Knights, Dragons battle for former Australian schoolboys star; Sea Eagles on cusp of securing Jamal Fogarty

A former Australian schoolboys forward on St George Illawarra’s books has toured Newcastle’s Centre of Excellence as the clubs battle for the 19-year-old’s signature.

Newcastle is trying to poach one of the hottest young players in the NRL from St George Illawarra – former Australian schoolboys forward Finau Latu.

Latu was given a full tour of Newcastle’s Centre of Excellence on Tuesday by head coach Adam O’Brien and club recruitment guru Peter O’Sullivan.

While St George Illawarra was aware Latu was in Newcastle, head coach Shane Flanagan is desperate to keep his ball-playing middle forward, who was a member of last year’s Dragons’ side which broke a 32-year drought by winning the SG Ball grand final.

Latu has now played Jersey Flegg, NSW Cup with Flanagan predicting he would contest NRL sometime this season.

The 19-year-old has a contract clause stating he could talk with rival clubs after round six but Saints officials allowed him to open discussions a week early.

He is off contract after this season.

A Minchinbury Jets junior, Latu is now part of the Dragons’ top 30 squad.

With Latu back in Wollongong, Saints officials can start working on him to sign a new contract extension.

“He is off contract and we want to keep him, yes,” Flanagan said. “Finau has a contract which goes until round six and he can then see what’s out there. His manager wants to see what the going price was.

St George Illawarra’s Finau Latu. Picture: NRL

“We gave them permission to get it done a week early so we can hopefully get it down earlier.

“He is one of several players who are our future who also played in that SG Ball grand final. He’s a really good, young kid.

“A lot of those SG Ball players will come up and play first grade. We’ve seen a couple come through already – Hamish (Stewart) and Dylan Egan and I reckon Finau is probably the next one.

“I would think he’d make his NRL debut at some point this year.”

Latu played Australian Schoolboys in 2023 before moving from SG Ball into Jersey Flegg before graduating into NSW Cup late last year.

“It (winning the SG Ball) was unreal,” Latu said. “It was three years in the making. All the boys pushed really hard and just wanted to get that win and we finally got it after 32-years.”

PATH CLEARED FOR FOGARTY SWITCH

- Michael Carayannis, Brent Read

Manly are set to offer Jamal Fogarty a two-year deal worth more than $1 million with the Raiders unlikely to take up the veteran half-back’s one-year option for next season.

Canberra have until this weekend to let Fogarty know if they will take up a 12-month extension worth about $700,000. It is understood the Raiders would like to keep Fogarty but given his service to the club and the respect they hold for him in the nation’s capital, they are reluctant to stand in his way if finds a multi-year deal elsewhere.

That longer term contract is expected to be table by the Sea Eagles, who have identified Fogarty as the man to replace departing skipper Daly Cherry-Evans.

It is expected that the Sea Eagles will offer a two-year contract as soon as next week, with the deal believed to be worth about $500,000 a season.

The Manly Sea Eagles are set to offer Jamal Fogarty a two-year deal worth more than $1 million. Picture: Getty Images

Under Fogarty’s current contract, once the Raiders have waived their option, he still has until round 20 to can take up a deal to remain at Canberra for one more season.

That option is worth significantly less than the top figure he could earn if Canberra decided to lock him in. The lure of a two-year offer from Manly would likely be difficult to resist for Fogarty.

Canberra have banked on Parramatta recruit Ethan Sanders being the club’s long-term half. The young playmaker is currently sidelined with a fractured cheekbone but is regarded as a star in waiting by respected figures in the game.

Fogarty, 31, won’t be short of options with Manly leading the way. The Sea Eagles are on the lookout for an experienced half which will enable their young stars in Onitoni Large and Joey Walsh time to develop as their long-term option.

If they can’t secure Fogarty they could turn their attention to Brisbane’s Adam Reynolds, who is off-contract and has indicated he wants to play on beyond this season.

Manly have identified Fogarty as the ideal replacement for the departing Daly Cherry Evans. Picture: Tom Parrish

Manly are also considering switching Tom Trbojevic from fullback to the halves to partner Luke Brooks. The Sea Eagles will also soon open contract talks with Trbojevic well before he can talk with rival clubs on November 1.

Brooks is contracted until the end of 2027.

