Josh Addo-Carr transfer: South Sydney, Wests Tigers snub swap deal

As Josh Addo-Carr lines up a return to Sydney, his current club Melbourne Storm are targeting a host of top-line talent to replace him.

Storm has put a deadline on Josh Addo-Carr’s potential transfer negotiations.

Melbourne’s Josh Addo-Carr is facing an uphill battle to find a new club after a number of Sydney sides baulked at the Storm and the players they are targeting in return for the flyer.

On Wednesday, News Corp Australia revealed the Victorian powerhouse had been “fobbed off” when making approaches to Sydney clubs about Addo-Carr’s services.

Now we can reveal who fobbed off the Storm, as the club seeks a like-for-like replacement for the NSW Blues winger.

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It’s understood South Sydney were sounded out as a potential suitor but the door was quickly slammed shut on any move after the Storm requested a player swap with boom outside back Campbell Graham.

The Rabbitohs flatly refused to even entertain the idea, quickly ending any hope of Addo-Carr landing at Redfern. Graham is highly regarded at the Rabbitohs, where he is seen as a future leader.

The 21-year old has been in breakout form this season and was rewarded with a three-year extension that will keep him at the club until the end of 2024.

Storm wants adequate compensation for the loss of Josh Addo-Carr.

Graham has played on the wing since making his NRL debut in 2017 but has been used as a centre this year — where he has scored 11 tries and made 12 linebreaks.

The Storm have actively been working to secure a release for Addo-Carr, who is contracted until the end of the next season but wants to move back to Sydney to be closer to family.

“We have spoken to the club he wants to go to and inquired about a couple of players and they have fobbed us off,” Storm CEO Dave Donaghy said on Wednesday.

“It is their prerogative but it’s not helpful in trying to achieve an outcome for Josh.”

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It’s also believed a similar approach was made to the Wests Tigers, the front-runners to secure Addo-Carr’s signature and where the flyer made his NRL debut in 2016.

But like at South Sydney, the Tigers are unwilling to part with their brightest talent and it’s proving to be a major sticking point in Addo-Carr’s negotiations with the Concord club.

It’s understood the Storm sounded out the likes of Tommy Talau and form winger David Nofoaluma.

Last week, coach Michael Maguire made his feelings clear about any ­potential player swap with one of his Tigers stars.

“No chance,” he said. “There is no way in the world that Dave is leaving. He loves this club and you can see by the way he plays. I also really enjoy coaching Dave.”

Addo-Carr breaks the line against the Sydney Roosters this year.

Nofoaluma is enjoying career-best form and has been the Tigers’ best player all year.

The winger is also the competition’s leading try scorer (17) and is second only to Roosters superstar James Tedesco for tackle busts.

The Melbourne Storm have not given up hope of securing Addo-Carr a release for next season, the final year of his contract, but have placed a deadline on the process.

Unless a Sydney suitor, and a player swap, can be finalised within the next week, the matter will be parked until the end of October so Addo-Carr can concentrate on the approaching finals series.

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Originally published as Josh Addo-Carr transfer: South Sydney, Wests Tigers snub swap deal