NRL transfer news 2022: Penrith Panthers look to offload $500,000 winger Charlie Staines
The Penrith Panthers are attempting to free up $500,000 in their salary cap in order to secure a host of State of Origin stars. NRL transfer latest
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The Penrith Panthers are trying to offload winger Charlie Staines to free up close to $500,000 on their salary cap to help retain the likes of State of Origin stars Liam Martin and Stephen Crichton.
Staines was put on a big-money deal two years ago when the Bulldogs tried to sign him along with five-eighth Matt Burton.
He had scored four tries on debut in a slashing performance against Cronulla Sharks.
The Panthers had earmarked Staines as a future fullback – hence the big money.
At the time, Dylan Edwards was yet to fully establish himself as one of the best fullbacks in the competition.
Dubbed the Forbes Ferrari, Staines is now only a back-up winger at the Panthers, a position probably worth $150,000-a-season – not the $500,000 he is on next year.
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The Panthers have contacted most rival clubs to offer him for next season as they juggle their salary cap.
The premiers had seven players in this year’s NRL Rich 100 — Nathan Cleary (No.1, $1.3m), Viliame Kikau (No.31, $760k), James Fisher-Harris (No.33, $750k), Isaah Yeo (No.45, $710k), Jarome Luai (No.58, $680k), Stephen Crichton (No.68, $615k), Apisai Koroisau (No.90, $510k).
NSW Origin pair Martin and winger Brian To’o are currently not among the top 100 paid players in the game and will command salary upgrades.
The departures of Kikau (Canterbury) and Koroisau (Wests) at the end of this season will ease some pressure on the Panthers’ cap, but Penrith are still in a precarious position with Crichton, Martin and To’o all off contract at the end of 2023.
Clubs come sniffing for Penrith star
— Dean Ritchie
Penrith will be forced to fend off four rival clubs – and possibly a fifth – in a dogfight to retain NSW back-rower Liam Martin.
And a proposed, yet so far declined, upgrade for Martin has been described as a “sticking point” by his manager.
Martin, 25, comes off contract after 2023 but is seeking an upgrade for next season.
The Daily Telegraph has been told St George Illawarra, Wests Tigers, Melbourne Storm and Cronulla have shown interest in Martin, who played all three State of Origin games this season.
With forward Isaiah Papali’i leaving Parramatta after this season for Wests Tigers, the Eels may also be sounded out about Martin.
Penrith has tabled a three-year offer for Martin from 2024 but unless he signs the new deal within the next nine weeks, the back-rower will be a free agent from November 1.
Martin’s future may well depend on whether the Panthers can find some additional money for an upgrade next season.
Penrith has already lost Viliame Kikau (Bulldogs), Api Koroisau (Wests Tigers), Sean O’Sullivan (Dolphins) and J’Maine Hopgood (Parramatta) for next season.
While reluctant to discuss his client’s negotiations, Martin’s manager Al Gainey said: “We realise Penrith is under a tight situation but Liam is certainly deserving of a very good contract in upcoming talks.
“The club’s reluctance to be able to offer an upgrade at this stage is a little bit of a sticking point.”
Martin scored Penrith’s matchwinning try late in the game against Souths last Friday night at Accor Stadium. He had 16 runs for 148 metres including six tackle breaks.
Penrith is desperate to retain Martin and Martin wants to remain – provided the adequate finances can be found by the club.
Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon is a known Martin fan although the Sharks would struggle to fit the back-rower in under the club’s salary cap.
It is understood Martin and Gainey will hold further talks after Penrith’s match against the Warriors on Friday night at BlueBet Stadium.
Panthers and NSW teammates Stephen Crichton and Brian To’o also come off contract after next season.
Penrith will also need to decide whether the club will retain forward Spencer Leniu and winger Charlie Stains.
An upgrade for Martin may be possible if Penrith move a player in coming weeks.
Melbourne may elect against pursuing Martin given the club will be throwing bags of cash to retain gun player Cam Munster.
Martin’s heroics against Souths were even more meritorious given he rolled an ankle against Melbourne in round 22.
Asked about his decisive try, Martin said: “It was my first matchwinner.”
Penrith claimed the NRL minor premiership with their win over Souths.
Storm in ‘ballpark’ to keep Munster
Melbourne have upped the ante in their bid to keep Cameron Munster after increasing their offer to the Storm star, giving the club renewed hope that they can keep him out of the clutches of the Dolphins.
