Cronulla Sharks sign Cowboys Josh Hannay as assistant coach
The coaching circus continues, with the Sharks snapping up Josh Hannay after his exit from North Queensland.
Tigers
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Josh Hannay will make a return to the Sharks, joining the club as an assistant coach.
Hannay will be part of John Morris’ coaching staff at the club having most recently been caretaker coach at the Cowboys.
Hannay played three games for the Sharks in a controversial stint where he was relegated to park football — just a season after representing Queensland in State of Origin.
Cronulla were in deep discussions with Toronto Wolfpack coach Brian McDermott to join the club but border closures proved too problematic.
Morris is in the final year of his contract. The Sharks, who return to training next week, needed another assistant coach after Craig Sandercock joined Trent Barrett at the Bulldogs.
Cronulla will also announce the return of Darren Mooney as their head of football. Mooney had success at the club by having a strong hand in putting together their 2016 premiership roster before moving to Newcastle to help rebuild the Knights.
MATAU’UTIA OPENS UP ABOUT KNIGHTS EXIT
At an age where players are heading into their peak, 24-year-old Sione Mata’utia will walk away from the NRL next year as the youngest Kangaroo and having captained the struggling Newcastle Knights at just 21,
Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien pulled Mata’utia into his office just days after the Knights had been beaten by the Roosters 42-12 in September and told him he would struggle to keep his spot in the top 17 next season. The club could not guarantee him a long-term contract when his deal expired at the end of 2021.
“Adsy (O’Brien) was honest and I’m grateful for that,” Mata’utia. “He said he couldn’t guarantee me a contract beyond next year and with Tyson Frizell coming to the club it was going to be hard for me to find a spot in the team.
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“I thought, that’s fine I can work hard and try and force my way into the team and earn a contract.
“When I heard Adsy say those words, I was disappointed and angry but thankful he was honest. He was one of the best coaches I’ve had.”
Playing in England was Mata’utia’s first thought. Aside from briefly flirting with an idea of switching codes, he thought the Super League was his best landing spot.
“I never looked in the NRL,” Mata’utia said.
“I didn’t want to play for anyone but the Knights. It’s my version of being a one-club man.”
While St Helens is his likely destination to reunite with former Newcastle caretaker coach Kristian Woolf, Mata’utia said the move was not yet official.
He leaves the NRL playing 124 games and will remain in the record books after being one of the biggest Kangaroos selection bolters.
Mata’utia was picked for Australia after just seven NRL games and went on to play three Tests including a Four Nations final loss to the Kiwis. At 18 years and 129 days, Mata‘utia became the youngest player to represent the Kangaroos, beating Israel Folau’s record by 65 days.
“That was nuts,” Mata’utia said.
“Whether I played too early or whatever. I’m so grateful I got to do it and experience it as a young kid and go through the lessons.
“I learnt a lot about myself. Looking back on it now, I matured quick and I thought I was already a mature 18-year-old.”
Sione was the youngest of the Mata’utia brothers to play first grade and remains the last at the club. He featured alongside Pat, Chanel and Peter in the top grade. The quartet were once embroiled in a contract war for their services between the Knights and the Bulldogs before remaining in Newcastle.
“It would’ve been so cool to have all four play together,” Mata’utia said.
“We all played similar positions, which didn’t help, but I got to play first grade with every single one of my brothers and making my debut alongside Chanel was a highlight.”
Mata’utia quickly rose to become the face of the Knights battlers. He was appointed captain of a side which struggled to win a game — taking on the leadership at just 21. Mata’utia didn’t win a game in his third season of first grade.
“I was a loud talker and one of the leaders,” Mata’utia said. “I was just thankful that I was young, confident and I didn’t care what people thought.
“We were losing a lot of games and most were over at halftime but we were still energetic. What we went through was tough.
“I’d never been booed off the field before. A few times after that game I would have a cry. You were on a high during the week but you’d lose games embarrassingly sometimes.”
The Knights’ return to the finals this season gave Mata’utia his first taste of finals match in his seven-year career.
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DRAGONS DIG IN OVER RISING STAR, LATRELL LATEST
It’s the photo that should put a smile on the face of every South Sydney fan as Latrell Mitchell’s management gets ready for another round of contract talks.
After three months with no footy, Mitchell was not only in good spirits when he turned up on his day off for the Rabbitohs’ NAIDOC event this week.
But he also looked to be in terrific shape as he recovers from that shocking hamstring injury that cut short his season just when his form at fullback was really starting to take off.
