NRL Market Watch: Race for free agents heats up, Dragons’ list of Ben Hunt replacements, Sam Walker signs contract extension
A number of the game’s hottest free agents are preparing for decisive talks in the coming days as the look to lock down their NRL futures. See the state of play for the off-contract stars, plus the latest transfer news.
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A number of off-contract NRL stars will hold decisive talks over their futures in the coming days as the race to secure some of the game’s biggest free agents heats up.
Clubs searching for a middle forward now suddenly have a new target on the market in Sydney Roosters star Terrell May after he was given permission to look for a new home.
May is one of many stars looking to secure their futures for 2025 and beyond in the coming weeks, including Leo Thompson and Daniel Atkinson.
We take a look at the state of play:
TERRELL MAY
The hardworking prop has been on tour with Samoa in England but will return Australia on Wednesday and meet with his manager David Rawlings to discuss his options.
He’s been given permission to talk other clubs despite only agreeing to two-year extension with the Roosters six months ago.
Clubs like the Wests Tigers, Canterbury and St George Illawarra are in the market for a middle forward and have expressed preliminary interest in May.
If a deal can be struck with a rival outfit, he’ll be granted an immediate release by the Roosters.
LEO THOMPSON
The Knights have tabled a revised upgrade and extension to Thompson which he discussed with his management over the weekend.
Thompson has been focused on Test commitments with New Zealand, meaning his contract negotiations have been put on the back-burner but they are set to ramp up now that he has completed his Pacific Championship duties with the Kiwis.
The Knights remain hopeful that they can convince Thompson to stay beyond 2025, but the next week or so will be telling as he weighs up a lucrative deal to stay in Newcastle.
DANIEL ATKINSON
The Cronulla playmaker has just returned from a holiday in Thailand and will meet with his manager Michael Hudson on Thursday to discuss his options for 2025 and beyond.
It’s understood the Dragons are keen on the Sunshine Coast product and he is viewed as a long-term option in the halves as the club searches for a halfback succession plan after Ben Hunt’s immediate exit.
Atkinson has expressed a desire to remain at Cronulla but Braydon Trindall’s decision to sign a three-year deal with the Sharks could limit his starting opportunities at the club.
CLINT GUTHERSON
A move to the Dragons for the Parramatta skipper is close to being finalised.
The Dragons and Gutherson’s management are hashing out the finer details of his contract, plus waiting on a medical clearance, before officially signing a three-year deal.
Gutherson is likely to line-up at fullback in Shane Flanagan’s outfit, forcing Tyrell Sloan to the wing to make way for him.
JAMES TEDESCO
With the Roosters officially locking in halfback Sam Walker until the of 2027 on Monday, attention now turns to the retention of skipper James Tedesco.
The 31-year-old fullback is a free agent and unsigned beyond 2025 but an extension is imminent.
He told this masthead late last week that he still ‘plenty of years left’ and wants to end his illustrious NRL career as a Rooster.
DRAGONS TO DEBATE LIST OF HUNT REPLACEMENTS
-Dean Ritchie
Two Australian-based Super League halves will this week be discussed as possible replacements for ex-St George Illawarra star Ben Hunt along with South Sydney’s Lachlan Ilias, Wests Tigers’ Adam Doueihi and Cronulla’s Daniel Atkinson.
This masthead can reveal Dragons coach Shane Flanagan has compiled a list of potential candidates his club will debate at a special meeting on Wednesday.
While no contender is ahead of the other, the club will deliberate over Ilias, Doueihi and Atkinson along with Wigan and former Parramatta star Bevan French and Leeds halfback Brodie Croft.
Flanagan plans to meet with Dragons assistant coach Dean Young to mull over the club’s future halves direction. Ilias, Doueihi and Atkinson are under contract at their existing clubs for next season and no approach has been made.
“We just want to get all our options, our potential sixes and sevens, lined up on the table. We will meet on Wednesday as a club and see what is best for us,” Flanagan said.
“We’re working out who to put on our list. That’s it at this stage. We will take a breath and see what’s out there and assess it once we have all the information.
