NRL Transfer Market: Jamal Fogarty to join Raiders on three-year deal
The Raiders secured halfback Jamal Fogarty from the Titans on a long-term deal. Now the ex-Titan opens up on leaving the club he loves.
NRL
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The Raiders have bolstered their forward pack for 2022 by signing hard-running Cowboys prop Peter Hola on a two-year deal.
Big and powerful at 110kg and 192cm, Hola has been granted a release from the final year of his 2022 contract at the Cowboys to leave the club for Canberra.
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Hola has played 12 NRL games so far and will help the raiders fill the void of departed forwards Ryan James, Dunamis Lui and Sia Soliola.
Raiders recruitment manager Peter Mulholland said the 22-year-old former Junior Kiwi would fill an important role for Ricky Stuart following the departure of Sia Soliola and Dunamis Lui.
Hola has played 12 NRL games for the Cowboys and is a big unit, standing at 192cm and weighing 114kg.
“He provides us with a different body shape to what we have, he is more of a Joe Tapine build,” Mullholland said.
“He had a good conversation with Ricky before we agreed to terms.
“We have some good young forwards coming through and he fills an important part of our middle depth.”
The Raiders have a good mix of youth and experience with Hola joining the likes of Josh Papali’i, Emre Guler, Tapine, Ryan Sutton and Corey Horsburgh, while there is a huge rap on former Parramatta junior Trey Mooney and young Englishman Harry Rushton.
There is still a strong chance Adam Elliott will also end up at the Raiders next season.
Meanwhile, Canterbury have secured discarded Wests Tigers assistant coach Shane Millard.
Millard will oversee the club’s elite pathways program as head coach.
THE MEETING THAT BROUGHT FOGARTY TO CANBERRA
Departing Gold Coast co-captain Jamal Fogarty says he has no bad blood with the Titans in the wake of his shock release to the Raiders.
As revealed by News Corp, Fogarty has played his last game for the Titans after being granted permission to join the Green Machine next season on a three-year deal worth $1.2 million.
It represents the most lucrative contract of Fogarty’s career, giving the 27-year-old the chance to not only set himself up for life, but bring direction to a Canberra outfit craving an organising playmaker.
The Titans held Fogarty in such high esteem he was handed the co-captaincy in pre-season, but the Gold Coast are ready to install young gun Toby Sexton as their No.1 halfback in 2022 after his slick NRL debut this year.
Keen to secure his long-term future, Fogarty was granted permission to negotiate with rival clubs by the Titans and while taken aback by the sudden transfer, he says he will leave Parkwood with no regrets.
“I was surprised about the whole situation and how quickly it has come about,” said Fogarty, speaking for the first time about his move to the nation’s capital.
“My manager (Tas Bartlett of PSM) was able to get it all sorted and he has been awesome throughout the process of it all.
“We just need to adjust sometimes in life.
“I was excited to be the seven (halfback) for the Titans, especially after playing finals.
“I had my one-on-one review with the coach (Justin Holbrook). We were both honest and open, but the club had different ideas for me in 2022.”
Since his debut in 2017, Fogarty amassed 41 games in two stints with the Titans and has blossomed into a handy NRL playmaker over the last 18 months.
“My time at the Titans has been a journey of all sorts,” he said.
“There’s been great times and there’s been hard times.
“I came here as a 17-year-old kid with no idea about life. I got a taste of NRL in 2017 with two games but then went back to the Intrust Super Cup at Burleigh and found a job I loved.
“The 2020 season was an awesome year for me personally.
“I put up a fight and trained hard to make my way back from Intrust Super Cup to the NRL and then to become co-captain was something I’ll forever be proud of.
“I’m grateful for my journey.”
Canberra coach Ricky Stuart sees Fogarty as a steady foil for five-eighth Jack Wighton and the Indigenous All Stars playmaker is backing himself to fire at the Raiders.
“I’m excited to be joining the Raiders and their roster,” he said.