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Already back doing light running and way ahead of schedule, Mitchell has been travelling down from Taree to Sydney for three days of intense rehab each week before returning home to enjoy time on his farm.
And while Mitchell’s manager Matt Rose is expected to catch up with club chief executive Blake Solly next week to continue conversations about extending his stay at Souths, right now the main focus for the man himself is just getting himself ready for the 2021 NRL season.
If all continues to go to plan, Latrell is due back at the start of December to work with the rehab group full-time.
The aim is to have him ready to join the main group when the senior players and Origin stars return along with Wayne Bennett in early January.
Souths insiders say Latrell has been really diligent with his rehab during his time in Sydney and his attitude can’t be faulted.
And he certainly doesn’t look to be carrying anywhere near the weight he was when he first arrived at the club.
If he can be back in full training come January, he should be right to go for the start of the comp.
Latrell copped plenty for the way he handled his exit from the Roosters but he has done nothing but impress since his arrival at the Rabbitohs.
Turning up on his day off to attend the club’s NAIDOC event was just another example of his willingness to help out.
Rose said given Latrell has a contract in place for 2021 there was no rush to get anything sorted out immediately on his long term future.
“This time he just wants to take his time and talk through it with Souths,” Rose said, and given the commotion that surrounded him last year that’s understandable.
“But the main thing for him right now is just having a bit of a rest and working on his rehab.”
Souths will have a group of the younger players back on Monday to kick start the pre-season with a testing week.
That will be followed by more players returning on November 30, others on December 7, and the senior group after the Christmas/New Year break.
Meanwhile, Cameron Murray also hopes to be ready for pre-season by January with an expected six-to-eight week recovery for his hamstring injury suffered in the Origin opener in Adelaide.
DRAGONS REFUSE TO BUDGE ON PLAYER TRADE DEAL
New St George Illawarra coach Anthony Griffin has drawn his first line in the sand over the developing contract stalemate with rising star Jason Saab.
Griffin met with Saab’s agent Mario Tartak during the week and made it crystal clear the talented 20-year-old will be made to honour the final two years of his contract.
That will only change if a suitable trade can be worked out in the coming weeks that does not disadvantage the Dragons.
The young winger was hoping to start pre-season training at Manly next week.
Instead Griffin expects to see Saab in Wollongong when the Dragons get back to work on Tuesday.
It’s fair to say this is still a long way from being resolved and is not unlike Josh Addo-Carr’s situation in Melbourne.
Saab, who has the same agent as Addo-Carr, has been seeking a release on compassionate grounds for some time now mainly because of the long commute from his family home in western Sydney to Wollongong.
But there is also a school of thought within the Dragons that it may also have something to do with the fact Saab could be in line for a contract upgrade at Manly given he initially signed for a very modest deal.
The Dragons had granted Saab permission to talk to other clubs but that was before Griffin arrived.
While Saab has since spoken out about how the Dragons allegedly backflipped on that agreement, the club maintains at no stage was there any guarantees unless a suitable deal could be worked out.
The player trade doesn’t necessarily have to come from Manly, or even be a like-for-like outside back replacement.
It just has to be someone that the Dragons would agree is a fair exchange for Saab’s significant talent.
Saab is a genuine contender for a starting spot on the wing in 2021 along with Jordan Pereira, Mikaele Ravalawa and young Cody Ramsey.
The Dragons’ maintain the club has done everything in its power to try and appease Saab’s personal situation and will continue to work with him and his family to give Saab the best possible welfare and support so he can get his focus back on his football.
But what they won’t be doing is caving in and releasing Saab unless it’s also in the club’s best interests.
MAROONS STAR EYES SHOCK NRL RETURN WITH BRONCOS
Former Queensland Origin star Will Chambers has made inquiries about an NRL swan song at the Broncos as Brisbane coach Kevin Walters declared he will not sack besieged props Matt Lodge and Joe Ofahengaue.
News Corp can reveal Chambers has held furtive discussions with Walters after sounding out his one-time Queensland coach about the prospect of a shock comeback to rugby league with the Broncos.
The Storm premiership-winner played all three Origin games last year under Walters before quitting Melbourne at the end of last season and defecting to rugby union with Japanese side Suntory.
But the worldwide COVID pandemic ultimately forced the suspension of Japan’s Top League, prompting Chambers to reach out to Walters as he weighs up career options in his twilight years.
The Broncos enter the 2021 premiership gripped by a centre crisis. Veteran Darius Boyd, who played 11 games at left centre this year, has retired, while Brisbane’s No. 1 centre Kotoni Staggs is sidelined for the next seven months following a knee reconstruction.