“There are many players we could potentially look at. We also have to work out whether we hold our fire and go for 2026.
“I wouldn’t say anyone is in front of anyone else but I just needed to work out who we could look at or do we go with what we have for 2025. We might scratch some players off straight away. I’m not saying they’re in or out.”
French has been wonderful for Wigan and scored a dazzling solo try in the Warriors’ 9-2 Super League grand final over Hull Kingston Rovers at Old Trafford last month.
Aged just 28, French became the first player ever to claim man of the match honours in the Super League grand final and Challenge Cup final in the same year.
Croft had stints with Brisbane and Melbourne before joining Salford and now Leeds. In 2022, while at Salford, Croft was awarded the English Man of Steel for being the competition’s best player.
This masthead has been told that Flanagan spoke with Ilias’ manager, Braith Anasta, last Friday.
It comes as incoming Souths coach Wayne Bennett has earmarked Ilias as a dummy half or bench utility to start next season.
Ilias, who missed five months of last season through a fractured leg, was given permission to talk with rival clubs but Bennett is understood to be more than happy for the halfback to remain at Maroubra.
It is understood Ilias would be willing to move positions but sees himself primarily as a halfback.
If an opportunity to play halfback at Saints arrived, and to reunite with ex-Rabbitohs hooker Damien Cook, Ilias would likely consider his options.
Bennett will start 2025 with new English import Lewis Dodd at halfback.
Flanagan will determine whether to buy a new halfback for 2025 or wait another 12 months before re-entering the player market again in 2026.
The likely defection of Parramatta’s Clint Gutherson to Saints is imminent. There is a strong chance Gutherson could join Kyle Flanagan in the Dragons’ halves for next season.
The Gutherson deal is likely to span three seasons.
Hunt has been linked to Brisbane, the Dolphins, Sydney Roosters and Bulldogs.
WALKER INKS MASSIVE ROOSTERS DEAL
-Fatima Kdouh
Injured Sydney Roosters halfback Sam Walker has finally put pen to paper, agreeing to a two-year extension with the Bondi club.
Walker’s signature comes just days after the club sensationally tapped prop Terrell May, telling the 25-year old he is free to move immediately only six month after signing a two-year deal.
This masthead revealed in September that Walker had agreed to remain at the Roosters on a two year deal worth $2.1 million, despite speculation he could test the market.
The rich deal makes Walker the Roosters second-highest paid player behind skipper James Tedesco, and places him among the highest paid halfbacks in the game including Penrith superstar Nathan Cleary ($1.3m), Manly’s Daly Cherry-Evans ($1.2m), Parramatta No.7 Mitchell Moses ($1.2m) and Cronulla’s Nicho Hynes ($1.1m).
Walker suffered an ACL injury back in round 26 and isn’t expected to be back on the field until midway through next season.
Walker confirmed he’ll be back on the training paddock later this month, as he begins an extensive rehabilitation program.
Official ✌ï¸ðŸ“#EastsToWinpic.twitter.com/AnXWuzEcHl
— Sydney Roosters 📠(@sydneyroosters) November 3, 2024
“I’m looking forward to getting back to training later this month so I can keep working hard on my rehab and play my role for the team,” Walker said.
“I’m really happy to be extending with the Roosters. This club feels like home and I’m grateful for the support of ‘Robbo’, my teammates and all the staff.”
Roosters director of football Mitch Aubusson said Walker is a key part of the coach Trent Robinson’s long term plans after the club farewelled around 700 games of experience following the exits of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Luke Keary, Joseph Manu and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii at season’s end.
“Sam’s dedication to improving his game and his commitment to the team is a reflection of the terrific person he is on and off the footy field,” said Aubusson.
“He is a much-loved member of our club for the player and person he is, and an important part of our long-term plans, so it’s great that he will continue to represent the Roosters well into the future.”
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Originally published as NRL Market Watch: Race for free agents heats up, Dragons’ list of Ben Hunt replacements, Sam Walker signs contract extension
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