Greg Inglis joins Wests Tigers; Mitchell Moses appointed Eels captain

Greg Inglis has joined the Wests Tigers’ coaching staff, with the NRL Hall of Fame inductee to work as an assistant with the club’s NRLW team.

A day after Queensland Rugby League announced Inglis would coach their women’s Origin team, the Tigers confirmed ‘GI’ would work as a specialist coach with the outside backs.

Greg Inglis has joined the Wests Tigers’ coaching staff as a specialist assistant for the NRLW team.Credit: Getty Images

The 38-year-old Inglis had previously spent time mentoring several Tigers, including gun fullback Jahream Bula.

Tigers’ NRLW coach Brett Kimmorley said of Inglis joining his staff: “Greg is a phenomenal addition to our coaching staff. His knowledge, leadership, and ability to connect with players are second to none.

“I have no doubt that he will have a profound impact on our squad as we build towards the upcoming season.

“Greg has finished an NRL coaching course, as well as attending our pathways education session, and the support from the club to continue to grow in the NRLW program is evident with this investment.

“He’s been in some very good systems at very good clubs, he was a very successful player, so we’re rapt he’s on board and he’s a part of us.”

NRLW players are semi-professional, which means they are not allowed to train until 4 pm. That makes it even more important for the coaches to communicate with players quickly and effectively.

“When you’re restricted with how long the players are allowed to train in the NRLW, you try to fit everything into a few hours a few afternoons a week – to have Greg there to mentor players, and be that good voice to bounce things off, it’s an enormous bonus for us as a club and bonus for our female players to have someone like him,” Kimmorley said.

Wests Tigers’ NRLW campaign kicks off on Saturday, July 5 against the Broncos in Brisbane.

Moses named Parramatta captain

Adrian Proszenko

Parramatta has appointed Mitchell Moses as the captaincy successor to Clint Gutherson.

It’s one of the first big calls for new coach Jason Ryles, who also installed Junior Paulo, J’maine Hopgood and Jack Williams in a new-look leadership group.

“I am incredibly proud and honoured to be named captain,” Moses said.

“This club means so much to me, and it’s a privilege to lead this group of players. I have great support around me from the leadership group and coaching staff, and I can’t wait to start the season with them in a few weeks.”

New Eels captain Mitchell Moses.Credit: Getty Images

Ryles said Moses was a natural choice.’

“Mitch has shown strong leadership qualities both on and off the field, and I believe he is ready to lead our club into the future,” Ryles said. “With the support of our leadership group, I’m confident he will continue to grow as a leader.”

Parramatta Eels CEO Jim Sarantinos added: “Mitch has been an outstanding player for our club, and we are thrilled to see him step into the role of captain. Mitch’s appointment is an important moment for the club as we move into an exciting new era for our football program.”

Moses, an Eels junior, made his debut for the club in 2017 and has played in 225 NRL games and five finals series. He was named Dally M halfback of the year in 2019 after leading the competition for try assists. He joins an elite group of players who have scored more than 1000 points in his career.

In an injury-marred 2024 season, Moses starred for the NSW Origin team, earning player-of-the-match honours in game two. He also played a pivotal role in the Australian team which claimed the Pacific Cup title.

Moses captained Lebanon in their 2017 Rugby League World Cup campaign and has represented the Prime Minister’s XIII, World All Stars, and Australia 9s.

South Sydney star suffers broken hand as 2024 injuries roll into Bennett’s return

Dan Walsh

Luckless Rabbitohs centre Campbell Graham’s return to the paddock has been delayed by a broken hand the club prepares to be without skipper Cameron Murray and leading prop Junior Tatola for the start of the season.

Graham came from a field session at the Rabbitohs’ Maroubra training base in pain on Tuesday and scans have confirmed a fracture in his hand. Souths medical staff are awaiting a specialist verdict on whether Graham requires an operation to fix the break.

Campbell Graham’s NRL return is under threat from yet another injury.Credit: Nick Moir

Should Graham require surgery on the injury, it would likely rule him out of Wayne Bennett’s first game back in charge of the club against his old Dolphins outfit in round one on March 7.

The Kangaroos centre has endured a wretched injury run during the past 18 months, missing the entire 2024 season with an ongoing sternum issue.

The Rabbitohs received a much-needed boost on Wednesday with news that Latrell Mitchell will be free to play against the Dolphins as the NRL ruled his one-game suspension can be served in next month’s All Stars match.

Murray, Tatola, ex-Dolphins back-rower Euan Aitken and veteran winger Alex Johnston are all facing an uphill battle to be fit though as South Sydney’s 2024 injury woes linger into Bennett’s return campaign.

Murray is recovering from wrist surgery late last year to repair his scapholunate ligament after playing with the injury for Australia in the Pacific Championships.

Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga defended his staff’s handling of Murray’s injury – picked up a few days earlier at training – given the Souths skipper did not complain of any pain before playing 80 minutes and making 51 tackles against New Zealand.

