NRL transfer news: Corey Allan and Josh Mansour contract demands prove a stumbling block

Two sticking points are standing in the way of Josh Mansour and Corey Allan from securing deals with rival clubs for 2021.

Tricky contract demands continue to prevent two backline stars from finding news homes for the 2021 season.

South Sydney outside back Corey Allan and veteran Penrith winger Josh Mansour both remain contracted to their current clubs for next year, despite being told they are free to secure deals elsewhere.

The Daily Telegraph has been told Allan’s management could be pricing the 22-year-old out of a deal.

It is understood Allan is currently on a deal worth about $330,000 at Souths, but one rival club has revealed they had been quoted a figure as high as $500,000 a season for the outside back.

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Corey Allan played in the 2020 series decider for the Maroons. Picture: Patrick Hamilton/AFP

After an impressive season for the Rabbitohs, in which Allan came in on the wing before admirably replacing the injured Latrell Mitchell at fullback in their surge to the preliminary finals, the former Broncos junior then earned a Queensland call-up with Wayne Bennett’s State of Origin-winning game three side.

At just 22 and with only 29 NRL appearances to his name, Allan will only get better. That step up to rep footy has increased Allan’s value, but to a point where some clubs are baulking at the asking price.

The stumbling block with Mansour, who coach Ivan Cleary told just 72 hours after Penrith’s 26-20 grand final loss to Melbourne that he would not be in the Panthers’ starting side in 2021, is the longevity of the deal his management is seeking.

While there have been talks of offers of one and two-year deals, a number of clubs interested in the star winger have been unwilling to meet the demand of a three-year contract.

The Wests Tigers have been mentioned as a possible home for Mansour, with the Concord-based club already picking up his former Panthers teammate James Tamou and having missed out on Josh Addo-Carr.

Josh Mansour scored a try in the grand final against Melbourne. Picture: Brett Costello

Both Allan and Mansour are well within their rights to stay put and fight for their places. It’s believed coach Wayne Bennett would happily keep Allan at the Rabbitohs, but doesn’t want to see him stuck behind Mitchell waiting for an opportunity for regular football in a stacked backline.

Canterbury have the salary cap flexibility and the roster space for one, perhaps two, outside backs, and could offer Mansour a one-year deal, but they would be reluctant to extend that any further given they have Melbourne’s State of Origin winger Addo-Carr joining them for four years from season 2022.

The Daily Telegraph has been told there is mutual interest from both Mansour and Parramatta, where close friend Reagan Campbell-Gillard made a successful transition in 2020.

Josh Addo-Carr is Bulldogs-bound in 2022. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

One problem is that the Eels would likely need to move on veteran winger Blake Ferguson to make the move work. The other issue is Parramatta would not be looking at a long-term deal that would potentially block the path to an NRL berth for a host of their young outside backs, including Patrician Brothers Blacktown schoolboys star Sean Russell and The King’s School prodigy Viliame Penisini.

Jennings is an outstanding defender and, while youngster Haze Dunster looks to have a solid future in the NRL, the loss of the 32-year-old is certainly a short-term headache for the blue and golds.

Originally published as NRL transfer news: Corey Allan and Josh Mansour contract demands prove a stumbling block