Munster’s agent Braith Anasta revealed on Fox League’s NRL360 on Tuesday night that he flew to Melbourne earlier in the day for talks with the club over the future of the Queensland State of Origin star, who has another year remaining on his deal and has become the Dolphins No. 1 target.
“It went really well,” Anasta said.
“Flew down to Melbourne and met (Storm chief executive) Justin Rodski and Matt Tripp, the owner, with Cameron. Had a really positive and productive meeting which was really good. It is good signs.
“They are … in the ballpark.”
Asked whether the offer had breached the million-dollar barrier, Anasta said: “I have to protect my client there. I am a player agent, I look after Cameron and that is private. That stays with us.”
Anasta recently mentioned on Fox League that the Storm had to move more money on the salary cap to keep Munster. It now appears they have done just that as they launch a rearguard action to sign Munster before the November 1 deadline, when he is able to sign with a rival club for the 2024 season.
“It is a tough one because at the end of the day Cameron is my client and I have to try to try to get him the best deal and the best opportunities and offers from whoever it may be,” Anasta said.
“Melbourne have definitely put an impressive offer forward. It is going to come down to Cameron. Cameron has a really, really tough decision to make.
“There is still a lot to play out in all this but today was very productive. Justin and Mattty Tripp were outstanding.
“Matty is doing everything he can to keep him there. Cameron loves the place. It is going to be the hardest decision of his life.”
Asked about the prospect of a deal being done before November 1, Anasta said: “That is something for me and Cameron to discuss over the next couple of weeks. Obviously the Storm would like it done by then. There is no doubt about that.
“Cameron had a tough off-season. Melbourne did the right thing by him. They stuck by him. He also made a lot of sacrifices, which he is still doing.
“He had never been fitter in both the body and mind, and that has translated onto the field. He did back himself. It has ended up paying dividends and they respect that Melbourne.
“At the same time Melbourne are happy because the form Cameron has shown on the field has given them a chance to win a premiership.
“The form he has shown, the sacrifice he has made, the season he has had, he has definitely positioned Melbourne at the right time of the year to win a comp.
“We haven’t really spoken in depth about (the Storm’s new offer). It is definitely a step in the right direction for Melbourne. It has put them back in the frame. But we have a lot to discuss, a lot to discuss.”
NRL clears way for Roosters to make a deal
— Brent Read
Matt Lodge’s hopes of remaining at the Sydney Roosters have received a significant boost after it emerged that the NRL was unlikely to put a notional value on him for next season.
Lodge has been a star performer for the Roosters since his mid-season switch from the Warriors, helping supercharge their late season bid for the premiership.
It is understood the prop would love to stay at Bondi Junction but the Roosters bid to keep him will be limited by the state of their salary cap – they have little room to move next season, although some space could open up when the cap is finalised for next year.
The NRL put a notional value of around $18,000 a game on Lodge this year but News Corp understands they are unlikely to do so next year provided he signs a deal that is considered commensurate with his position in the game.
Lodge has already been paid out by the Warriors for 2023, meaning he can afford to take less to remain in Sydney and stay at the Roosters.
The final decision rests with the Roosters and coach Trent Robinson, although Lodge hasn’t hurt his cause with his form in recent weeks, forming a powerhouse tandem with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
Lodge has run for more than 100 metres in three straight games and scored a try in his past two, playing a significant role in the Roosters’ rampant resurgence in the absence of big men Lindsay Collins and Siosiua Taukeiaho.
He shapes as a crucial figure again for the Roosters on Friday night as they travel to Melbourne to play the in-form Storm, the club he almost joined before he the move to back to Sydney.
After leaving the Warriors, his future came down to a shootout between the Roosters and Melbourne – Lodge spoke to Storm coach Craig Bellamy on at last one occasion as he mulled over his next home.
It is understood Melbourne went as far as to discuss his potential signing with their leadership group but they hesitated and the chance was lost.
Lodge met Robinson and signed a short-term deal that could yet be extended depending on how well he performs in coming weeks and the how the club is placed with their salary cap.
The Roosters are juggling some big deals as they manoeuvre to keep Lodge at the club. While Taukeiaho will leave at the end of the season, the Roosters have a handful of players remaining on big money and are in the process of finalising a deal for NSW back rower Angus Crichton.
Crichton is expected to stay but Joseph Suaalii is among those whose contract escalates next season. The Roosters also need to negotiate an extension for half Sam Walker, who is off contract at the end of next season.
Walker’s management is expected to fly into Sydney next week for talks over a new deal.