Murray was always facing at least a three-month recovery from his operation and his exact return date is still up in the air.

Fellow forward Tatola is running again after two foot operations and an infection that threatened his career and limited him to the first six games of 2024.

South Sydney star Cameron Murray in action for the Kangaroos.Credit: Getty Images

The 28-year-old is yet to join team training ahead of the Rabbitohs two pre-season trials against Manly (February 15) and the Dragons (February 22), and the club is especially wary of pushing his return too early.

Johnston’s ongoing recovery from an Achilles rupture and Aitken’s shoulder and pectoral surgery are also tipped to keep them out for the opening rounds of 2025, stretching South Sydney’s depth to start the season.

No club was impacted by injuries more in 2024. Mitchell, Murray, Graham, Tatola, Jai Arrow, Tyrone Munro, Isaiah Tass and Shaquai Mitchell all spent significant time on the sidelines.

Scans deliver good news for Luai, Wests Tigers

Dan Walsh

Concern at the Wests Tigers over the fitness of $6 million signing Jarome Luai has been eased after scans cleared the newly minted co-captain of serious injury.

Luai will be kept on ice for several days after sustaining a quad injury late last week, with the Tigers’ first trial game against the Bulldogs three weeks away.

Jarome Luai meets Tigers fans during pre-season training.Credit: Rhett Wyman

The star Tigers recruit was sent for scans on the injury over the weekend and results have eased concerns of a hampered lead-in to his first campaign at the club.

Last week, Luai participated in a pre-season army camp in Queensland’s Moreton Bay, where he impressed club officials and camp organisers.

The 28-year-old’s move from four-time premiers Penrith to the wooden spooners makes him the biggest recruitment story in the NRL. Luai has been honing a new halves combination with rising star Lachlan Galvin for the past month.

The Tigers have trial matches scheduled against Canterbury (February 16) and Parramatta (February 21) ahead of a March 7 start to the season against Newcastle. Given the short turnaround between trials, it’s expected the Tigers will only field a full-strength spine in one of those games.

Luai is slated to be a senior voice in round one given co-captain and hooker Api Koroisau is serving the last week of a suspension from 2024, making for a young play-making spine of Galvin, fullback Jahream Bula and replacement No.9 Tallyn Da Silva around Luai at halfback.

Jarome Luai running the show at Tigers training.Credit: Rhett Wyman

Luai’s rise to share the captaincy with Koroisau comes after Samoa’s tour of the UK meant he only arrived at Concord late last year, but the NSW Origin star has impressed plenty at the Tigers since.

“He’s been huge already for our young guys Lachie [Galvin] and [Latu] Fainu, he’s an Origin and grand final-winning half,” Koroisau said.

“Both the young guys are asking questions all the time and Romey’s very vocal anyway. You don’t have to ask for his opinion.

“That’s something we’ve needed. The more voices the better, and we need that guy leading the team at halfback. You can just see the confidence he gives people.”

Koroisau played alongside Luai in two premiership wins at Penrith before making his own move to the Tigers in 2023. Luai’s five-year, $6 million deal includes a player option for 2027 that could allow him to leave the club early, but Koroisau is backing him to be a circuit-breaking signing and deliver as a marquee recruit.

“He’s very different these days,” Koroisau said.

“Romey did his job at Penrith, he didn’t need to be the big dog, the leading, mature guy.

“He was the guy that when you gave him the ball, he made something happen, and he did that quite well.

“But he’s progressed now too, he’s a leader, he’s older. He took the reins when Nath [Nathan Cleary] was out and you could see him maturing right in front of you. He can be the five-eighth with the big plays and the game manager, because he’s grown into such a good leader.”

Why Nicho Hynes will remain Cronulla’s No.7

Christian Nicolussi

Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon was quick to reel off several strong points when it came to why he would keep Nicho Hynes as his No.7, and resist any move to five-eighth or even fullback.

One of Fitzgibbon’s good friends, Matty Johns, is one of the sharpest minds in the game, but it was lost on most people at the time when he floated the idea of moving Hynes to fullback.

Nicho Hynes enjoyed Cronulla’s cultural evening on Thursday night.Credit: Cronulla Sharks

“I think that would bring the best out of Nicho and take a bit of pressure off him,” Johns told SEN about a move to No.1 during last year’s NRL finals.

“I don’t know what that would mean for Will Kennedy. Again, it might be shifting something around and weakening another, but I would consider that.”

Cronulla have made the finals the past three years, but have lacked that circuit-breaker needed to win a second title.

Fitzgibbon said Hynes was his halfback, and the only thing the No.7 needed was more time developing his combination with Braydon Trindall.

“In Nicho’s time in the halves for the Sharks, we’ve made the semis each year, we’ve had a couple of top-four finishes, made a prelim, he’s won a Dally M Medal, and represented his state and country,” Fitzgibbon said.

