Local Footy NSW Signings Tracker: Latest player movements from across the state

Albion Park-Oak Flats has been boosted by the return of a 10-year first grade veteran, with the Young Cherrypickers landing a promising Rabbitohs pathways half. LOCAL FOOTY SIGNINGS TRACKER

While the off-season is here for local footy clubs, planning is already well underway for the 2026 campaign.

Teams are making their moves early as they look to bolster their ranks and mount a charge in their respective competitions.

We’ll keep an eye on the big moves from around the grounds ahead of the new season.

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Drew Hutchison reunites with junior club Albion Park-Oak Flats for the 2026 Group 7 season. After a 10-year career at the elite level with the Dragons, Leigh Centurions, Roosters and Bulldogs, Hutchison returns to the club where it all began. He links with former Bronco Rhys Kennedy at the club. Photo: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Brent Hawkins will link with the Young Cherrypickers in Group 9. Hawkins played the season with South Sydney in Jersey Flegg and has eight games of NSW Cup experience to his name. The younger brother of NRL halfback Dean, Brent is a playmaker who is a goalkicker as well. He joins Totaua Porima, Kane Ball and Charlie Woolford as new faces at the club. Picture: NRL Images/Gregg Porteous

Rhys Kennedy is taking his talents to the Albion Park Oak Flats club in Group 7. After making his debut with the Rabbitohs in 2019, Kennedy went on to spend four years at the Brisbane Broncos, notching 49 first grade games. He then played 53 games in the Super League and Challenge Cup with Hull KR and London before returning home. Picture: Liam Kidston

Jesse Marschke is the latest ex-NRL player to join the South Eastern Seagulls for 2026 alongside brother Ben and Ben Thomas. Boasting 99 games of NSW Cup experience, most recently with North Sydney, Marschke played six NRL games with the Dragons in 2024 and gives the Seagulls another big name on their books. Photo: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

Campbelltown City has signed former South Sydney pathways prop Palu Tausala for the 2026 Macarthur RL season. After starting last season in Jersey Flegg, the versatile middle forward headed south and helped the Shellharbour Sharks reach the Group 7 grand final. Tausala’s signing is another positive step for the Kangaroos, as they build a balanced mix of youth and experience in their bid to return to the finals.. Picture: Campbelltown City Kangaroos Facebook

Ben Thomas will make the move south, leaving Kincumber to join the South Eastern Seagulls in the Souths Juniors competition. It marks the second ex-Rooster to link with the Malabar club. Thomas played seven games of NRL with the Roosters and played in a NSW Cup grand final with the Bears. Picture: Contributed

Brent Naden will join the Thirroul Butchers for the 2026 Harrigan Cup season in Illawarra. Naden was most recently with the Wests Tigers in the NRL where he played 35 games. He has also enjoyed stints with the Panthers and Bulldogs, as well as representing the Indigenous All Stars. He’s a new face at the Butchers along with former Queensland Cup player Luke Maddaford. Picture: Thirroul Butchers Facebook

Ben Marschke will join the South Eastern Seagulls for the club’s 70th season in the Souths Juniors competition. He’s played 13 NRL games with the Sydney Roosters and featured in a NSW Cup grand final. Most recently he was a part of Kincumber’s premiership win on the Central Coast. Picture: Sue Graham

Lakes United has landed a key signing, nabbing Will Smith from Newcastle rivals Wests. Smith has over 80 games of NRL experience and is a dual Indigenous All Stars rep. He joins the Seagulls along with younger brother Matt. Lakes United boasts a wealth of NRL experience with Siona Mata’utia and Izaac Tui’tupou-Thompson on the books for 2026 as well. Picture. Phil Hillyard

Orange CYMS has landed a major off-season signing, recruiting Blake Ferguson from Wellington in the Peter McDonald Premiership. A veteran of 250 NRL games as well as representing NSW, Australia and the Indigenous All Stars, Ferguson was the second-leading pointscorer in the comp in 2025. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

Former Rooster and Sea Eagle Luke Phillips returns to Manly in 2026 as coach of the club’s U17s Lisa Fiaola Cup side. Making the switch to refereeing after retiring, in more recent years he has served as a female pathways coach at North Sydney. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Mitch Garbutt has been snapped up as the captain-coach for the Scone Thoroughbreds in 2026. With NRL experience with the Broncos and Storm, as well as over 150 games overseas in the Super League and France, the 36-year-old shapes as a key addition for the club. Picture: Josh Woning

The Coogee Randwick Wombats will be heading to the Vegas 9s in February. The Souths Juniors club has finishied A-grade runner-up over the past two seasons. The Wombats have played off-season games in America in the past, as recently as October 2024 when they faced off with the Los Angeles Bandidos in California. Picture: Julian Andrews.

Izaac Tu’itupou Thompson is among a host of new signings at Lakes United Seagulls in Newcastle, along with Taj Blackman, Rory Whitby and Jordan Bull. Sione Mata’utia has also re-signed with the club for 2026. Tu’itupou has played 14 games in the NRL for the Rabbitohs and Tigers, as well as scoring 67 tries throughout six seasons in NSW Cup. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

After a stint with Ourimbah as captain-coach this year, James Maloney will take on a new role with Penrith Brothers in 2026. The two-time NRL premiership winner, who also represented NSW and Australia throughout his illustrious career, will become a Specialist Coach at the Penrith junior club, after playing two years with the Panthers in 2018-19. He is still expected to feature with Ourimbah at times throughout the Rugby League Central Coast season. Picture: Sue Graham

Tyrone McCarthy has been picked up by the Western Suburbs Magpies to coach their NSW Cup side in 2026. He previously held roles with the Rabbitohs in pathways and this year was part of South Eastern’s coaching and development ranks in Souths Juniors. The Irish international played over 250 games in various competitions across Australia and the UK. Picture: Stewart McLean

The Old Bar Pirates have a new head coaching duo, with Brady Barwick joined by former Rooster, Dragon and Panther Jamie Soward. A premiership winner in 2010, Soward brings over 200 games of NRL experience, including representing NSW and the Indigenous All Stars. He has gone onto coach the Dragons in the NRLW and remains as mentor of the Samoan women. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

After an SG Ball campaign with the Balmain Tigers and A-grade season with the Southwest Goannas in the Macarthur competition, Cohen Benson is on the move west. He’s returning home to his junior club of the Wagga Brothers, along with Bailie Lyttle, who joins the club from Merimbula Pambula. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

The Kurri Kurri Bulldogs had a resurgence in 2025, and they’re looking to run it back next season with a host of re-signings, including Jack Tamburrini, Brodie Linnane, Jack Stringer, Brock Portsmouth, Brae Verheyen, Khynan Butler, Josh Moffitt, Jordi Madden, Joel Connell, Joe Green, Tynan Forster, Trent Blomgren and Tyran Cowling. Picture: Kurri Kurri Bulldogs Facebook

Originally published as Local Footy NSW Signings Tracker: Latest player movements from across the state