Bulldogs snare Sharks utility Connor Tracey in player swap

The Bulldogs are set to snap up a Cronulla star as part of a trade gamble that will see a young gun move to the Sharks.

Connor Tracey 2021 NRL Round 07 - Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, 2021-04-24. Digital image by Robb Cox � NRL Photos

The Bulldogs are set to sign Sharks utility Connor Tracey as part of a player swap effective immediately that would send young gun Michael Gabrael the other way.

The Daily Telegraph reported Tracey is set to be the Bulldogs’ 10th off-season signing after the Sharks and Canterbury agreed to a player swap.

The Sharks were originally reluctant to let Tracey leave, but have identified Gabrael as the player they want to grant an immediate release from the final year of his deal in 2024.

Watch sport this summer live with no ad breaks in play on Kayo Sports. Join Kayo now and start streaming instantly >

Good kid this one. Young Michael Gabrael signing he’s extended deal with @NRL_Bulldogs … #proudtobeaBulldog#futurepic.twitter.com/BcfnEXrF6j

— Phil Gould (@PhilGould15) January 18, 2023

Cronulla gave Tracey permission to talk with NRL rivals, despite having 12 months left on his deal.

The 27-year-old was also being chased by the Dragons but informed the Sharks that the Bulldogs was his preferred destination.

The deal with the Bulldogs is reportedly over three years from 2024 to 2026.

The Sharks will free up $500,000 in salary cap space and get Gabrael who has been touted as a future star in the outside backs.

Tracey is blocked from a starting role at the Sharks with William Kennedy ahead of him at fullback and Jesse Ramien and Siosifa Talakai in front of him in the centre pecking order.

Connor Tracey is set to join the Bulldogs on a player swap.

Michael Gabrael is set to switch to the Sharks.

Ronaldo Mulitalo and Sione Katoa have a mortgage on the wing spots as does halves Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall.

Tracey has scored 27 tries in 66 NRL games for the Sharks since his debut in 2019.

Gabrael played for City under-18s in 2023 against Country and was also part of Canterbury’s SG Ball team.

Tracey’s release along with that of Matt Moylan to the Super League gives the Sharks salary cap space to go after Warriors enforcer Addin Fonua-Blake.

The Sharks have struggled to fill the void left by several retirements in their pack and Fonua-Blake would be a huge coup for the club.

However, Fonua-Blake is also being chased hard by the Tigers, Bulldogs and Dragons sparking a bidding war for his services, after he was given a release from the final two years of his deal with the Warriors in 2025.

Originally published as Bulldogs snare Sharks utility Connor Tracey in player swap