“I want to bring some clarity and direction with communication and game-management. I’m also excited to take my kicking game to a new level under Ricky and his staff and build some good combinations with all the players down there as well.
“They are a quality side and have been for the past few years. Hopefully I can make a difference to the team and the club.”
Raiders fill playmaker gap
Jamal Fogarty is a Raider.
The Gold Coast Titans co-captain has agreed to terms with Canberra to be their organising halfback for the next three years.
Both the Raiders and Titans management are in the process of announcing Fogarty’s formal release.
The NRL have ratified the three-year deal worth just over $1 million.
Despite being recognised as a leader of the Titans on and off the field, the former Australian Schoolboys halfback was likely to feel pressure from Gold Coast rising stars Toby Sexton, AJ Brimson and Tanah Boyd in 2022.
The Raiders were desperate to solve their playmaking options following the mid-season departure of George Williams.
Fogarty, 27, will partner star five-eighth Jack Wighton in the Raiders halves in 2022.
The Ingidenous All Stars playmaker confirmed his move to Canberra by agreeing to terms with the club on Friday.
TIGERS MAKE A PEACH OF A RECRUITING MOVE
Tyrone Peachey is a Wests Tiger.
The Tigers have officially announced the signing of the utility to a two-year deal worth about $750,000.
Peachey returns to Sydney after spending the past three seasons at the Titans.
“I’m really excited to join the club and get stuck into work with Wests Tigers,” Peachey said.
“I’ve been really impressed by Madge and the way he approaches the game and I’m looking forward to working under him. I know that I perform my best when I’ve got a strong coach who can keep me accountable, and I’ve really enjoyed speaking with him lately.
“I’ve been through the process of seeing young players step up into the NRL and what needs to change for the club to be successful. It’s a good chance for me to not only help on the field but also give the young players some direction and help this team play finals footy.
Wests Tigers Coach Michael Maguire said Peachey would be a strong addition for the club.
“I’m really pleased to welcome Tyrone to our team and to have his experience and versatility as part of our club,” Maguire said.
“Tyrone is a real competitor in all that he does on and off the field, and he will add a lot to the way that we want to play moving forward.”
The 30-year-old also had interest from Parramatta but opted for the Tigers where he will join fellow recruits Jackson Hastings and Oliver Gildart.
HATCHINGS AND DISPATCHINGS FOR PANTHERS, RABBITOHS
Canterbury and Brisbane are the big winners from the graduating grand final class of 2021, adding much needed premiership experience to their rosters.
Penrith and South Sydney will pay for their success with their rosters already targeted by rival clubs as they prepare for their own premiership campaigns next season.
At least eight players from both clubs will begin next year at a new team while a host of other players remain off contract at the end of this season.
Meanwhile, Penrith are set to face a salary cap squeeze as they look to secure the services of Viliame Kikau who is off contract at the end of next year but can sign with rivals clubs from November 1.
The Broncos and Bulldogs will pick up some handy players from the nailbiting decider, with Newcastle and St George Illawarra to also benefit with the addition of State of Origin representatives.
The future of South Sydney’s Benji Marshall remains uncertain with reports he may decide to hang up the boots this week following an incredible 18-year NRL career.
However, the 36-year-old has also been linked with a move to the Gold Coast while promising Panthers prop Spencer Leniu could be on the look out for a new club despite being contracted until the end of 2023 due to salary cap pressure.
PENRITH
Matt Burton (Bulldogs): Nobody will be happier with his grand final performance than Canterbury coach Trent Barrett. Burton will link with the former Penrith assistant next year and will move from the centres to his preferred five-eight role at Belmore.
Replacement options: Grand final hero Stephen Crichton is expected to move back into the centres for Burton with Charlie Staines, Taylan May, Robert Jennings and Sunia Turuva the options for a wing spot.
Kurt Capewell (Broncos): Likewise, the Broncos will be keen to welcome Capewell into their forward pack after his defensive effort in the decider. The Maroons representative returns to his home state and will be key member of Kevin Walters’ side.
