Canterbury closing in on Jesse Ramien, Apisai Koroisau and Herman Ese’se

Canterbury are well and truly working on their revival, closing in on three star signings, including former Newcastle flyer Jesse Ramien.

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Canterbury fans have copped more than their share of punishment these last few years. Now the cavalry is on the horizon.

Jesse Ramien’s shock exit from Newcastle has the potential to help resurrect the Bulldogs as a top eight contender, with the gun young centre a real chance of joining Manly hooker Api Koroisau and Newcastle prop Herman Ese’ese at Belmore next year.

Ramien officially became a free agent after undergoing an exit medical at the Knights, and it is understood he doesn’t want to waste any time finding a new home.

The Bulldogs are leading the chase for Ramien’s signature along with Wests Tigers, although several clubs including North Queensland and the Sydney Roosters have made inquiries to Ramien’s management.

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Ramien has had an unhappy year with Newcastle. Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images.

The Bulldogs take on Tigers today having won three of their past five games against Cronulla, Newcastle and Penrith, while the Tigers are alive in the fight for the finals but need a win to push their way back into the top eight.

The Cowboys are believed to have the most salary cap space available for Ramien but the powerhouse 22-year-old is probably more inclined to choose a Sydney club so he can stay closer to his daughter on the Central Coast.

The Bulldogs are also hopeful of signing Koroisau and Ese’ese in the coming weeks, although the New Zealand Warriors remain in the hunt for Koroisau.

Koroisau has met with both Dean Pay and Warriors coach Stephen Kearney, and is expected to make a call on his future any day after taking on the Warriors Friday night in Auckland.

The Bulldogs and Warriors are also talking to out-of-favour Newcastle dummy half Danny Levi who would be the back-up option for both clubs if they miss out on Koroisau.

The Warriors are also keen on Koroisau. AAP Image/Steve Christo.

Ese’ese is also in the final stages of securing a deal with the Bulldogs, the club he debuted for in 2015 prior to joining Brisbane.

Ese’ese left the Broncos to join the Knights on big money but the 24-year-old has struggled to get a starting spot this year.

It would be a huge boost for the Bulldogs to win the race for Ramien, Koroisau and Ese’ese to add to a squad that is playing with plenty of pride and purpose.

There has been some speculation that Ramien’s shock exit from Newcastle might have been triggered to free up salary cap space so the Knights could make a play for an even bigger prize.

This was fuelled by the Roosters making a discreet inquiry in regards to Ramien, sparking a rumour the Knights’ could potentially go after Latrell Mitchell.

Could Ese’ese return to Canterbury. AAP Image/Dan Peled.

Mitchell and Roosters centre teammate Joseph Manu both come off contract at the end of next season and will be free to negotiate with rival clubs from November 1 this year, if they haven’t already committed to the Roosters.

While Mitchell and Newcastle’s star fullback Kalyn Ponga happen to have the same player agent, The Daily Telegraph understands there is no way the Roosters would consider releasing Mitchell from the final year of his contract.

Furthermore, the Knights just don’t have the available cap space to go after him.

It is understood Manu is already working on a new deal to stay at Bondi, although negotiations with Mitchell have been put on hold until after the season.

Following all the drama that surrounded Mitchell’s future earlier in the year before State of Origin, the Roosters don’t want to allow anything to put the young star off his game in the countdown to the finals.