Titans marquee man faces monster pay cut
— Travis Meyn, Peter Badel
David Fifita is facing a $500,000 pay cut to remain at the Titans as the Gold Coast formulate a two-year extension to keep the former Queensland Origin star off the NRL’s open market.
The Sunday Mail can reveal the Titans are hatching plans to extend Fifita’s tenure on the Gold Coast until at least 2025 before he becomes a free agent on November 1 this year.
Fifita burst back to his brilliant best in last week’s drought-breaking win against Manly and will be a key figure when the Titans chase back-to-back wins for the first time this year against the Dragons in Wollongong on Sunday.
Fifita, 22, will next season enter the final year of a $3 million-plus contract at the Titans which saw him become the NRL’s highest-paid forward in 2021 on $1.2 million after quitting the Broncos.
Currently eighth on the NRL’s rich list with a salary of $1 million this season, Fifita’s contract has been a constant beacon for criticism due to his inconsistent form and the fact he doesn’t play a key position.
While the Titans are keen to retain Fifita beyond 2023, he can expect to be offered around $750,000-a-season to remain on the Gold Coast, a pay cut of around $500,000 over two years that is in line with the edge back row position he plays.
That could open the door for cashed-up rivals like the Wayne Bennett-coached Dolphins to pounce if Fifita decides to test his value on the open market.
Fifita has engaged a new manager as he approaches free agency and said he was in no rush to decide his future.
“I’ve still got next year, I’m still here,” Fifita said.
“It’s a long way. We’ll talk about that next year.
“We’ve had those discussions. That’s for my manager to do all that talking.
“You’ve got to talk to my manager, I’m not too sure (what’s happening). My manager discusses all that sort of stuff.”
The Titans have shown a desire to re-sign players before they become free agents, locking up the likes of Erin Clark, Tanah Boyd and Beau Fermor long before their contracts were due to expire.
They are keen to do the same with Fifita, however with the Dolphins entering the frame he could potentially source more lucrative offers from rival clubs.
Titans coach Justin Holbrook said he expected Fifita to make a decision on his future before November.
“I think there’ll be a decision before then,” he said.
“That’s still a fair way away. Dave just wants to get back to playing well and we’ll give him that opportunity. We’ll see what happens before then.
“Dave’s working really hard. We obviously all want those big impact type plays … but he’s getting through a mountain of work in defence and his carries have been good.
“He’s getting better every week. It was always going to take him a few weeks with that knee injury. He’s getting back there which is good.”
After scoring a club record 17 tries last year, Fifita has struggled to replicate that destructive form in a season stunted by knee injuries but gave Titans fans a glimpse of what he’s capable of with a 60m solo try against the Sea Eagles.
Former Gold Coast football manager Scott Sattler has been critical of Fifita but believe he should be retained by the Titans.
“I think Dave is worthy of an extension purely because of how much upside he has in his career,” he said.
“He hasn’t been great for the Titans, but Dave is only young and at an age where he is figuring out how to play the game properly.
“I have been critical of Dave, but I am quite envious of the skill set he has got. While I have been critical of his lack of consistency, I am still an admirer of the way he plays and the natural gifts he has. He will be one of the most dynamic back-rowers in the game if he can get everything right.
“I know he has been linked with the Dolphins but I hope Dave stays at the Titans and signs a new deal. He’s got some good mates at the Titans like Tino (Fa’asuamaleaui) and Tanah Boyd and I think they can build a nucleus of young guys to make the Titans a force in the years to come.
“In a way, even if he takes a pay cut, not being on a $1 million deal can be a good pressure valve. It’s not Dave’s fault, but with that huge money comes responsibility and Fifita simply wasn’t ready for that responsibility at this stage of his career.
“People will stop talking about Dave‘s contract if he’s on less and he could just focus on playing good football and evolving into a senior leader at the Titans.”
Rivals ready to pounce on Broncos playmaker
— David Riccio, Peter Badel
Tyson Gamble has requested a release from the Broncos as the Brisbane pivot weighs up a possible move to solve a playmaking crisis at the Knights.
Broncos head of football Ben Ikin confirmed Brisbane have given Gamble permission to negotiate with rival clubs immediately as the five-eighth looks to resurrect his career in the NRL.
News Corp understands Newcastle have discussed throwing a lifeline to Gamble in a bid to bolster their scrumbase stocks following the departure of five-eighth Anthony Milford to the Dolphins next season.