Replacement options: Panthers bench player Scott Sorensen could be the easy choice to replace Capewell in the starting backrow spot, while youngster Izack Tago shapes as another handy option.
Brent Naden (Bulldogs): Though he didn’t play in this year’s grand final, Naden witnessed first hand what it takes to be the best. That experience alone will be a huge benefit to the 2021 wooden spooners Canterbury.
Replacement options: The Panthers are stacked with talent in their outside back options, including Crichton, Staines, Jennings and May.
Tevita Pangai Jr (Bulldogs): Similarly with Naden, Pangai Jr had a glimpse into the makings of a champion side. He didn’t take the field on Sunday night but he will be hungry to claim a premiership ring of his own.
Replacement options: The Panthers aren’t short of prop forwards, with James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota set to be the long-term options in the Penrith engine room.
RABBITOHS
Dane Gagai (Knights): Gagai returns to Newcastle with a wealth of experience to a side that is on the up. He joins a squad boasting the likes of Kalyn Ponga and Bradman Best which shapes as a dangerous backline in 2022.
Replacement options: With Latrell Mitchell to return to fullback, it could push youngster Blake Taaffe to the centres, while Taane Milne, Steven Marsters and Jed Cartwright also come into the frame.
Braidon Burns (Bulldogs): The talented centre has only just linked up with Canterbury this week but shapes as a key member of the Bulldogs squad. Burns joins the likes of Matt Burton, Josh Addo-Carr, Matt Dufty and Brent Naden in an impressive backline squad.
Replacement options: The loss comes on top of the news that Gagai is leaving the Rabbitohs, but the club has a host of talented fringe players to fill his spot such as those listed above – and Josh Mansour waiting in the wings too.
Adam Reynolds (Broncos): It wasn’t the ending to his Souths career Reynolds would have wanted, but it could stir the motivation to go one better with the Broncos. He’s a big-game player – just what a young Broncos squad needs next year.
Replacement options: Rookie star Blake Taaffe has played in the halves before while youngsters Lachlan Ilias, Dean Hawkins and incoming former Bronco Anthony Milford also provide options.
Jaydn Su’A (Dragons): The Maroons representative has turned into a bruising defender during his time with Souths and the Dragons will be champing at the bit to use his services.
Replacement options: The Bunnies have the likes of Jacob Host and Brock Gardner at their disposal to fill that starting backrow spot.
BULLDOGS COMMIT TO KEEPING THOMPSON
– James Phelps
Luke Thompson has been taken off the open market with Canterbury telling rival NRL clubs their $850,000-a-year prop is no longer for sale.
In a move that will end speculation about the English forward’s future, Thompson has been told his place at Belmore is guaranteed for at least another two years.
News Corp can reveal two of the club’s that were interested in signing Thompson have been told that he is no longer up for grabs.
“We were having a look at him,” said a rival NRL coach, who asked not to be named.
“But we were told he is no longer on the market. I don’t think it was going to work out for them (the Bulldogs) so he is staying.”
Thompson was given permission to negotiate with rival clubs in August despite being signed until the end of 2023.
After having an extension request for 2024 and beyond knocked back, Thompson was told he would be released from the remaining two years of his deal if he was able to secure a long-term deal with another club.
Thompson attracted plenty of interest but none of the suitors were prepared to match his $850,000-a-year salary at the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs officially took the “for sale” sign down when rival clubs began asking Canterbury to payout a percentage of the forward’s deal.
With Thompson’s future now guaranteed and South Sydney centre Braidon Burns confirmed as the club’s latest recruit, the biggest Bulldogs spending spree since the Super League is all but over.
Having signed a long list of players headlined by attacking stars Josh Addo-Carr, Matt Burton and Matt Dufty, the Bulldogs have filled 29 out of 30 spots on their NRL roster.
DOGS POUNCE TO SIGN BUNNY
—David Riccio
The Bulldogs’ overhaul from their wooden spoon continues with Canterbury confirming the signing of overlooked South Sydney outside back Braidon Burns on a two-year deal.
