Bulldogs drop out of three-club Moses race as Sheens’ Tigers confirm talks: Transfer Whispers

The Bulldogs have reportedly dropped out of the race to sign Mitchell Moses after electing to recruit a promising junior talent.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 02: Mitchell Moses of the Eels looks dejected after defeat during the 2022 NRL Grand Final match between the Penrith Panthers and the Parramatta Eels at Accor Stadium on October 02, 2022, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

The Bulldogs have reportedly dropped out of the race to sign marquee superstar Mitchell Moses after the Canterbury-Bankstown club recruited young gun Karl Oloapu.

The 18-year-old is yet to feature in the NRL, however rugby league supremo Phil Gould pounced on the former Australian Schoolboys representativew.

The Bulldogs announced on Friday that Oloapu would be joining the club for the next four seasons, effective immediately, after securing an early release from the Broncos following an ugly disagreement with the club.

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Canterbury-Bankstown reportedly paid a hefty $500,000 transfer fee to secure Oloapu’s servives — and have pulled out of the race to sign Moses according to WWOS.

Now the Eels and Tigers are reportedly set to do battle for the 28-year-old’s signature.

Tim Sheens, who has returned to the coaching arena ahead of this season, made no secret of his desire to sign Moses.

“There’s been some chat, and it’s a known fact [we’re interested] – we’ve had a discussion, but it will be Mitch’s call,” Sheens said to the SMH.

The merger club have reportedly tabled a whopping contract worth upwards of $1.3 million according to The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield.

Moses made his NRL debut at the Tigers and played 67 games across three seasons at Leichhardt.

Meanwhile, the Eels have already signed five-eighth Dylan Brown which could see Moses take a big-money offer elsewhere.

DOGS EYE KNIGHTS FLYER AS O’BRIEN’S FULLBACK CRISIS SOLVED

The Bulldogs’ spending spree may not be over, with reports they could be closing in on high-flying Knights winger Dominic Young.

That is according to The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield, who reported that Young toured the Bulldogs’ Belmore facility on Friday afternoon.

Young, who is off-contract at the end of the season, was reportedly accompanied by Phil Gould and new Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo.

The Knights have already started negotiations with the 21-year-old, looking to fend off rival clubs including South Sydney who have also shown interest in the dynamic winger.

Young enjoyed a breakout 2022 season, scoring 14 tries in 20 games and at just 21 has plenty of development still left in him.

In other news, the Bulldogs have also beat out the Roosters and Rabbitohs to sign Townsville rugby league prospect Damon Marshall on a two-year deal, per News Corp.

The fight for Young’s signature is not the only transfer news to come out of the Hunter though.

The Knights are reportedly set to land Sharks fullback Lachie Miller in a swap deal that will send young gun prop Max Bradbury to the Shire.

The Newcastle Herald’s Barry Toohey reported Miller’s three year deal with the Knights is finally done, but it may involve a player swap for the Knights’ young enforcer Bradbury.

“I’m hearing the Lachie Miller deal to the Knights for three years is finally done,” Toohey tweeted.

“There is strong mail he will be traded for Knights’ NSW Under 19’s prop Max Bradbury.”

I’m hearing the Lachie Miller deal to the Knights for three years is finally done. There is strong mail he will be traded for Knights’ NSW Under 19’s prop Max Bradbury.

— Barry Toohey (@BarryToohey) January 26, 2023

Miller debuted in the NRL as a 27-year-old for the Sharks last season, scoring three tries in seven games in his rookie season.

The Sharks have William Kennedy and young gun Kade Dykes on their books, so are willing to let Miller leave to get more game time, but they want a player in return.

Lachie Miller is set to sign a three-year deal with the Knights.

The Knights desperately want a fullback to allow Kalyn Ponga to make a permanent switch to the halves in 2023 in the No.6 jersey.

However, Bradbury is highly regarded and the Knights let David Klemmer leave to join the Tigers, so the under 19s prop could have been a long-term option in the front row.

Junior players and coaches, L to R, Noah Nailagoliva, Jayme Fressard, Max Bradbury, Danny Buderus, Navren Willett, Andrew Johns, Kurt Gidley, Oryn Keeley, Jye Linnane and Liam Sutton. Newcastle Knights juniors being coached by the likes of Andrew Johns and others at their training facility in Mayfield, Newcastle. Picture by Liam Driver.

Newcastle are well stocked in the front row with the Saifiti brothers, but swapping a potential 10-year prop for a fullback with just seven games of NRL experience is a gamble that could come back to bite the Knights.

Now 28, Miller’s three year deal could be one of his last in the NRL, while Bradbury has the potential to play for the next 10 years at least.

Originally published as Bulldogs drop out of three-club Moses race as Sheens’ Tigers confirm talks: Transfer Whispers