NRL Expansion: South Sydney to ward off Dolphins raid with Wayne Bennett poaching clause
The Rabbitohs have moved swiftly to block a decimating raid on their grand final squad — as the NRL’s newest outfit plots its marquee poaching strategy.
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Souths inserted a secret anti-poaching clause in Wayne Bennett’s contract as it emerged two of the Rabbitohs’ marquee stars, Cody Walker and Latrell Mitchell, could be lost to the Dolphins as a package deal.
News Corp can reveal Bennett’s Rabbitohs deal contains a “non-solicitation” clause precluding him poaching Souths employees, including players, for a nominated period beyond the expiry of his contract on November 1.
Bennett insists he has no interest in decimating the Rabbitohs club he took to this year’s grand final, but player agents are bombarding the Dolphins coach-in-waiting with options as he compiles a foundation roster for the 17th team’s debut in 2023.
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The options include Souths aces Mitchell and Walker, the latter of whom is off-contract at the end of next season and tipped to sign only a one-year extension to keep him at Redfern until the end of 2023.
That scenario would leave Mitchell and Walker as free agents for 2024, opening the door for the South Sydney superstars to reunite with Bennett for the Dolphins’ second season in the big league.
Mitchell credits Bennett with saving his NRL career after his shock departure from the Roosters in 2019, while Walker regards the 71-year-old as his greatest mentor in football.
Mindful of the poaching threat posed by a second Brisbane team, the Rabbitohs made contractual moves to protect South Sydney from a potential raid orchestrated by a Bennett-coached 17th franchise.
It is understood Bennett, under the terms of his Souths deal, cannot move to poach Rabbitohs players, such as Mitchell and Walker, for a period of six months.
Bennett, honouring his word, won’t make the first move, but, equally, he won’t say no if Mitchell and Walker make a pact to play under him at the Dolphins from 2024.
Souths chief executive Blake Solly confirmed the non-poaching clause but is confident the Rabbitohs will never have to play legal hardball with Bennett given the strong relationship that underpinned the club’s grand-final surge.
“I think over the three years with Wayne it’s never been about agreements, it’s always been about the relationships between Wayne and the club,” Solly said.
“We would never want to rely on that agreement and we think Wayne would feel the same way.”
In February, Mitchell signed a two-year upgrade. He baulked at a longer-term extension to appraise the direction of the club in the post-Bennett era.
Walker will be 34 at the start of the 2024 premiership season, but Bennett believes the Indigenous playmaker can emulate Manly legend Cliff Lyons and play until his late 30s.
Solly remains confident the Bunnies can stave off the NRL’s 16 rivals, including the newly-admitted Dolphins, to keep Mitchell and Walker at Redfern.
“We retained Latrell until the end of 2023 at the start of the season and we are in talks with Cody as well,” he said.
“We would like to think that over the years both Cody and Latrell have been great for us at Souths and we have been pretty good for them.
“We would love them to be part of our long-term plans.”
In grand-final week, Walker spoke of his special relationship with Bennett.
“I love being coached by him,” he said. “Wayne is the best man manager, he connects with players on a personal level as opposed to just footy.
“As a coach, he allows you to play your style of footy. He doesn’t try to change who you are, he just wants you to play to your strengths and he gives you a belief in your ability. He is a great motivator. Some of his speeches and the way he protects his players is second to none.
“The list goes on. It’s hard to explain, but he knows what to say on a certain day and at this time of year, as a player you know he has a proven record of winning comps.”
RABBITOHS REACT: ‘IT WAS ALL FOR WAYNE’
By Paul Crawley
South Sydney boss Blake Solly has given Wayne Bennett the Rabbitohs’ full blessing to be the new head coach of Brisbane’s second NRL team.
Three years after Bennett was sacked unceremoniously by the Broncos, he is expected to take up the new position as the inaugural coach of Brisbane’s second NRL team in 2023, the Dolphins.
It will be an astonishing 37 years after Bennett first co-coached in the big league at Canberra in 1987 before first joining the Broncos the following season as their inaugural coach.