The Daily Telegraph last week reported the 25-year-old, who originally hails from Dubbo, was in the Bulldogs’ sights.
The signing of Burns adds to the Bulldogs’ impressive list of new recruits for 2022 which includes Brent Naden, Josh Addo-Carr, Matt Burton, Tevita Pangai Jr and Paul Vaughan.
“There is a genuine feeling here at the Bulldogs that we are putting together a very exciting squad for next season and beyond,” Bulldogs chief executive Aaron Warburton said.
“Adding depth in all positions is something that we have worked hard to achieve, and to be able to sign someone of Braidon’s ability and strikepower is a major boost for our backline.
“Braidon is a hard worker who wants the chance to succeed, and we are delighted that he has chosen to come to Belmore at a time when he is moving into the best stage of his career.”
Burns missed out on selection in the Rabbitohs’ team for last Sunday’s grand final loss to Penrith. Without a contract at the Bunnies for next season, Burns had also fielded interest from the Wests Tigers and Cronulla.
Burns provides further depth to the Bulldogs backline and immediate cover for young centre Aaron Schoupp, who could miss the start of next season following shoulder surgery.
Burns has played 40 games since 2017, with his career stymied by a serious knee injury. He played just eight matches for the Rabbitohs this year.
Canterbury’s acquisition of Burns has sparked discussion among rival clubs that highly-paid winger Nick Cotric could be squeezed out of the club.
However, the Dogs have the salary cap room to sign Burns while also keeping Cotric.
“Not happening. Never happening,’’ Bulldogs GM Phil Gould said on Twitter when asked if Cotric had been in discussions with Parramatta.
WOODS SET TO SIGN WITH DRAGONS
— Brent Read, Michael Carayannis, Dean Ritchie
St George Illawarra are ready to hand former Wests Tigers and Cronulla prop Aaron Woods a lifeline by offering him the opportunity to extend his first grade career into a 12th year.
News Corp understands that Woods could also receive a second year under the agreement, which is expected to be finalised in the next 48 hours.
Woods was one of the biggest names without a contract for next season after being told he was not part of the plans for incoming Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon.
At one point, it looked like he might return to the Tigers — he also had interest from the English Super League — but the Dragons have weighed in with a deal that will allow the former NSW and Australian forward to continue his rugby league career in the NRL.
The 30-year-old was one of the Sharks’ most consistent and durable performers this season, captaining the side at times as they narrowly missed out on the finals.
Crucially, he will provide experience to a Dragons side that struggled in its first year under coach Anthony Griffin as they dealt with difficulties on the field and drama off it.
Their cause wasn’t helped by the BBQ-gate scandal that led to players being suspended en masse for breaching government health guidelines. Having made a fast start to the year, the Dragons’ season spiralled out of control after that as they ended the year in 11th place, four points adrift of the top eight.
Woods should steady the ship while at the time help fill the void created should one of the club’s more experienced forwards — Tariq Sims — opt to leave.
Sims has one year remaining on his deal with the Dragons but has been given permission to explore his options on the open market. Chances are if he can secure a lucrative offer elsewhere, the Dragons won’t stand in their way.
Woods’ fresh deal emerged on the same day the Wests Tigers closed in on a contract for former Gold Coast Titans utility Tyrone Peachey.
Tigers officials on Monday morning confirmed they were in talks with the former NSW player and it is understood the club is in the process of finalising the paperwork for the 30-year-old.
Peachey was on the open market after the Titans opted not to extend his deal at the Gold Coast. The Tigers and Raiders were initially linked with the versatile Peachey and it appears the former have won the day.
The Tigers have around $1.5 million of salary cap space for next season and four spots to fill. Peachey will now occupy one of those spots and provide cover for the halves, centres and back row.
The Tigers have undergone significant upheaval already in the off-season and the changes at the coaching level continued on Monday morning when the club announced they had parted ways with assistant Shane Millard by mutual agreement.
Millard joined the Tigers as an assistant in 2020 and his departure means the club must now replace both their assistants from last year — Wayne Collins has also left the club.
