne to see out the final year of his existing contract.
That would then allow him to open negotiations with rival clubs for 2022 and beyond immediately after Origin is finished.
Understandably, other clubs are already circling given the recent speculation that Addo-Carr may be having cold feet about joining the Tigers.
The Tigers’ reluctance to cut a deal with the Storm so far and hand over either Tommy Talau or David Nofoaluma certainly hasn’t helped their case.
Melbourne is also now in deep negotiations with Canterbury’s Reimis Smith for next season but that doesn’t necessarily mean Addo-Carr can’t stay.
The Bulldogs are one of several clubs who would be interested in signing Addo-Carr for 2022 and beyond.
Meanwhile, Tartak has set up a meeting with Griffin on Tuesday to try and sort out Saab’s future.
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The young winger has made it clear that he wants out of the Dragons to join Manly next season but until now Griffin has been reluctant to release him.
Saab came out recently and accused the Dragons of back flipping on an agreement to release following Griffin’s appointment.
But it appears the Dragons might be now ready to cut a deal so that Saab can start back for pre-season with a new club on the northern beaches.