But while the 71-year-old super coach is yet to be officially unveiled, Solly all but put it beyond any doubt when he confirmed why Bennett won’t be available to stay involved at Souths next year.
Souths had kept the door open for Bennett to take on an advisory role working with new coach Jason Demetriou. But while not completely ruling out Bennett’s involvement, Solly suggested it was highly unlikely.
“I think Wayne will probably have to start moving pretty quickly,” Solly said in relation to the Dolphins getting the green light. “We have always left a job offer open to him subject to what he wants to do on the 17th team.
“So we are not going to withdraw the offer or anything like that. We will just wait and see.”
But he added no other coach would be offered the same position.
“No, it was all for Wayne,” Solly said.
Solly said there was just no denying Bennett was the perfect fit for the new Brisbane team.
“It is good for Wayne,” Solly said. “Wayne always had to go back to Brisbane for personal reasons, which we completely understood.
“I think if you were going to bring a 17th team in in Brisbane, Wayne has to be the coach.
“To give it not only the full chance of success on the field but the best chance of building a brand and an identity off it.”
But while also congratulating Redcliffe’s victory in the fight for the NRL’s 17th franchise, Solly called on the NRL to come good on a financial commitment to existing clubs and make it clear what the future funding will be.
It’s no secret that Solly and ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys butted heads on a recent phone hook-up between the club bosses.
While Solly was careful with his choice of words when we asked him about it, he did not hide from the fact that he felt existing clubs deserved to know “in writing” from both V’landys and NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo what the clubs will get.
“Now that the 17th team has been announced, we look forward to Peter and Andrew delivering on their commitment around funding of the existing 16 clubs,” Solly said.
“We have been told by both of them and the Commission repeatedly that expansion would only occur if it was good for the whole of the game.
“Now it is time for Peter and Andrew to make good on that commitment and confirm what the finances of the game and the clubs look like from 2023 onwards.”
DOLPHINS WANT QLD SUPERSTARS TO BE FACE OF THE CLUB
Queensland and Melbourne superstars Harry Grant and Cameron Munster are unwittingly jostling to become the Dolphins’ first major signing – and the public face of rugby league’s expansion franchise.
Multiple sources have told News Corp that the Dolphins desperately want a major first-up kill – and that player has to be a Queenslander.
Grant or Munster loom as the marquee player which new coach Wayne Bennett can build a team around from 2023.
South Sydney’s Cody Walker is another expected to be targeted by the Redcliffe-based club after establishing a strong bond with Bennett at Redfern over the past three seasons.
The Dolphins are aware that an early big-name signing would help with recruitment and club officials know a super spine will have the ability to attract players.
There could be contract complications with the Storm but Grant and Minster have privately expressed an interest in returning home to Queensland.
Grant has a complex ‘mutual contract’ for 2023 which offers him an option to stay or leave at a value set at around $500,000. A clause then clearly states Melbourne can increase that offer a month later to around $650,000.
If Melbourne elects to escalate the offer, Grant would be contracted for 2023. He would then be forced to seek a release if pursued by the Dolphins.
Those close to Grant are discussing a possible move to north Brisbane. His movements will also depend on Storm teammate, Brandon Smith, who appears likely to throw himself on the open market come November 1.
Grant and Bennett were together in Queensland’s successful 2020 State of Origin campaign.
Munster is under contract until the end of 2023 but could seek an early release to return to Queensland. He is also just one further indiscretion from possibly being sacked by frustrated Storm management.
News Corp has been told Munster is aware of the Dolphins’ interest.
Souths are desperate to re-sign Walker quickly to avoid the same messy contract saga which engulfed Adam Reynolds’ contract negotiations.
Walker is 31 and could secure around $1m a year over three seasons at Redcliffe.
While the Dolphins were formally announced as the NRL’s 17th franchise on Wednesday, officials have been working away quietly on a roster wish list for months.
Recruitment officers throughout the NRL claim Bennett would chase hardened, experienced players for the Dolphins’ first season.
Another well-known player being privately linked to the Dolphins is Canterbury fullback Matt Dufty, who has a one-year deal at Belmore.
Some say Dufty only signed for 2022 because he wanted to nail down a contract with the new franchise.
