NRL Market Watch: Eels rookie Ethan Sanders prepares to ask for release, Knights meet with Sunia Turuva

The NRL’s new round six rule is set to be tested after this weekend with a host of clubs scrambling to lock in some of their best young talent while a rising star could be on the move immediately.

Boom half Ethan Sanders could request a release from the Eels in the coming days as the 19-year-old headlines a list of the game’s hottest talents now free to talk with rival clubs.

It comes as a host of clubs have been have busily securing some of their emerging talent with the Roosters, South Sydney, North Queensland and Penrith making sure their players don’t hit the open market.

The NRL revamped its contract policy in the off-season meaning players who were off-contract but yet to play five senior games – NSW/Queensland Cup or NRL – were unable to talk with rival clubs until the end of round six.

That means a host of Australian Schoolboys or interstate under-aged players are now on the market, including Sanders.

The likes of Sanders have had to bide their time until Sunday night although it is expected that the Parramatta’s SG Ball player of the year from last season will link up with the Raiders from next season.

Ethan Sanders looks set to be the long-term halfback at the Raiders. Credit: NRL Images.

That could even be fast-tracked with suggestions Sanders may ask for a release next week to join Canberra before the June 30 deadline having been overlooked multiple times to make his first grade debut in recent weeks.

Despite being a genuine half, Sanders has not been picked to fill the void left by the injured Mitchell Moses in first grade.

Instead, coach Brad Arthur has opted for Daejarn Asi and Blaize Talagi to partner Dylan Brown in the halves with Moses sidelined through injury.

Sanders is not alone though with about eight other players from across the NRL on either top 30 or supplementary contracts now free to talk with rival clubs.

The Roosters have taken action to stop rising young forwards Blake Steep and Ethan Roberts from fielding offers from rivals after locking down the pair to new deals before the round six deadline.

Steep and Roberts were unable to talk to other clubs until Sunday night but the Roosters stopped any chance of that happening by securing them to new contracts.

So too has Penrith with NSW under-19s Billy Scott hooker re-signed until 2027. Thomas Fletcher has also extended at South Sydney until the end of next year while North Queensland’s Kaiden Lahrs - the Australian Schoolboy is in his first year out of school and is the son of ex-Kangaroos forward Tom Learoyd-Lahrs – has also re-signed until the end of 2026.

Leon Te Hau. Picture: NRL PHOTOS

Fellow Cowboy Jodeci Baker-Tiraha, a noted speedster, is also allowed to field offers from rival clubs.

Wests Tigers schoolboy sensation Heamasi Makasini - a year 11 student at Newington College who is also in the sights of rugby union - is one of the hottest young properties in the game and he is also officially up for grabs

The Tigers have launched a bid to keep him but the fight will kick off in earnest on Monday.

Newcastle local product Myles Martin, who played for NSW under-19s last year, is also yet to extend his contract as is South Sydney’s Leon Te Hau. Ammaron Gudgeon (Melbourne) and Etuate Fukofuka (Warriors) are others who can look elsewhere.

RIVAL CLUBS ENTER FIGHT FOR TURUVA

Newcastle are the latest club to express an interest in Penrith flyer Sunia Turuva who is preparing for crunch meetings with the Panthers in the coming days.

It is understood Turuva met with Newcastle officials and toured their facilities recently but the Knights are yet to table any formal offer.

Turuva is becoming hot property with the 21-year-old Dally M rookie of the year exploring his options on the open market.

Newcastle are among the clubs keen to explore the potential of securing Turuva, with St George Illawarra also wanting to land the Panthers outside back.

While the Knights remain on the lookout to add some spark to their backline, the Dragons are more steadfast in their desire on landing Turuvua.

They see him as a potential fullback/wing option, with Turuva able to play both positions despite his immediate future at the Panthers being on the flank.

Rival clubs are circling Sunia Turuva, as he prepares to make a call on his NRL future. Picture: Getty Images

The Dragons had talks with Wallaby Jordan Petaia but that is unlikely to advance into anything further.

As rival clubs are circling, the Panthers are preparing for a crucial meeting with Turuva in the coming days.

Turuva remains the highest profile Panther off-contract at season’s end and the club want to try and keep him despite locking down a host of his teammates in recent months.

Privately he has indicated a desire to remain at the club, however Penrith’s tight salary cap situation means they have little wiggle room to match any potential significant offers from rival clubs.

Jarome Luai has signed with the Tigers from next season while the Panthers have already re-signed fellow premiership winners Mitch Kenny, Taylan May and Izack Tago.

May, Tago, Dylan Edwards and Brian To’o remain locked in on long-term deals.

Paul Alamoti has also extended his time at the club by a further 12 months.

The likes of Luke Garner, Matt Eisenuth and Tyrone Peachey are also off-contract.

Originally published as NRL Market Watch: Eels rookie Ethan Sanders prepares to ask for release, Knights meet with Sunia Turuva