It is understood the Tigers are in the process of identifying potential members of Michael Maguire’s coaching staff — they have been heavily linked with premiership winner Shane Flanagan and former Featherstone coach Ryan Carr.
DOGS OFFER MAX CONTRACT
— Michael Carayannis and Dean Ritchie
Canterbury’s recruitment drives continues with the Bulldogs set to sign Melbourne forward Max King.
The Bulldogs have shown there is no off-season with the club among the most active. Injury hampered his 2021 season, with King unable to take to the field in a first grade game for the Storm.
He had off-season Achilles surgery. King 24, has played 50 top grade games since making his debut for the Titans in 2017.
PANTHERS CONFIDENT OF KEEPING KIKAU
—Dean Ritchie
Penrith chief executive Brian Fletcher has revealed why Dally M second-rower Viliame Kikau wants to re-sign with the club long-term, declaring: “He belongs at the Panthers and doesn’t want to go anywhere.”
Kikau, 26, has another season remaining at Penrith, although rival clubs are free to start negotiations with him from November 1.
While big money will be hurled at Kikau, Fletcher said his giant forward had just bought a home in Penrith and wanted to remain at the club.
Penrith hopes to nail down a three-year extension that would keep Kikau at the club until the end of 2025.
“Viliame belongs at the Panthers – that’s where his mates are, that’s where he lives – and that’s the way I think it will turn out,” Fletcher said.
“He is signed for 2022 and we haven’t seen any indication from him or his management suggesting he doesn’t want to stay and extend his contract. There’s no suggestion he wants to go anywhere.
“Viliame has just bought a nice, big home in Penrith and he’s very good mates with all the Polynesian boys. We have brought him up through the juniors to get him to this level so we will do everything in our power to keep him.”
Most agree Kikau is worth between $750,000 and $900,000 a season.
TITANS’ SHOCK CALL ON CO-CAPTAIN’S FUTURE
— Peter Badel, Travis Meyn, Brent Read
Jamal Fogarty has been given permission to negotiate with rival clubs by the Titans – clearing the path for the Gold Coast co-captain to sign with the Raiders.
News Corp can reveal the Titans have softened their stance after originally playing hardball with Fogarty, agreeing on Wednesday night to release the playmaker from the final two years of his Gold Coast deal.
Fogarty’s agent has spent the past 24 hours in urgent talks with the Titans to discuss a possible early release after Gold Coast indicated rising star Toby Sexton would be the No. 1 halfback next season.
The 27-year-old has effectively played his last game for the Titans, with Fogarty expected to finalise a transfer with another NRL club by the weekend.
Fogarty’s management will explore the open market immediately to gauge the level of interest in the late-blooming, 41-game playmaker.
But the Raiders remain the frontrunners to secure Fogarty’s signature.
Canberra coach Ricky Stuart is a fan of Fogarty with the Raiders to formally open negotiations on Thursday armed with a two-year deal to bring the Indigenous All Stars playmaker to the nation’s capital next season.
There were suggestions Fogarty would be released as part of a straight swap with Josh Hodgson, but it is understood the Titans will not sign the classy Canberra hooker.
Fogarty’s swift departure from Parkwood will come as a shock.
The Titans held Fogarty in such high regard that he was handed the co-captaincy in February and just three months ago, he inked a 12-month extension keeping him at the Gold Coast until the end of 2023.
But the emergence of boom understudy Sexton, who made his NRL debut in July, left Fogarty on shaky ground at the Titans.
Gold Coast coach Justin Holbrook will give the 20-year-old Sexton first crack at the No. 7 jumper next season, a scenario which left Fogarty in danger of being relegated to the second-tier Intrust Super Cup.
Realising he was potentially on the outer, Fogarty raised the prospect of exploring other opportunities. The Titans initially rejected his request to look around, but have backflipped on their hard line stance to enable Fogarty to secure his NRL future.
Fogarty has a solid record at the Titans – he has won 17 games for a 41 per cent success rate – but there is a view Sexton, the former Australian Schoolboys star who is seven years younger, offers greater long-term promise.