Other players being tenuously linked to the Dolphins include Isaiah Papali‘i, Alex Twal, Christian Welch, Blayke Brailey, Luciano Leilua, Reed Mahoney, Herbie Farnworth, Jaxson Paulo, Corey Horsburgh, Coen Hess, Kodi Nikorima, Tom Opacic and Jordan McLean.
Nikorima could be used as a utility player. English sources say St Helens utility forward Morgan Knowles could be next to join the NRL.
Despite signing a one-year deal with New Zealand Warriors on Wednesday, there is talk suggesting the Dolphins may look at former Gold Coast halfback Ash Taylor.
Bennett will shortly name his assistant coach with former Dragons stars Ben Hornby and Dean Young in the frame.
Young is currently a North Queensland assistant while Hornby coached with Bennett this year at Redfern.
Bennett has always maintained he will not pay big money for front-rowers.
Predicting the Dolphins can sign three, four or even five marquee players, as has been suggested, isn’t financially realistic.
Contract clause that could make Ponga a Dolphin
The Newcastle Knights have fired a warning shot at the new Brisbane NRL franchise, adamant superstar fullback Kalyn Ponga is going nowhere.
This comes amid fresh talk that Ponga’s potential switch into the halves might need to be fast tracked if Mitchell Pearce ends up heading off to the Super League next season.
Given Ponga is the current Queensland fullback, it is understandable that the 23-year-old has been mentioned as a potential target for the new team that will be coached by Wayne Bennett.
Ponga still has three years to run on his existing $1 million-a-season contract, but his current deal does include a player option for 2023 and 2024 that allows Ponga to talk to rivals come November 1.
Newcastle head of recruitment Clint Zammit didn’t want to go into the specific details of Ponga’s contract situation other than to say “it is technical”.
But he did concede there was a clause that gave Ponga the option of negotiating.
“I am not worried at all”, Zammit said when quizzed about a player option in Ponga’s contract.
“Obviously everyone will speculate now with Redcliffe coming in that they are going to target him.
“But I speak to Andre (Ponga’s father) every couple of days. He has never once said that.
“Every conversation we have had with Kalyn and Andre has been positive and I see no reason why he would leave.”
Meanwhile, Zammit also believes the long-term challenge of moving from fullback to five-eighth might be an added motivation that keeps Ponga at the club for years to come.
“I think in time we want to progress him to six,” Zammit said.
“I think that is his next challenge.”
Interestingly, talk of a potential positional switch comes as Pearce’s future at the Knights remains a source of conjecture.
Speculation just won’t go away that Pearce, 32, may still consider a switch to the Super League next season, despite having a year to run on his existing deal at Newcastle.
Pearce didn’t have the happiest of games in the Knights’ finals defeat to Parramatta, and his performance led to plenty of debate about whether or not his time in the NRL had come to an end.
That came after Pearce had been linked to a possible move to Catalans to replace the now retired James Maloney.
Andrew Johns then came out and said a move to France would be “a great opportunity” at this stage of Pearce’s career.
While that talk has since gone quite, it would still come as no great shock if Pearce was to make a late call and ask for a release before the start of pre-season.
Though it’s a topic no one at the Knights wants to discuss.
Zammit would not speculate on Pearce’s situation other than to say he had a year to run on his deal.
“There has been a heap of talk but he hasn’t come to us about it,” Zammit said.
COULD DOLPHINS TAKE A PUNT ON ONE OF STORM ‘POWDER TRIO’?
Aspiring second Brisbane team the Dolphins are ready to capitalise on a market frenzy following revelations star NRL trio Brandon Smith, Reed Mahoney and Anthony Milford are open to offers from the expansion franchise.
Smith, Mahoney and former Broncos $1 million man Milford enter the final year of their contracts on November 1, meaning they are free to speak to rival clubs about contracts for the 2023 season and beyond.
One or all three shape as prime targets for the expansion side when it is finally announced, most likely later this week.
The ARL Commission has scheduled a meeting where they are expected to confirm that the Redcliffe-backed Dolphins have won the day, securing the right to enter an expanded 17-team competition from 2023.
