NRL 2024: Raiders chase cap allowance for star back rower | Sport Confidential
Canberra have approached the NRL for salary cap dispensation for Corey Harawira-Naera. See the full SPORT CONFIDENTIAL.
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Canberra have approached the NRL for salary cap dispensation for Corey Harawira-Naera as the back rower’s painstaking wait for a medical clearance enters its sixth month.
Harawira-Naera hasn’t played or trained since suffering seizures while playing against South Sydney in late-May. The New Zealand International has conducted a series of meetings with medical experts but is yet to gain a clearance to mount a comeback.
He is scheduled to hold another meeting with doctors later this month where he hopes to finally get the green light, although the Raiders have taken the precautionary step of formally applying for a cap exemption while Harawira-Naera remains on the sidelines.
The 29-year-old has two years remaining on a deal which is believed to pay him at least $600,000 a season. It means the Raiders could receive a salary cap exemption for as much as $50,000 for every month he is sidelined, strengthening their bid to sign one of the big-name back rowers who are currently on the market for 2025.
The Raiders are in the market for a strike forward and have been linked with North Queensland pair Kulikefu Finefeuiaki and Heilum Luki as well as Brisbane’s Jordan Riki.
BENJI FLIES TO MELBOURNE AS TIGERS CHASE STORM STAR
Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall has flown to Melbourne for a meeting with Storm star Justin Olam in a sign that he is seriously weighing up a move for the Papua New Guinea international.
Sport Confidential revealed last month that the Storm and Tigers had discussed a swap deal involving Olam and Tigers forward Shawn Blore.
It is understood Marshall has now held face-to-face talks with Olam as the parties mull over a move that would add starch to the Tigers backline and give Olam a chance to re-establish himself as NRL star.
Olam was out of favour in the latter stages of the year in Melbourne, although he was brought back for their finals run. Regardless, the Storm have given him permission to explore the market as they set their sights on strengthening the middle of the field.
Blore went up for grabs on November 1 when he entered the final year of his deal and it is believed he has his heart set on a move to Melbourne. He is due back at training next week and it appears highly unlikely any swap deal will be finalised before then, if at all.
Marshall is also mulling over a multimillion dollar move for Penrith superstar Jarome Luai – it is believed talks have been held but no formal offer has been made to the NSW five-eighth.
NRL CLUBS CIRCLE ENGLAND RUGBY STAR
One of the most exciting young stars in English rugby union has made it known he wants a crack at the NRL – and he could benefit from any potential war chest the game brings in.
English flyer Henry Arundell, who played at the most recent World Cup, is flirting with the prospect of making the move which could be fast-tracked as early as 2024.
Sport Confidential understands that Arundell has come onto the NRL’s radar in recent weeks after parties on behalf of the 21-year-old reached out to a host of clubs to flag the potential switch of codes.
NRL clubs are already seriously interested. It comes as NRL bosses flirt with the prospect of a massive salary cap dispensation to attract players from different codes across the world.
Arundell, an outside back, is considered one of England’s best emerging talents. He will be a free agent before the NRL’s June 30 mid-season transfer deadline once his commitments with French rugby side Racing 92 come to an end.
It is understood clubs will step up their pursuit of Arundell once he formally commits to moving to the NRL. Arundell became a free agent when his former side London Irish fell into administration in early June.
That prompted the potential move to rugby league but Arundell wanted to compete for England at the World Cup.
He only inked a short-term one-year deal with Racing 92 leaving the door wide open for a code-switch in either 2024 or 2025. He scored a treble of tries in his Racing 92 debut this week.
Arundell has also scored seven tries in 10 matches for England but played just two games at the World Cup which drew widespread criticism from English pundits.
He scored five tries in his only pool game against Chile before featuring in the third-place playoff against Argentina.
DE BELIN CHASING NEW DRAGONS DEAL
Fresh from making his international debut for PNG, Dragons forward Jack de Belin says he wants to play until his mid-30s as he chases a contract extension at St George Illawarra.
De Belin is free to talk with rival clubs but has made it clear he has no plans of pulling the pin when his rich deal expires at the end of next season.
“My body feels fantastic,” de Belin said.
“I feel like I would’ve played the whole year if I didn’t get suspended. I’m 32 but I’m a young 32 given that I haven’t had any major injuries and I missed three years.
“I’m hoping to add them at the back end of my career. I’ve got another three years in me for sure.”
BRONCOS LOCK DOWN RISING STAR
Brisbane have locked up one of the most promising back rowers in the game after Brendan Piakura agreed to stay for at least another three seasons.
The 21-year-old Piakura played 13 games last season and his signing is set to put pressure on the Broncos’ back row, where Jordan Riki and Kurt Capewell have both entered the final year of their current contracts.
Riki has no desire to leave and his manager has begun talks with the Broncos over an extension as the grand finalists look to keep him out of the clutches of their rivals.
The Broncos would also be loath to lose Capewell’s leadership and experience but those qualities make him an attractive proposition for rival clubs and he may be tempted by the opportunity to earn some big dollars elsewhere at the back end of his career.
TIGERS HUNT OVER … FOR NOW
Wests Tigers’ interest in pursuing Michael Cheika has cooled after the Argentinian mentor indicated he wanted to remain in a head coaching position.
The Tigers were keen on talking to Cheika about becoming the club’s new head of football.
However, it is now understood that Cheika is lukewarm on the idea of transitioning into an off-field role.
Regardless, do not expect the Tigers to make a move on anyone in the short-term. They talked about the head of football position at a board meeting on Monday night but have delayed any potential appointment as they wait for the outcome of an external review into the club’s governance.
The club’s 2005 premiership winner and former captain Mark O’Neill remains linked to the role. Meanwhile, Monday night’s board meeting went off without a hitch.
AUSSIE EYES BIG NAME IN BIGGEST FIGHT CARDS OF THE YEAR
World cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia is set to be part of one of the biggest fight cards of the year.
Opetaia will meet Englishman Ellis Zorro in Saudi Arabia on December 23 on a card that features former heavyweight world champions Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder and Joseph Parker.
The mega-card also includes WBA light heavyweight titleholder Dmitry Bivol as well as heavyweight contenders Filip Hrgovic, Daniel Dubois and Jarrell Miller.
After a year out of the ring, Opetaia is stepping up his activity as he looks to make up for lost time. He marked his return at the end of September with a stunning knockout of England’s Jordan Thompson.
Zorro is next on his list as he looks to make his mark on a card that will be watched by the boxing world.
Meanwhile, one of the world’s top trainers has predicted that Tim Tszyu would be cannon-fodder for American stars Terence Crawford and Errol Spence.
Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntyre, the trainer of the undefeated Crawford, told FightHype.com that Tszyu’s style would play into the hands of not just his fighter, but also Spence.
”He’ll stop Tim Tszyu – Terrence will stop Tim Tszyu and Errol will stop Tim Tszyu,” McIntyre said
“(Errol) will stop Tim Tszyu too cause he (is) a come-forward fighter, he’ll run right into Spence’s hands. Run right into his hands.
“I don’t give a damn. That’s the type of style Spence likes, you know come forward. It will make his work a lot easier, he’ll cut the job in half for Spence. That’s how I look at it. That’s my opinion ya’ll.”
Tszyu has been linked with both Crawford and Spence as he searches for an opponent to headline a fight card on the eve of the NRL’s season launch in Las Vegas next year.
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