Fogarty was outstanding against Canberra last season, scoring 16 points in a 44-6 rout of the Raiders in July, and that performance piqued the interest of Stuart.
A former champion playmaker, Stuart likes what he sees in Fogarty.
The Canberra coach wants a low-maintenance halfback with a good kicking game to complement the running game of five-eighth Jack Wighton and Fogarty, one of the Titans’ best trainers, ticks a number of boxes.
Fogarty underlined his status as one of the NRL’s most popular clubmen at the Dally M Awards last Monday night, named as a finalist for the Ken Stephen Medal for services to the rugby league community.
EELS TARGET TITAN
Parramatta are attempting to solve the problem area that contributed to their faltering finals campaign by signing veteran hooker Mitch Rein.
Without influential dummy-half Reed Mahoney (shoulder) to guide them, the Eels were found wanting in their ability to cover the key hooker position in their run to the finals.
Capable without threatening the opposition, back-up hookers Ray Stone and Joey Lussick were both used by Parramatta coach Brad Arthur with the omission of Mahoney in the club’s season-ending semi-final loss to Penrith proving to be of major significance.
Lussick is headed to St Helens in the UK, creating a spot in the Eels roster.
Rein, 31, has met with the Eels coaching staff after being let go by the Titans, where he has spent the past four seasons.
The 208-game hooker — who has also had stints at St George-Illawarra and Penrith — would add valuable experience to the Eels’ 2022 roster.
TRANSFER TWIST TO SOLVE PLAYMAKER PROBLEMS
— Brent Read
Canberra’s search for a new No. 7 is going to be one of the stories of the off-season.
It has already caused ructions across the NRL and while the Raiders are willing to be patient in their pursuit of a new playmaker, the clock is ticking.
Parramatta’s Dylan Brown was the initial priority but there is an acceptance now that he is likely to stay at the Eels and take up his option for 2023.
With Brown believed to be comfortable where he is, Jamal Fogarty and Chanel Harris-Tevita appeared on the Raiders radar.
There are problems with both. For a start, Fogarty has two years remaining on his deal with the Titans and Gold Coast have made it clear they won’t be releasing him.
That said, there is a school of thought that the Titans need for an experienced No. 7 isn’t as dire or important as their requirement for a player capable of filling the No. 9 jersey and giving the side some direction.
The Titans are known to hold an interest in Melbourne’s Brandon Smith — they aren’t on their own. The alternative could be Raiders hooker Josh Hodgson.
Hodgson is about to enter the last year of his deal and the likelihood is that the Raiders will head in another direction in 2023.
Hodgson would be the ideal fit for a Gold Coast spine that badly lacks experience and nous. Hence the internal talks at both clubs about the merits of a potential swap of Fogarty and Hodgson.
There are notable issues, most significantly their respective pay packets. Fogarty is on a lot less than Hodgson — the difference in their salaries is believed to be around $500,000 next season.
Regardless, it makes a lot of sense. In the absence of an experienced No. 7 — Toby Sexton would fill the void if Fogarty was to leave — the Titans need a No. 9 capable of directing their side around the park.
The Raiders don’t need a world-beater at halfback, just a No. 7 capable of taking the heat off Jack Wighton and allowing him to do what he does best – run the ball.
Harris-Tevita could also fill that role but he has another year remaining on his deal at the Warriors and they are unlikely to let him go unless they have a ready-made replacement.
They hold an interest in Cronulla speedster Luke Metcalf, but the Sharks have no plans to allow him to leave.
EELS SET TO MAKE CALL ON ARTHUR
Parramatta wanted to wait until after the finals to make a call on coach Brad Arthur’s future.
They wanted to see improvement in the Eels and evidence that the squad was still responding to his coaching.
They wanted a reason to offer Arthur an extension beyond his existing contract, which expires at the end of next season.
Parramatta may have fallen short against Penrith, but Arthur walked away with his reputation enhanced and an extension in his future.