Embattled Newcastle are searching for experience in a skinny player market to help halves Adam Clune and Jake Clifford and they are considering rolling the dice on Gamble.
The 26-year-old is contracted to the Broncos until the end of next year, but Gamble wants out now after falling out of favour at Red Hill behind exciting 19-year-old five-eighth Ezra Mam.
Ikin said the Broncos are happy to release Gamble from the final year of his contract if he can cement his future at another NRL club, with Newcastle expected to secure his signature.
“Tyson has been given permission to negotiate,” Ikin said.
“We understood how Tyson felt, he wants to make the most of his career and we decided to give him that opportunity.
“After providing great value for us, he found himself in a tough situation stuck behind Ezra Mam and he was keen to find a first grade spot somewhere else.
“I don’t know where Tyson will end up, but he has permission for us to look around.”
Gamble has played 23 games for the Broncos over the past three seasons, including eight this year, but the impressive emergence of Mam this season has seen the playmaker relegated to the Queensland Cup.
It is understood the Knights are looking for an older playmaker with strong communication skills and Gamble, a competitive firebrand known for being vocal at the Broncos, ticks that box.
The Brisbane junior has also been linked with the Dolphins and Titans but the Knights are circling.
Gamble made his NRL debut for the Wests Tigers in 2018 before moving to the Broncos and Ikin believes he is a bona fide NRL playmaker.
“Tyson is competitive and I know he will be good for another club,” he said.
“He showed last season he has what it takes to play in the NRL. He just found himself in a position here where he was behind Ezra, but he is desperate to start in the NRL and it wasn’t happening for him here.
“I like Tyson as a player and I like him as a bloke. I have really enjoyed getting to know him and since he has been at our club, he has made the team stronger and better, whether he’s in the 17 or not. He is highly competitive and that comes out at training.
“You need guys like that who are applying pressure constantly to the players who are playing in the same position and you want them to feel put out if they aren’t in the NRL because it means they care and they have high standards.
“Tyson is a very good trainer, he brings great energy to a group and I hope he finds what he is looking for at another club in the NRL.”
Bulldogs’ monster deal to lock down Burton
— Dean Ritchie
Canterbury are preparing to formally lodge a four-year contract extension for State of Origin star Matt Burton worth a cool $3.5m.
The Bulldogs are now fully focused on retaining Burton after the club’s previous priority, signing head coach Cameron Ciraldo, was accomplished last week.
Canterbury chairman John Khoury, club general manager of football Phil Gould and Burton’s manager, David Riolo, met about three weeks ago to discuss a contract extension.
Gould and Riolo also spoke about Burton earlier this week when meeting to discuss another player.
The Bulldogs want Burton to sign an extended deal which could end after 2027. He is already under contract for next season.
Burton, 22, could commend $850,000, possibly even $900,000, a season.
There is interest from rival clubs so Burton may hold off signing any deal until after Canterbury’s season ends in three weeks.
Canterbury are working on the proposal and should hand over the offer to Burton and Riolo shortly.
Burton is expected to re-sign given the close relationship he built at Penrith with Ciraldo, the current Panthers assistant coach.
The arrival of former Panthers teammate Viliame Kikau will only enhance Burton’s chances of staying. Burton and his family also have a connection with Bulldogs major sponsor Craig Laundy.
Just this week, Laundy told SEN: “Obviously, Matt has a strong history with Cam. Gus and Cam will start to talk to Matt, and I’d be very confident that they can work something out.”
“Matt is a superstar. We knew he was, that’s why we were so keen to sign him. That’s the next piece, the coaching piece of the puzzle is now done.”
Given the sensitivity around such a big deal, both parties were reluctant to comment publicly on Thursday. Burton’s hasn’t yet agreed to re-sign – but has no plans to exit either.
Canterbury is aware Burton is a franchise player. The club will use all of its power and influence to ensure the Dubbo junior remains at Belmore.
Insiders close to Canterbury are adamant Burton will stay unless a rival club comes over the top late with a massive offer.
Burton is said to be happy and committed to the Bulldogs.
Speculation increases about the future of Penrith and NSW centre Stephen Crichton, who comes off contract after next season.
With a tight salary cap, the Panthers may be forced to move one of its star players and Crichton has been regularly linked to the Bulldogs.
Canterbury has already signed Parramatta’s Reed Mahoney, Canberra’s Ryan Sutton and Manly’s Andrew Davey for next season.
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Originally published as NRL transfer news 2022: Penrith Panthers look to offload $500,000 winger Charlie Staines
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