Sport Confidential: Roosters extend Rex Bassingthwaighte deal, NRL close in on club licence agreement
The Sydney Roosters have locked down a budding teenage superstar as the NRL celebrates a landmark licencing agreement with all 17 clubs. See the full SPORT CONFIDENTIAL.
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One of rugby’s brightest prospects has emerged as James Tedesco’s likely successor at the Roosters with teenage prodigy Rex Bassingthwaighte inking a long-term deal to play rugby league.
Australian rugby had hoped to keep Bassingthwaighte but it is understood he has signed a long deal with the Roosters until at least the end of 2028.
Roosters officials believe he can be the long-term successor to Tedesco. Tedesco has one year left on his contract with the Roosters and the club are keen to extend their skipper out until 2026.
Bassingthwaighte was part of Rugby Australia’s long-term plans after scoring Australia’s first try in their under-18’s win against New Zealand Schools 38-31 earlier this month.
Two years ago the Dubbo product scored two tries for the Australian under 16s rugby side against the Pacific All Stars.
Since then he has played Harold Matthews for the Roosters and has dominated in the GPS school system with Shore.
It is another blow for Australian rugby after his Australian under-18s teammate Heamasi Makasini signed a long-term deal with the Tigers. The next player to watch is Penrith junior Heinz Lemoto who is also at the centre of a cross-code tug of war.
PNG EXPANSION UPDATE
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his PNG counterpart James Marape are spending the weekend in Samoa as part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
Expect NRL expansion to come about at some point should the two get a spare moment together. While the WA bid is in turmoil there is little doubt of the NRL’s plans to press ahead with PNG.
The latest tip is that they will announce PNG to come into the competition in 2028 even if the NRL is yet to decide on what to do with Perth.
The respective governments would like to make a formal announcement by the end of next month.
CRISIS AVERTED AS NRL SHUTS DOWN BREAKAWAY THREAT
The NRL is on the verge of a landmark agreement with its 17 clubs that will guarantee their future in the competition and kill off any veiled threat of a breakaway competition for at least the next decade.
The NRL has been locked in talks for more than a year with the clubs over extending their existing licensing agreements, which are due to expire in just over a week.
It is understood they have now brokered an agreement which will guarantee them a place in the premiership for a further 10 years and give them increased sway when it comes to expansion and broadcast negotiations.
While the clubs won’t have veto rights over adding new teams or locking in fresh broadcast agreements, they will form part of an advisory group that will be kept abreast of talks with the television networks.
The existing broadcast deals are due to expire at the end of 2027 but it is understood if the NRL hasn’t already reached out to broadcasters, the day is fast approaching.
The clubs previously had no influence on broadcast negotiations but it is understood a hand-picked group of club chairs will be kept up to date on the talks by head office.
The new agreements shape as the most significant in the game’s history. The previous agreements ran out last year but after the clubs failed to reach an agreement with the NRL on long term deals, they agreed to roll the expired agreements over for 12 months.
The new deals mean the clubs have secured their futures as long as they remain solvent and continue to pay their bills. That shouldn’t be a problem given they currently receive of grant of more than $17 million from head office, with that future to increase significantly in coming years.
It is understood each club will receive as much as $4 million in a one-off payment in return for adding an 18th team, potentially as early as 2027.
Expansion has been one of the game’s hot topics amid concern in clubland over the lack of clarity from the NRL about the potential addition of teams from Perth and PNG.
That is set to change under the new arrangement as an advisory group of chairs are kept abreast of expansion developments.
WORDS LAURIE DALEY CAN’T SAY FOR NSW BLUES GIG
Laurie Daley’s hopes of a Blues coaching recall could hinge on how the NRL views his deal with the TAB as the NSW Rugby League prepares to discuss the position at a board meeting on Friday morning.
Daley is considered one of the frontrunners to take over from Michael Maguire at the helm of the Blues next season but his contract with the wagering giant shapes as a significant impediment to a State of Origin return.
