Canterbury have given club captain Raymond Faitala-Mariner and recruit Ryan Sutton permission to explore options elsewhere despite having another two seasons to run on their respective contracts.
As the Bulldogs look to the opening of negotiating season on November 1, they could have additional funds available in the salary cap pending the outcome of the pair’s discussions with rival clubs.
A Bulldogs source with knowledge of the situation talking under the condition of anonymity due to the confidentiality of discussions confirmed the pair had been granted permission to talk to other clubs.
This masthead has been told that Faitala-Mariner has been offered to Shane Flanagan. However, the incoming St George Illawarra Dragons coach’s priority is to strengthen his middle forwards.
Faitala-Mariner was named club captain by new coach Cameron Ciraldo back in January, just six months after the club announced his signing until the end of 2025, but has now been given the club’s blessing to leave if he can find a deal elsewhere.
Sutton signed this year from the Raiders on a deal worth around $500,000 but has struggled to live up to his price tag. He was sent back to NSW Cup for five weeks in the middle of the season before returning to the top grade.
Raymond Faitala-Mariner could be leaving the Bulldogs.Credit: Getty Images
Sutton has held a meeting with club officials to discuss his future, hinting at difficulties adjusting to the team’s defensive style. The club has also given his management permission to explore other avenues.
The club has already indicated to Kyle Flanagan and Luke Thompson that they are unlikely to be retained beyond the end of their deals, which expire in a few months’ time.
Other off-contract players at Belmore include Braidon Burns, Declan Casey, Corey Waddell, Fa’amanu Brown, Jayden Okunbor and youngster Paul Alamoti. The club’s only two major signings for next year are Stephen Crichton and Bronson Xerri.
Farah eyes GM role
There has been talk within the game about Wests Tigers assistant Robbie Farah potentially moving out of the coaching staff and into a role in administration.
Farah has previously indicated to the club that he sees his future as a general manager. His ambition hasn’t changed but the club is yet to decide on the structure of its football department.
There is a vacancy at Concord, with Tim Sheens stepping away from his GM duties to focus on coaching, and it remains unclear what role, if any, Sheens will have with the Tigers once his two-year tenure comes to an end.
This masthead contacted Farah on Sunday to see if he intended to move away from coaching as early as 2024.
The club legend admitted the administration side of the business appealed to him, but he planned to remain Benji Marshall’s offsider again next year.
Robbie Farah has been an assistant coach this year.Credit: Getty
If an administration role was to become available, expect Farah to be front and centre of discussions. A move upstairs could open the door for the Tigers to bring in another assistant coach.
Several player agents have told the club that their clients are concerned with the standard of coaching and the attention to detail, especially defensively, on offer at the Tigers at the moment. The Tigers intend to address those issues.
Parra stalwart Hodgson to call time
Josh Hodgson has told his Parramatta teammates he has played his last game in the NRL.
The neck injury the veteran hooker suffered a couple of months ago, which required surgery, remains a problem. He met with the specialist during the week and it quickly became clear that he was risking his health and future by continuing to play. He may still require another surgery.
Josh Hodgson was in the first season of a two-year deal with Parramatta.Credit: Getty
It’s a sad way for the career of one of England’s best imports to end. The Eels have held preliminary discussions with the NRL about a medical retirement. If it is deemed to be a career-ending injury, the NRL is expected to remove Hodgson’s 2024 contract from the salary cap next year.
All the medical documents and advice will be submitted to the NRL for assessment before they reach a decision.
Hodgson joined the club from Canberra in the off season. He signed a two-year deal but the second year was a mutual option. If the club took up the option he would have received a higher salary than if he took up the option. Hodgson was the one who took up the option earlier in the year on a deal believed to be around $350,000.
Lussick jets in
The Eels’ replacement hooker, Joey Lussick, is expected to land in Australia on Monday night. The Eels paid a $50,000 transfer fee to Super League club St Helens to lure Lussick back to the club immediately. The Saints wouldn’t release him until they had a replacement.
Meanwhile, the deal for Moses Mbye to leave the Dragons and join the Saints was signed off midway through St George Illawarra’s clash with the Tigers on Thursday night. Mbye returned to his locker after full-time to a message confirming his time in the NRL was officially over.
Cowboys optimistic on Nanai
The Cowboys are confident back-rower Jeremiah Nanai may only miss two to three weeks after suffering an AC joint injury against the Eels on Saturday night.
The news isn’t so good for Parramatta, with back-rower Shaun Lane unlikely to be back before the finals series after dislocating his elbow in the loss to the Cowboys in Townsville.
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