Canberra Raiders reject Jamal Fogarty’s request to explore the open market
Jamal Fogarty is facing an uncertain future in Canberra, after the Raiders rejected the half-back’s request for permission to explore the open market. See the latest transfer news.
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Jamal Fogarty’s future at Canberra is uncertain after Raiders bosses rejected the half-back’s request for permission to explore the open market.
Fogarty is in limbo in the nation’s capital with the Raiders having until round 6 to determine whether they will activate a 12-month extension to keep the Queenslander for 2026.
This masthead can reveal Fogarty’s management sought permission from the Raiders to test his value on the open market immediately, but that request was knocked back by Canberra bosses.
That could be viewed as evidence that Canberra coach Ricky Stuart is keen to retain Fogarty, who has found a home as the Green Machine’s first-choice No.7 after his shock exit from the Titans in 2021.
Fogarty was keen to seek more clarity on his future, but the Raiders are happy to adopt a wait-and-see approach before deciding whether to take up the round 6 extension clause.
Should Canberra baulk at an extension, Fogarty would become a free agent from April 12, when he would be able to ramp-up negotiations and source offers from NRL rivals.
Fogarty’s preference is to remain at the Raiders, but the former Gold Coast co-captain is under pressure to deliver in the coming months and convince Canberra he is the playmaker to break the club’s 31-year premiership drought.
Fogarty’s manager Tas Bartlett confirmed the Raiders veteran will head to the open market if Canberra baulk at rubberstamping a new deal for 2026 and beyond.
“Jamal would love to stay with the Raiders,” Bartlett said.
“He has a deep appreciation for the club and the community.
“However, rugby league is ultimately a business, and things don’t always go the way we hope.
“Quality halfbacks are rare in the game, and experience is what sets the best apart.
“If the club chooses not to activate his option, I have no doubt Jamal will attract significant interest from elsewhere.”
Fogarty is one of the NRL’s most professional trainers and he keeps himself in supreme condition, giving the Beaudesert shot-caller confidence he can emulate Daly Cherry-Evans, 35, and play into his mid-30s.
The former Queensland Cup player of the year is on around $650,000 this season and could attract north of that figure on the open market.
Fogarty missed 12 games with a torn bicep last season, but has made a full recovery and will be Canberra’s senior scrumbase figure for the Green Machine’s premiership opener against the Warriors in Las Vegas on March 2.
Fogarty has enjoyed a second coming since joining the Raiders, amassing 53 games in three seasons following his surprise exit from the Titans, who axed their co-captain to blood young gun Toby Sexton.
NRL premiership legend Scott Sattler, who covered Fogarty’s career extensively as a former expert analyst for Channel 9’s Hostplus Cup coverage, urged Canberra to keep the Indigenous All Stars schemer.
Sattler likened a rejuvenated Fogarty to Melbourne’s Dally M Medallist Jahrome Hughes.
“Like Jahrome Hughes, Jamal’s attention to detail is spot on,” Sattler said.
“He is a bit like Jahrome Hughes where he ticks a lot of boxes and is quite sharp on his feet.
“The Raiders have some young halves like Ethan Strange and Ethan Sanders coming through, so it’s crucial for Canberra to keep Jamal and be like another coach to them over the next few years.
“Jamal has turned into the natural leader of the Raiders.
“He gives more to that club than what he just gives on the field.
“Firstly, he is a tremendous human, he does so much for the community.
“Secondly, he is a great athlete and thirdly, he has developed into a genuine NRL halfback.
“The benefit Jamal will bring to that club by mentoring those halves, it could set the Raiders up for the next five to eight years, purely through his mentorship.
“Jamal is definitely one of the most reliable halves in the comp. He has a great kicking game, he is super fit, he is durable and has a handy running game. Defensively he doesn’t mind putting his body on the line against big men.”
EXCLUSIVE: DOLPHINS’ SECRET MEETING WITH SHARKS STAR
Monster Cronulla prop Tom Hazelton has secretly met with the Dolphins as Redcliffe explore a contingency plan for injured Queensland Origin enforcer Tom Flegler.
This masthead can reveal Hazelton has become one of the most sought-after forwards in the code with seven clubs expressing interest in the hulking Sharks bookend.
The 116kg man mountain is off-contract at season’s end and the Sharks face an uphill battle to retain Hazelton, who is seeking around $1.6 million for a three-year deal.