That announcement will turn the NRL player market on its head as the new side starts piecing together a competitive squad for their entry to the NRL, almost certainly with seven-time premiership winner Wayne Bennett at the helm.
Smith was recently embroiled in Melbourne’s white-powder scandal, triggering a $15,000 fine and one-match ban, but that saga won’t stop the Storm hooker being chased heavily by NRL rivals.
Smith has an extension offer on the table from the Storm but his agent Stan Martin confirmed he would head to market on November 1, a decision that will be music to the ears of Brisbane’s new franchise.
“I’m not doing anything until at least November. Then we will see what the market says,” Martin said. “Brandon is not doing anything with anybody. He is just keeping his head down, which is what he should do.“
The Storm tabled an offer to Smith some months ago and then returned with a second offer not long after. Martin has been sitting on those deals, waiting for November to arrive to get a sense of what rival clubs are willing to pay Smith.
The New Zealand hooker was one of three Storm players recently caught up in their off-field drama, but that incident is unlikely to affect his value, nor the interest in him among rival clubs.
Only a matter of weeks ago, speaking before Melbourne’s finals loss to Penrith, Smith acknowledged he was happy at the Storm but open to interest from the NRL’s 17th team.
“Of course it has appeal,” Smith said of joining a second Brisbane team.
“My parents just moved to Brissie, so it’s an option. I have put everything aside and come November 1, when I can get formal offers, there will be a lot of discussions between me and my manager.
“I guess any club is a hope, but my preference is to stay here. I want to sort my future out sooner rather than later. I want it done sometime during the pre-season, but before I sign anything, I want to be able to address the Storm if I am leaving.”
While Smith’s signing would no doubt hold appeal, so would that of Mahoney. The Eels hooker has the added advantage of hailing from the Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, an area that the Dolphins in particular want to cultivate.
Parramatta are expected to step up talks with Mahoney next week as they look to shore off interest from elsewhere, most notably the 17th team.
The Eels have made no secret of their desire to hold onto their No. 9 but they have a number of players entering the final year of their deals and face a challenge to retain them all, particularly if the new side has the inflationary impact on player wages that many expect.
“Parramatta are keen to keep Reed,” Mahoney’s agent Sam Ayoub said.
“Reed is no different to any other player who is coming off contract if they haven’t finalised terms with their club. Not every player coming off contract next year will be rushing to do a deal with the new club.”
The new side is likely to prioritise the spine positions, no doubt fuelling their interest in the likes of Smith and Mahoney.
Brisbane five-eighth Milford, who will join South Sydney next season, also shapes as a logical target for the new side given he has only agreed a one-year deal and has a good relationship with Bennett.
“Reed and Anthony are professional footballers, so if a second Brisbane team was to show interest and want to talk to them, of course they will consider it,” Ayoub said.
SUPERSTAR NAMES ATOP EXPANSION TEAM’S WISHLIST
NRL clubs are bracing for a domestic poaching raid with a new second Brisbane team set to target a posse of big-name stars including Payne Haas, David Fifita, Tino Fa’asuamaleuai, Reed Mahoney and Viliame Kikau.
The ARL Commission will formally announce Brisbane’s second team next week in a move that will trigger a market frenzy for the 158 NRL players who will come off-contract next season.
Queensland’s fourth team will be permitted to go shopping from November 1 this year armed with a $10 million chequebook to target the likes of Cody Walker, Brandon Smith, Christian Welch and Anthony Milford for their NRL debut in 2023.
But the teams poised to come under greatest attack are Queensland’s three NRL sides the Broncos, Titans and Cowboys, who will have a total of 61 players available over the next two seasons.
Cowboys Origin ace Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is off-contract next season, as is Maroons teammate Fa’asuamaleaui, who has an option in his favour with the Titans for 2023, meaning he can field formal offers from next month.
Fa’asuamaleaui’s Titans colleague Fifita can attract offers from November 1 next year, while the Broncos will have 23 players coming off-contract by the end of 2023, including Pat Carrigan, Herbie Farnworth and Corey Oates next season.
