NRL news: Eels, Wests Tigers, Knights show interest in Bulldogs flyer Josh Addo-Carr

Uncertainty around Josh Addo-Carr’s Bulldogs future is growing, with a third NRL club showing interest in the NSW Blues speedster following talk of a Parramatta player swap.

Newcastle are the latest club to be in the mix for Josh Addo-Carr as the Eels search for speed and will continue scouring the NRL market, even if they miss out on prizing flyer Addo-Carr.

Identifying a lack of lightning pace in their outside backs, the Eels have begun their speed search by making it known they would jump at Addo-Carr, if the Bulldogs were willing to release him from the final two years of his contract.

Newcastle have also expressed an interest in securing Addo-Carr as they continue to search for a replacement for Roosters-bound Dom Young.

Wests Tigers are also closely monitoring Addo-Carr’s situation and would give serious thought to trying to bring him back to the club at which he made his NRL debut.

Parramatta back-rower Ryan Matterson was floated — believed not to be by senior Eels officials — as a potential swap option should the Bulldogs look to accelerate Addo-Carr’s exit.

While the talks were only informal, it is understood Canterbury have since declared they have little interest in pursuing Matterson.

Canterbury flyer Josh Addo-Carr. NRL Imagery

Ryan Matterson. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty

Eels officials insisted on Wednesday they were not actively shopping Matterson, believing the former NSW Origin forward still had a number of good years in front of him.

Matterson, 29, has three years left on his current deal — including a player option for 2026 — after rejecting interest from the Dolphins to extend his tenure at Parramatta.

What is clear though is Parramatta’s desire to add some pace to a backline which lacked punch in 2023. The Eels are open to moving skipper Clint Gutherson from fullback to centre should they find the right player — they tried and failed to sign Gold Coast No.1 Jayden Campbell earlier this year in an attempt to add some x-factor to their squad.

Parramatta would need to release a player to accommodate Addo-Carr given their 30-man roster for 2024 is already filled.

The Eels have already started addressing their need for more potency in their outside backs by signing Manly’s Morgan Harper. Parramatta’s only other signing for next season is former Sea Eagles back-rower Kelma Tuilagi. They met with rookie Canterbury winger Blake Wilson before he opted to re-sign with the Bulldogs.

Will Penisini, an outstanding talent, is more of a physical centre.

Parramatta coach Brad Arthur. NRL Imagery

Waqa Blake has left the club while outside back Bailey Simonsson is expected to go onto the open market on November 1 — he has already had interest from rugby union — with his contract expiring at the end of 2024.

Despite a meeting this week between Addo-Carr and the Bulldogs, there is some suggestion he remains on the outer at the club despite assurances they want to keep him.

He still has two years left on a deal worth about $550,000 a season but had an unhappy 2023 campaign and there were murmurs two months ago that he was up for grabs, prompting talk of a swap deal involving the Tigers.

Tigers coach Benji Marshall is known to be a fan of Addo-Carr and, like Parramatta, is desperate to add speed to his backline.

Addo-Carr’s season bottomed out when he lost his spot in the Australian team after being hit with a two-game ban following a fight at the Koori Knockout. He was also fined $5000 with $3000 suspended.

Other clubs are also circling Addo-Carr should he hit the market.

“I was copping it all game against the Walgett boys,” Addo-Carr said on Let’s Trot podcast. “I ended up getting knocked out and put to sleep five, 10 minutes into the game.

“It was a fiery game, two strong teams, two proud communities going against each other. It’s unfortunate that incident happened at the end of the game.

“That’s the Koori Knockout. I don’t think the media or the NRL have ever cared about the Koori Knockout until now.”

Originally published as NRL news: Eels, Wests Tigers, Knights show interest in Bulldogs flyer Josh Addo-Carr