St George, Cronulla make big NRL moves

FRESH from three blockbuster NRL player signings, two clubs have sprung into action to secure their stars.

Dragons star Gareth Widdop.

THE NRL player market is well and truly open for business and sides are busily trying to secure their big name stars.

Just a day after it was announced that James Tedesco (Sydney Roosters), Aaron Woods and Kieran Foran (Canterbury Bulldogs) would be making high profile moves to new clubs for 2018, the domino effect has seen two high profile players reportedly commit their future to their current clubs.

Fox Sports journalist James Hooper revealed on NRL Tonight that St George Illawarra have made the first move, locking down star half Gareth Widdop.

“Gareth Widdop their inspirational captain, he’s been the form five-eighth across the opening eight rounds of the competition — he is going to re-sign with St George Illawarra,” Hooper revealed.

“The Dragons have tabled a four year offer which will partner him at the scrumbase with their star signing for next season Ben Hunt.”

Hooper says the move was done with haste given the revelation that Tedesco and Woods would depart the Wests Tigers- meaning that the Concord based club could make a large offer to Widdop — prompting the Dragons into action.

“The domino effect from all these big announcements of Aaron Woods, James Tedesco and Kieran Foran means that St George Illawarra have firmed up Gareth Widdop.”

Gareth Widdop runs the ball for the Dragons.

The Dragons weren’t the only club to ensure they locked up one of their off-contacts halves.

Cronulla secured another piece of their premiership-winning squad after announcing the re-signing of halfback Chad Townsend until the end of the 2020 NRL season.

Townsend’s extension is likely to end speculation the club are considering pursuing off-contract playmakers in Melbourne’s Cooper Cronk and Canterbury’s Josh Reynolds.

“Chad is a local junior, a member of our premiership winning team and a very important member of our side,” Sharks coach Shane Flanagan said on Friday.

“While James Maloney and Chad are different types of players, they work well together and Chad is still relatively young and has some of his best football in front of him.”

After making his NRL debut with the club six years ago, Townsend spent two seasons with the Warriors in 2014 and 2015 before returning home to help the Sharks break their title drought last year.

The 26-year-old is the sixth player to recommit to the club this season after Sosaia Feki, Wade Graham, Valentine Holmes, Matt Prior and Kurt Capewell. Townsend joins Prior as the only players signed on past 2019.

“The guys who have committed for the next couple of years made me want to stick around and to be a part of that core group moving forward,” Townsend said. “We want to continue that success here at the Sharks.”

Cronulla Sharks half Chad Townsend.

It also comes hours after Flanagan declared his interest in players who could be squeezed out at rival clubs, including Canterbury captain James Graham. “It’ll be interesting to see who falls out,” Flanagan said.

“We’re always interested in good players and if they become available we’ll definitely have a look at them.

“James Graham ... all those players if they do become available, we’ll have a look and see if they fit our roster and our cap.” Skipper Paul Gallen, Luke Lewis, Chris Heighington, Gerard Beale and Sam Tagataese are the Sharks players from last year’s triumphant side that are uncontracted beyond the end of this season.

— AAP