The expectation is that Eels officials will look to get a deal done with Arthur sooner rather than later as they back their coach to take the next step in coming years. Arthur’s future has been a burning topic of debate for much of the year given the Eels had fallen short on a number of occasions on his watch.
They fell short again against the Panthers, but the nature of the loss suggested the players are still buying what Arthur is selling. They had several calls go against them against Penrith and had hooker Reed Mahoney been fit to play, there is every chance Parramatta would have won.
As it was, the side showed enough to suggest Parramatta have the right man in charge.
Arthur is about to enter his ninth year at the helm and he will now be offered the chance to coach the side into a 10th season.
The Eels hinted at their satisfaction with Arthur in a letter to members from chair Sean McElduff and chief executive Jim Sarantinos this week that reviewed the season.
“There is a strong sense of pride in our team given the way they responded to a period of adversity in the latter part of the season, and the brave performance against Penrith in week two of the finals,” they wrote.
“While we fell short of our goal this season, the club has qualified for the finals in three successive years which is an achievement worth recognising.
“Our players and staff demonstrated a commitment to each other and the blue and gold jersey and a level of connection as a group that has us all looking forward with optimism to 2022.”
The Eels are unlikely to tinker with their squad much next season but there is room to make some changes the year after given the number of players who are off contract at the end of 2022.
Parramatta have resumed negotiations with some of those players and chances are they will lock them away in coming weeks as they look to secure their futures before November 1, when other clubs and potentially an expansion side can recruit them.
Mahoney is among the priorities given expansion looms on the horizon and the Dolphins — the team expected to win the bidding process — are keen to sign as many Queenslanders as possible.
Mahoney also hails from the Sunshine Coast, one of the areas that the Dolphins plan to use as a feeder for their NRL side.
The Dolphins’ first priority will be one of Queensland’s guns – Cameron Munster, Kalyn Ponga or Harry Grant.
If they land Munster or Ponga, don’t be surprised if Mahoney is next cab off the rank. The Eels are aware and ready to put up a fight as they look to get an extension done before November 1.
WHY NRL CLUBS REALLY FEAR SECOND BRISBANE TEAM
— Paul Crawley
One of the NRL’s most respected recruitment chiefs has warned “every club is going to suffer” from an “inflated” player market brought on by the arrival of a second Brisbane team in 2023.
That is the forecast from Canberra’s veteran scout Peter Mulholland who said if Wayne Bennett is appointed as the new franchise’s head coach it will only add to the appeal for off-contract players.
This comes as Parramatta officially kicked off negotiations with Clint Gutherson, Junior Paulo and Reed Mahoney on Friday after general manager of football Mark O’Neill met leading player agent Sam Ayoub.
The trio all come off contract at the end of next season and Queenslander Mahoney, in particular, would be an ideal target for the new Brisbane team.
But he’s certainly not on his own with all players whose contracts end at the end of 2022 free to start negotiating with rivals from November 1.
Among the biggest stars up for grabs include Brandon Smith, Christian Welch, Felise Kaufusi, Viliame Kikau, Joey Manu, Cody Walker, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and many, many more.
Add to that Kalyn Ponga, Dylan Brown and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, who all have player options in their favour, and Harry Grant, who has a mutual option with the Storm.
The Eels also have Ryan Matterson, Maiko Sivo, Isaiah Papali’i and Marata Niukore off-contract at the end of next season.
Mulholland said across the game the impact of a second Brisbane team will be huge given they will hit the market with the best part of $10 million to spend.
Daly Cherry-Evans is the game’s highest-paid player on a $1.175 million this season, but Mulholland agreed there is every chance 2023 will bring with it record salaries for the chosen few.
There is no question the new club will want to develop their own talent in time but, initially, they need to start with a squad capable of at least being competitive.
Which is why clubs are going to have more competition from a new franchise that has the added advantage of starting with a clean slate.
“Every club is going to suffer from it. It is going to inflate the player market,” Mulholland said. “They don’t have to worry about mistakes (of previous deals). They don’t have players out of form. They don’t have injuries.