The NRL has previously blocked Daley returning to the coaching ranks due to his work with the TAB, where he hosts a breakfast show on Sky Sports Radio with former Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke.
Sky Sports Radio is owned by TAB. Daley was forced to turn his back on a job with Manly two years ago after head office raised concerns over a potential conflict of interest.
History suggests the NRL will rule the same way with the Blues job, although it is understood they will reserve their judgment until an official request is made.
The Blues aren’t at that point yet – they will edge closer to a decision when the board meets on Friday to formally discuss Maguire’s replacement for the first time.
Daley coached the Blues over five series at the height of the Maroons’ dynasty, winning on one occasion. The Blues will consider a host of candidates ahead of making their decision. Daley remains in the mix as will Maguire’s 2024 Origin assistants in Brett White and Max King.
Former Blues hooker Mick Ennis has support while other former NSW players Ben Hornby and Dean Young should be considered.
Trent Barrett and Paul McGregor are also expected to put their hands up for the job.
PANTHERS EXTEND GF HERO
Penrith centre Paul Alamoti has been rewarded for his starring role in the club’s fourth consecutive premiership with a new deal that will keep him at the club until the end of 2027.
Alamoti, currently in camp with the Tongan side at the Pacific Championships, has signed a fresh extension, having found a permanent home in the side following the departure of Taylan May.
The 20-year-old was earmarked as a future star at the Bulldogs but moved to Penrith at the start of the year and went on to play 16 games, including their grand final win over Melbourne.
After arriving at Penrith on a cut-price one-year deal, he signed a one-year extension in March and he has now secured a further two years at the club.
“He has taken every opportunity presented to him, and we are excited to see what the future holds for him with the Panthers,” Penrith General Manager of Football Shane Elford said.
“We’re pleased to have Paul commit to Panthers until the end of 2027.
“Paul is an exceptionally talented and respectful young man, both on and off the field.”
Meanwhile, the Knights have re-signed back rower Brodie Jones for a further season.
Newcastle director of football Peter Parr said Jones re-signing is a reward for consistency.
“Brodie has become a consistent NRL player over the past few years,” Parr said.
“He has a tremendous work ethic and in recent times has shown a genuine ability to come up with big plays at crucial moments. We look forward to him improving even further and the club is grateful he has chosen to continue his career with the Knights.”
FLASHBACK
Michael Clarke created headlines on this day 20 years ago. Darren Lehmann volunteered to step down from his spot in the batting order to accommodate Clarke after skipper Ricky Ponting was coming back from injury.
TEAMMATES GO HEAD-TO-HEAD
Penrith teammates James Fisher-Harris and Isaah Yeo will share the rare honour of captaining their respective nations against each other on Sunday.
It is the first time since Gary Freeman and Brad Fittler in 1995 that the Panthers have had the Australian and Kiwi Test captain face each other.
Former Storm duo Cameron Smith and Jesse Bromwich were the last to do it in 2017.
ANOTHER PANTHER JOINS THE BULLDOGS
A decade ago they were teammates in reserve grade at Penrith – now Cameron Ciraldo and Liam Ayoub are set to join forces at the Bulldogs as they look to end the club’s premiership drought
Ayoub is set to return to clubland on November 1 as he joins the ‘Dogs recruitment team and works alongside Ciraldo and head of football Phil Gould.
Ayoub and Ciraldo know each other well, After their playing careers came to an end, Ciraldo started his coaching journey at Penrith and Ayoub transitioned to the club’s high performance unit.
In recent years, Ayoub has been working as a player manager alongside his father Sam, where he has helped guide the careers of the likes of Brian To’o, Izack Tago, Su’A Faalogo, Isaiya Katoa and Bulldogs captain Steve Crichton.
He now gets the chance to put his eagle eye to the test at the ‘Dogs as they continue their resurgence under Gould and Ciraldo.
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