Another centre option, Jack Bird, who wore the No. 3 jumper in Cronulla’s 2016 premiership win, was last week released to the Dragons, leaving the Broncos severely depleted in the three-quarter line.
That could open the door for Chambers. The veteran of 215 NRL games turns 33 next May and would bring some title-winning presence to Brisbane’s backline, but one impediment is the Broncos’ salary-cap situation.
Walters said he stays in touch with Chambers, who also has interest from a NSW-based NRL club, but concedes the Broncos will struggle to afford the former Australian centre at this stage.
“We don’t have any space for anyone right now in the salary cap, so what we have on our roster is what we have,” Walters said.
“I speak to Will a couple of times a year through our associations in Melbourne (where Walters was an assistant coach) and with the Queensland Origin team.
“We have a committee that make decisions on recruitment … Will is over in Japan playing rugby, that’s about all I know.”
LOCKED AND LOADED
– Melbourne prop Albert Vete has joined English Super League side Hull KR on a two-year deal
– Outside back Reimis Smith has officially joined Melbourne on a two-year deal after being released by the Bulldogs
– State of Origin flyer Josh Addo-Carr is staying put in Melbourne for the 2021 after the Storm blocked his request for an early release to return to Sydney next year
– Newcastle’s longest-serving player Sione Mata’utia has been released from the final year of his contract and joined English Super League’s St Helens on a three-year deal
– Bulldogs outside back Marcelo Montoya has signed a two-year deal with the Warriors
– Blake Green has backflipped on his move to Canterbury and will stay with the Knights for 2021
– Official confirmation of Adam Keighran’s move to Sydney Roosters is imminent. The former New Zealand Warriors playmaker has inked a two-year deal with Bondi club
COWBOYS CHASE MORE TALENT
North Queensland has one roster spot left for the 2021 season — and new coach Todd Payten knows exactly how he wants to fill it.
“We’re looking for an outstanding outside back – try-scoring, good defender, breaks tackles,” Payten said.
“We’ve got a couple of names on a list, the thing that works against us is the amount of money that we’ve got left to spend.”
Cut-price jet ready to accept rookie salary
James Roberts is preparing to take a near $400,000 pay cut to rekindle his NRL career after a secret meeting with the Wests Tigers.
The Tigers are unlikely to pursue the man known as ‘Jimmy the Jet’, despite the former NSW centre’s asking price dipping below that of some rookie players.
Once able to command about $550,000 on the open market, Roberts is prepared to accept around $130,000 to show he can still be a first grade player.
Tigers boss Justin Pascoe, head of football Adam Hartigan and Roberts met at an inner-west cafe on Thursday morning. Roberts was joined by his manager Warwick Wright.
Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis said the meeting, which took place before the club was officially told that premier target Josh Addo-Carr would remain in Melbourne, was more about checking in on Roberts’ welfare.
“Justin has a history with James from their Penrith days,” Hagipantelis said. “They reached out to see how he was, where he is at and what his thoughts are his own future. There was nothing more concrete then that.
“He has had a difficult year. There was no discussions of contracts or money.”
Of greater concern for the Tigers though is ensuring prop Josh Aloiai, who has emerged as a potential replacement for representative prop Addin Fonua-Blake at Manly, remains at the club.
Aloiai is in in-depth discussions with the Sea Eagles about joining the club from 2022 with the door ajar for the Samoan representative to sign with the club as early as next season, if he can secure a release from the Tigers.
Aloiai, who celebrated his 25th birthday on Wednesday, is off-contract at the end of 2021 but is now free to negotiate with rival clubs for 2022.
Earlier this month, South Sydney released Roberts from the final year of his contract on compassionate grounds.
Roberts, 27, hasn’t played since suffering a pectoral injury earlier in the season.
He also checked himself into a mental health facility this year to help with personal issues reportedly related to anxiety and depression.
It is understood Newcastle and Canterbury are two clubs not entertaining signing the former NSW Origin representative.
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The Tigers are expected to turn their attention to Penrith’s Josh Mansour, who is chasing a three-year deal after being told he was no longer wanted at the Panthers.
The Tigers have been active in the player transfer market, also meeting with Josh Addo-Carr’s agent Mario Tartak on Thursday, suffering another blow as the NSW Origin winger Josh Addo-Carr decided to remain at Melbourne next season.
Despite actively seeking a release from the final year of his Storm deal to return home to Sydney on compassionate grounds, and signing a heads of agreement to join the Tigers if he were to leave the Storm in 2021, Melbourne officials informed the Tigers on Thursday that Addo-Carr’s request to switch clubs would not be granted.
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