While Haas is locked in at Red Hill until 2024, the NSW Origin enforcer will be only 24 when he becomes a free agent and would be an obvious target for a second Brisbane side looking to erode the Broncos’ roster.
WANTED: QUEENSLANDERS WITH TALENT
Some have more to lose than others. Several clubs will be natural targets for a 17th team because they have what the expansion sides covet – Queenslanders with talent.
Much has been made of Parramatta’s swag of players who come off contract at the end of 2022, right in time for the start of the 17th team in 2023. Of those, hooker Reed Mahoney is the most logical target for expansion sides because he fills a spine position and hails from Queensland.
That means he is right in the sweet spot for the 17th team – a local boy who has made good and may want to head home. The Eels are desperate to keep Mahoney but negotiations are yet to be finalised, meaning he is up for grabs.
There is no question the expansion side – no matter which bid is successful – will want their first signing and marquee name to be a Queenslander. That’s why Mahoney holds such appeal. So too Melbourne star Cameron Munster and Newcastle fullback Kalyn Ponga.
The Storm know they have some challenges coming their way. Munster aside, prop Christian Welch is a natural fit for the 17th team along with back rower Felise Kaufusi – both are off contract at the end of 2022.
Penrith are ready to sit down and step up talks with Api Koroisau, Dylan Edwards and Viliame Kikau. Of that trio, Kikau is the most likely to leave and he has spent time in Queensland – he once played for the Cowboys.
“It is what it is,” Penrith chief executive Brian Fletcher said.
“The beauty of it is, we have a great team and because we’re in the winning mode it is easier to keep them. If you are a Queensland club, I would be worried.”
That worry is only heightened because of the incoming coach. Money aside, the new team will benefit from the pulling power of Wayne Bennett, who is expected to be confirmed as the 17th team’s coach not long after they secure the licence.
Again, the winner is immaterial. They all want Bennett, a man who notably has a strong relationship with a host of players across the NRL including South Sydney star Cody Walker and Warriors prop Matt Lodge, who made his return to rugby league after a long ban at the Redcliffe Dolphins.
South are in the throes of extending Walker to keep him out of the clutches of expansion while Lodge has an option in his contract at the end of 2022.
BRONCOS READY TO RUMBLE WITH NEW RIVAL
Brisbane football chief Ben Ikin is mindful of the threat of a 17th team but welcomed the challenge of improving the Broncos’ operations to convince a generation of stars to stay loyal to the NRL’s richest club.
Asked about NRL expansion hopefuls the Jets, Dolphins or Firehawks attempting to poach Haas, Ikin said: “The second Brisbane team is a threat to all our players.
“The 17th franchise is not just a threat to us, they will put pressure on everyone else to make sure they are running a good business.
“Whoever gets the licence will certainly bring into the marketplace a genuine local competitor and what is true for rugby league is true for most industries.
“When there is someone else that does what you do in the same market, it’s then imperative that inside your business you are doing things as well as you possibly can to be the first-choice for those that play and work at your club.
“That’s our focus, doing things as well as well as we possibly can, so that people choose the Broncos, whether that’s fans, coaches, sponsors or players.
“Every club would be fearing the same (with the introduction of a second Brisbane team) – the player transfer market is fast-moving and fluid.
“I dare say whoever gets the 17th licence will take exactly the same approach, but it’s not a new battle. We have 15 other clubs playing in the NRL now as a competitive threat.
“Most players these days are prepared to go wherever the game is played, so that’s not a new threat, it’s just a more local threat with a second Brisbane team.”
Brisbane chief executive Dave Donaghy said the Broncos are ready for a new rival. They have enjoyed a 24-year monopoly in Brisbane since the death of the South Queensland Crushers in 1997.
“Brisbane is an incredible city,” he said. “With the Olympics coming in 2032, it’s got a golden decade ahead of it. How we capitalise on the growth of Brisbane is in our hands. If a second team comes in, we are ready for the challenge and the opportunity.”
Of a fresh Brisbane poaching threat, he added: “It’s no different to what we face from the 15 other NRL teams and other rugby codes around the world.”
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Originally published as NRL Expansion: South Sydney to ward off Dolphins raid with Wayne Bennett poaching clause
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