“And if they don’t want a player but they want another player who is also coming off contract, then they can make offers and then withdraw them at the last minute to make sure the club has to pay more for the bloke that they don’t want.
“You have to deal with it but it will definitely inflate the player market.”
Mulholland still thinks the new team will have to pay overs for some players even with Bennett as the expected coach.
“Managers are not stupid,” he said. “You are going to a new club from an established club.
“Yeah, Wayne has got a great record but are they going to be as successful? It depends what motivates the player and at what stage of his career he is at.”
Revelations that it now appears a formality a second Brisbane team will be introduced for 2023 has been met with a mixed reaction from existing clubs.
One club boss explained how everyone is already reeling from the huge financial burden that has come with Covid, with clubs literally down millions of dollars in revenue in the last two years.
And even though the NRL has given clubs extra payments that still doesn’t cover their losses.
The general feeling among existing clubs is that they would prefer expansion goes ahead in 2024 to at least give them a little more time to recover from the Covid crisis.
Even next season it is expected there will still be some restrictions that will continue to cost clubs revenue.
But while they were told on a hook up on Friday that no official decision has been made they expect it is now just a matter of days before the decision officially drops on them.
Meanwhile, O’Neill had a zoom meeting with Ayoub on Thursday and that was followed with a face-to-face on Friday.
The club is extremely mindful to show respect to Gutherson in particular given the circus that eventuated the last time he came off contract.
Ayoub and the club recently decided to stop negotiations until the season was over but they are now back in talks and hoping to get it done sooner rather than later.
“We would like to get something resolved,” O’Neill said.
“We deliberately parked it there for a while towards the back-end of the season. But I am confident we will come to a good arrangement.”
O’Neill agreed the new Brisbane team would heat up the player market: “Absolutely and that is fair enough, I understand it.
“But I can only control what we want to control and those three players are a priority at our club and we want to look to try and get something sorted as soon as we can.”
Why Broncos said no to super-sub Peachey
The Brisbane Broncos have offered an NRL career lifeline to Ryan James, with the former Titans captain on the verge of inking a two-year deal with the Gold Coast’s M1 rival.
James is in the final stages of negotiating a release from Canberra to join the Broncos until potentially the end of 2023.
James has agreed to terms with the Broncos and just needs to finalise his exit from Canberra before the deal can be announced.
At 30 and with 158 games in the NRL, James will bring experience to Brisbane’s blossoming forward pack headlined by young gun props Payne Haas and Tom Flegler.
The Broncos assessed making a play for unwanted Titans utility Tyrone Peachey but baulked at his asking price and are set to keep spots open for the pre-season’s train-and-trialists.
James spent 11 years in the Titans’ NRL squad after debuting in 2010, playing 144 games for his local club that he went on to captain.
His final two years at the Titans were plagued by back-to-back knee reconstructions, with James only managing six games and not featuring at all in the 2020 season.
He resurrected his career under Ricky Stuart at the Raiders this year, making 12 NRL appearances for Canberra and two on-loan to Canterbury late in the season.
WE RATE EVERY BRONCOS PLAYER AND REVEAL THEIR CONTRACT STATUS
James was contracted to the Raiders for 2022, but will be released to return to Queensland to be closer to family and add an injection of experience to the Broncos.
James will become the seventh new face either signed or elevated into Brisbane’s top 30 by coach Kevin Walters for the 2022 season.
The Broncos have already snared South Sydney’s Adam Reynolds and Penrith’s Kurt Capewell as their two marquee recruits along with the likes of North Queensland’s Corey Jensen and Dragons winger Jordan Pereira.
While the Broncos boast some of the NRL’s best young forwards, Walters and football chief Ben Ikin have recognised the club is in need of some experience up front to help nurture the emerging brigade.
The Broncos recently released young forward Ethan Bullemor from his 2022 contract to Manly and will replace him in the forward rotation with James.
And they are not done yet, with two spots still remaining in their top 30 for next season.
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