“In a sample size of three years as a half for the Sharks, Nicho has delivered pretty well.

“For us, when Nicho was injured, ‘Tricky’ [Trindall] wore the No.7, Daniel Atkinson wore the No.6, and when Hynes came back and wore the No.7, their roles didn’t change. A lot of people believe there is something in the number. For us, Nicho just needs to perform his role with the way we play ... changing the number won’t change the role.

“What we haven’t had is a great deal of time with Tricky and Nicho as our halves.

“Last year was disrupted. Tricky had his time out when Nicho was playing, then Tricky played while Nicho was out. They haven’t had a great deal of time as a combination.”

Fitzgibbon said Hynes started last year in arguably career-best form, “had some turbulence in the middle of the year” – Hynes was dropped after the first Origin game – then took a long time to overcome an injury on the eve of the finals.

“He’s charging at the moment, he’s worked hard over the off-season, turned up really fit and ready to go and looks good,” Fitzgibbon said.

Cronulla had several players undergo off-season surgery, including a shoulder operation for Trindall, but expect to have a full list of players to choose from for the season-opener against premiers Penrith in Las Vegas.

They have recruited top prop Addin Fonua-Blake who has quickly earned the respect of his teammates, said Fitzgibbon, and “he has that physical presence”.

Off-contract Shark breaks silence on future

Christian Nicolussi

Off-contract Cronulla winger Ronaldo Mulitalo has broken his silence about his playing future, insisting he wants to get a deal done that will continue his career in the Shire.

There were reports last weekend about Mulitalo being shopped to the Brisbane Broncos, but his new management company met with Sharks officials on Tuesday, and both parties are confident a deal will be struck.

Ronaldo Mulitalo celebrated his Samoan heritage at Cronulla’s cultural night at PointsBet StadiumCredit: Cronulla Sharks

Cronulla have Mulitalo, fullback Will Kennedy, prop Tom Hazelton and winger Sam Stonestreet all off contract at the end of the year.

Kennedy is in the process of switching management companies, which has delayed negotiations, while Hazelton has helped early talks with Newcastle who need a front-row replacement for Canterbury-bound Leo Thompson.

Cronulla chairman Steve Mace is close with Mulitalo away from the field, and when speaking to this masthead at Thursday night’s club launch and cultural event, all but assured the 25-year-old would stay put.

“I’m close with Ronnie, he’s a part of the fabric of this club, and he’s not going anywhere,” Mace said.

Mulitalo ridiculed the Broncos’ report via social media, and said: “I looked at that and had a laugh. I’ve made it clear to my management I obviously want to hopefully get something done here. I know it’s a business, I need to put food on my family, but I love this club to death, and hope it all falls into place.

“The main thing for me is to play footy. I have a team around me who know what my ambitions are and what I want to do in this game.

“I love this club, I’ve poured my heart into this place through the good times and bad times.”

Mulitalo joked wingers were poorly paid, and “I need to play halfback or become a big prop to get some coin”.

“But there’s more to it than just money,” Mulitalo said.

“Success is a big part of it, and I’m at the point of my career now where championships matter. I see it [the potential] in this group here.”

Molo’s future in doubt

Michael Chammas and Dan Walsh

The future of Dragons prop Francis Molo is in doubt after the ex-Queensland Origin forward was granted an extended absence from training on mental health grounds.

Dragons prop Francis Molo.Credit: Getty Images

Sources speaking on the condition of anonymity, due to the sensitive nature of the issue, have told this masthead that Molo has not attended Dragons training for more than a week and is now taking a mental health leave of absence from club duties.

Molo is due to front St George Illawarra officials next week to discuss his future at the club.

Molo’s management has discussed the prospect of an early release from the final two years of his contract with St George Illawarra, though no formal release has been requested.

Molo’s management and the Dragons declined to comment when contacted. The Rugby League Players Association has been briefed on the matter and is monitoring the situation.

Molo, 30, was signed by ex-Dragons coach Anthony Griffin and joined the club after playing two Origin matches for Queensland in 2021.

He has since re-signed on a two-year deal under current coach Shane Flanagan that began this season, and most recently played for Samoa against England in November.

Molo played all but one of the Dragons games last season and is a key pillar of Flanagan’s forward pack.

St George Illawarra’s bid to sign veteran prop Matt Lodge fell over late last week after months of negotiations with the ex-Manly forward. Lodge completed a medical with the Dragons, who were willing to offer him a near minimum-wage, one-year deal.

However, the parties failed to come to terms and Lodge, 29, remains without a contract for 2025.

Flanagan has openly conceded he is light on for experienced middle forwards, with few options on the player market.

The Dragons have one roster spot remaining in their top-30 squad, which includes several promising uncapped forwards, led by Loko Pasifiki Tonga, Hamish Stewart and Finau Latu.

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