The poaching war for Hazelton is hotting up with the 26-year-old flying north on Monday for talks with Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf, who is ramping-up his recruitment drive.
Woolf is closing in on the signature of Englishman Morgan Knowles and the Dolphins are keen to add Hazelton’s size to complement the power of off-season Knights recruit Daniel Saifiti.
Hazleton toured the Dolphins’ $100 million headquarters at Redcliffe and could become a valuable addition as former Broncos prop Flegler fights to save his NRL career.
Flegler underwent nerve-transfer surgery at the end of last season and is not expected to return to the playing field until June or July – if at all.
The Dolphins remain hopeful the Maroons enforcer will play again but the pursuit of Hazelton is evidence the NRL’s 17th team is considering an engine-room safety net should Flegler be forced into a medical retirement.
It’s understood Hazelton is seeking in excess of $500,000 annually and has attracted interest from half the league, including Newcastle, the Dragons, Parramatta and the Warriors.
Hazelton will look to finalise his future in the coming weeks ahead of Cronulla’s season-opener against Penrith in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 2.
“Tom’s got a lot of interest,” said his management.
“The Dolphins are one club in the mix.
“They’re not sure what the future holds for Tom Flegler so Tom could be an option for them.
“There’s seven clubs chasing him and I don’t know if the Sharks can afford to keep him.
“Some of the clubs have offered in the vicinity of $600,000 and Cronulla have outlaid a lot of money for Addin Fonua-Blake.”
Hazelton had a breakthrough season for the Sharks last year, playing 25 games and fashioning a reputation as a Cronulla cult hero after scoring seven tries, including a four-pointer in three consecutive games.
Most props would be lucky to score three tries in their entire career and for that reason, the Sharks are desperately hoping to stave-off a bidding war for the late-blooming Goulburn product.
But with the Sharks having outlaid $4 million to poach Tongan Test ace Addin Fonua-Blake from the Warriors, Cronulla could be blown out of the water by a more lucrative offer for Hazelton.
The 198cm Hazelton has played 44 games since his NRL debut in 2022 and would be a handy pick-up for a Dolphins side chasing a maiden finals berth in 2025 after narrowly missing the playoffs last season.
“Tom was outstanding last year. He was the highest tryscoring prop in the NRL,” said his management.
“It’s understandable if the Sharks can’t afford him because they have big-money invested in other players and that happens everywhere.
“Tom would be an asset for any NRL club and we’ll see what the Sharks can do to keep him.”
DOLPHINS COUP: WOOLF SET TO SIGN SUPER LEAGUE GREAT
—Travis Meyn and Michael Carayannis
Kristian Woolf is on the verge of landing his first signing of the year since taking over from Wayne Bennett, with England Test star Morgan Knowles set to join the Dolphins.
Knowles has indicated he will leave Super League powerhouse St Helens to test himself in the NRL.
The Dolphins have been in talks with the powerful forward for a number of weeks and are in the last stages of finalising a multi-year contract from 2026.
If the deal is finalised, Knowles will play the 2025 Super League season with St Helens before joining the Dolphins.
Knowles and Woolf have a long association.
They combined for three Super League premierships with St Helens from 2020-22 when Woolf was in charge of the club.
Woolf returned to Australia after the last triumph to be Bennett’s right-hand man during the Dolphins’ first two NRL seasons.
With Bennett returning to South Sydney this year, Woolf has now taken charge of the Redcliffe club and is putting his stamp on the Dolphins.
He played an active role in recruitment and retention last year with Bennett on the way out, but Knowles is his first big-name signing since taking full control of the NRL’s youngest club.
Knowles, 28, will head to Australia in the prime of his career and with eight Test appearances for England next to his name.
He has played Test football for England alongside Dolphins star Herbie Farnworth.
Dolphins CEO Terry Reader last week confirmed the club’s pursuit of Knowles.
“Woolfy coached him and they won three premierships together at St Helens,” he said.
“He wants to test himself in the NRL.
“There is interest to talk to him but that’s where it is at the moment.
“We are always interested in good players, especially if they want to play for us.
“We’ll have a chat and see what happens.”
That chat has now progressed to the verge of the Dolphins signing one of the Super League’s top talents.
Originally published as Canberra Raiders reject Jamal Fogarty’s request to explore the open market
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