NRL Market Watch: Brodie Croft signs monster deal until 2030, Jeremiah Nanai chased by Dragons

The Dragons have missed out on a key target as they attempt replace the stood down Talatau Amone, with Brodie Croft signing a long-term deal elsewhere.

David Fifita. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty

One-time St George Illawarra target Brodie Croft has signed a massive seven-year contract extension with Super League club Salford that will keep him in the UK until at least the end of the 2030 season.

The deal comes just a week after the Dragons withdrew from the race to sign the 25-year-old former Brisbane and Melbourne No.7 who looks set to play out his career abroad.

Anthony Griffin’s Dragons were looking at signing Croft as a replacement for the suspended Junior Amone.

“I’m delighted to extend my time at Salford,” Man Of Steel winner Croft told the Red Devils website.

“This group of boys is something special and along with the coaching staff through to the performance staff and office staff, I’m excited at what the future holds for the club!

Brodie Croft has signed on with Salford until 2030. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

DRAGONS ENTER RACE TO SIGN NANAI

Cashed-up St George Illawarra is closely monitoring Kangaroos forward Jeremiah Nanai’s contract talks with the North Queensland Cowboys.

Dragons football manager Ben Haran has confirmed he had talks with Nanai’s manager Sam Ayoub last week.

“I’m of the understanding he’s likely to stay at the Cowboys,” Haran said, “However if that changes we’d be interested.

“At this stage we haven’t spoken to the player but we’ve spoken to Sam (Ayoub).”

Maroons star Jeremiah Nanai has plenty of clubs chasing his signature. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Other clubs, including the Canberra Raiders and the Titans, are also keen.

Nanai is the game’s most exciting young forward.

He came from nowhere last year to play for Queensland in State of Origin and for Australia at the World Cup, a remarkable rise for a 19-year-old.

His asking price is now around the $800,000-a-season mark.

The Cowboys have been in talks with the young edge forward throughout the off-season without being able to reach an agreement.

Nanai capped off his season playing for the Kangaroos at the Rugby League World Cup.

SEA EAGLES TAKE SIPLEY OFF THE MARKET

- Brent Read

Manly have taken one of their most underrated forwards off the open market after signing Toa Sipley to a contract extension that will keep him at the club until the end of 2025.

Sipley has been fixture in the Sea Eagles side over the past two seasons, playing 39 games as Manly made the finals in 2021 before missing the playoffs last year.

He was one of seven players who sat out a game last season over the Pride jersey but the Sea Eagles didn’t hesitate to extend his deal as they look to stabilise their squad under coach Anthony Seibold.

In a sign of his standing at the club, the 28-year-old will captain a young Manly outfit as they open the pre-season on Friday night against South Sydney in Gosford.

Sipley aside, Cooper Johns will make his first appearance for the club since moving from Melbourne in the off-season in a team that will also include exciting young back rower Samuela Fainu, Ben Trbojevic and Ethan Bullemor.

Toafofoa Sipley (R) has extended his time at Manly. Picture: NRL PHOTOS

TITAN’S SHOCK CONTRACT ADVICE TO DAVID FIFITA

– Paul Crawley

Mal Meninga has weighed into the David Fifita contract showdown between the club he works for Gold Coast and his beloved Canberra Raiders, declaring “whoever gets him is going to get the best of David Fifita”.

Meninga also urged the game’s most criticised and scrutinised young forward to play “wherever he feels most comfortable.”

It comes as Fifita gets closer to making the final call on his future, with a decision expected before kick off to the new NRL season.

Fifita’s camp has been tight-lipped about his plans in recent days, although the suggestions are the Titans remain in the box seat at this point to keep him.

While Meninga has taken a back seat at the Titans in recent times he still works as a consultant at the club.

But the rugby league Immortal has somewhat divided loyalties here in that he is also the Raiders’ greatest ever player who continues to have a close bond with the club and particularly coach Ricky Stuart.

While Fifita is expected to take a significant haircut on his current $1.2 million a season salary, he’s still going to earn up around $800,000 plus a season wherever he signs.

Some reckon his recent form doesn’t warrant that type of salary, but Meninga has a different take.

David Fifita has a big decision to make on his future. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty

“I think whoever gets him is going to get the best of David Fifita, there is no doubt about that,” Meninga said.

“And I know the Titans are really keen to keep him because they have invested a lot of time into him.”

Ricky Stuart has also made no secret of his desire to coach the blockbusting backrower, believing his X-factor combined with the experience within the Raiders’ forward with the likes of Josh Papali’i, Joey Tapine and Elliott Whitehead would bring the best out in a young player who has so far failed to consistently play to his potential at the Titans.

Stuart also backs Jack Wighton and former Titans playmaker Jamal Fogarty to make it easier for Fifita to make his presence felt.

While Fifita still averaged 104m a game in 2022, his tries for the season dropped from 17 to seven from 2021, and his tackle busts were also down from 156 to 73, although he played four less games.

Meninga conceded Fifita still has a lot to learn, but maintains a lot of the criticism is over the top.

“He is only 22. Most forwards don’t really mature until 25/26, so he’s had a really good start to his career.

“He is finding a few hurdles at the moment, which most young kids do, particularly forward. And he has just got to keep persevering and keep learning every day.

“I know he has certainly got the work ethic and the desire and those sort of things. He has just to keep working.”

He also reckons the fact Fifita is such a unique physical weapon only makes him a bigger target.

Mal Meninga has weighed in on David Fifita’s contract situation. Picture: AAP/Darren England

“Oppositions actually put plans in place to stop them,” he said.

“So what he is going through at the moment is that opposition teams are making him work and trying to fatigue him so it takes all his attacking power out.

“But I know the (Titans) and Justin (Holbrook) have admitted to this as well, we probably didn’t have the footy IQ around the halves to allow Dave to use his unique skills.

“But with Kieran Foran and all our players being a year older we are very, very hopeful.”

Fifita was overlooked for Queensland Origin last year and also by Meninga for the end of season Kangaroos World Cup squad.

“But he is really honest with the way he appraises himself so that is another good trait he has got,” Meninga added.

“He is his own worst critic at times, probably too critical, because he knows what he is capable of as well.

“He has just got to fight his way through these challenging times as a young fella. But as he gets more mature he will find that niche. That is where Dave is.”

Originally published as NRL Market Watch: Brodie Croft signs monster deal until 2030, Jeremiah Nanai chased by Dragons