Meanwhile, the Dragons have formally appointed former captain Mark Coyne to its board. Coyne has joined St George Illawarra immediately and will represent the St George side – replacing former long-term sponsor Martin Newman.

‘THIS IS HOME’: SULLIVAN’ SOUTHS DILEMMA

—Fatima Kdouh

Jayden Sullivan is supposed to pack his locker at Heffron Park at the end of the season and return to Concord, where he has two years left on a deal with the Wests Tigers.

The only problem for the Tigers is that South Sydney now feels like ‘home’ for Sullivan in more ways than one.

Not only does Sullivan feel a bond to the club’s Indigenous heritage, he has climbed the halves pecking order to cement his place in Wayne Bennett’s side.

With Jamie Humphreys set to miss around five weeks with a hamstring injury, Bennett has elevated Sullivan from the bench into the No.7 jumper, where he will start this week against the Cowboys in Perth.

“This place is home now, I’m loving every second of it,” Sullivan told this masthead.

Jayden Sullivan South Sydney now feels like ‘home’ … the only problem is he is supposed to head back to the Tigers at the end of 2025. Picture: Getty Images

“For sure, I want to stay. Hopefully the club feels the same way about me if I can keep playing good footy.

“I already had a pretty good relationship with those boys, Latrell (Mitchell), Jackie Wighton and Cody Walker outside of footy and before I came here.

“With Jackie especially … We are texting every other day, and not just about footy, but about life and fishing.

“If you’re happy off the field, you’re happy on the field.

Sullivan arrived at the Rabbitohs facing a similar predicament to the one at Concord.

The signature of $6 million-dollar man Jarome Luai meant Sullivan had only dropped further down the pecking order behind Luai, Lachlan Galvin and Latu Fainu.

But there were no guarantees for an NRL start for Sullivan under Bennett either.

The club had signed Humphreys and Englishman Lewis Dodd, who is now languishing in NSW Cup, as potential halves partners to Cody Walker, who is set to miss at least the next two weeks with a hamstring injury.

But Sullivan has left an impression on Bennett, especially after last week’s win against the Roosters where the 23-year old shook off a poor defensive error to help set-up a crucial try to keep the Bunnies in the contest.

Sullivan signed with the Rabbitohs for 2025, but still has two-years left on his deal with the Wests Tigers. Picture: Getty Images

“He’s been wonderful at the club, he’s a great acquisition,” Bennett said.

“When I first met him, I really liked him. He’s a really good person. He knows his footy … we’ve got all the confidence in him. When he comes on you know he is not going to let the team down.

“That’s how he thinks, if he makes a mistake, he wants to make amends … he doesn’t go into his shell.”

Bennett’s feelings towards Sullivan are mutual.

“It’s just how good he is with me as a person,” Sullivan said.

“He worries about my life outside of football … all my other coaches have done that also but with Wayne, I’ve connected with him a little more.

“He’s brutally honest and he’s never lied to me but he knows when you need a hug as well.

“Obviously my long term hope is that I keep playing in the halves. But I just want to be anywhere in this team, if I’m playing in the same 17 as Latrell, Wighton and Cody, then I’m loving life.”

Jayden Sullivan will replace the injured Jamie Humphreys in the no.7 jumper. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)

Sullivan’s whereabouts beyond 2025 could well come down to the decision Galvin makes on his own future.

Galvin, who becomes a free agent from November 1, is expected to generate plenty of interest from rival clubs on the open market if the Tigers can’t get a deal done to lock him in at Concord in the next seven months.

His defection will make Sullivan’s return to the Tigers all the more important to coach Benji Marshall’s halves stocks.

The Tigers are expected to kick-off official negotiations with Galvin, and rising rake Tallyn Da Silva, in the coming weeks.

REBORN BRONCO EYES NEW DEAL

—Peter Badel

Jack Gosiewski’s stunning Red Hill renaissance has continued with the NRL journeyman opening talks on a new deal with the Broncos.

With second-row cohorts Brendan Piakura and Jordan Riki both suspended, Gosiewski has become the surprise mainstay of Brisbane’s back row heading into Friday night’s clash against the Roosters.

Gosiewski will run onto Suncorp Stadium for his sixth consecutive game as a starter, demonstrating his cut-price value to Brisbane after the Cowboys discard was thrown a $150,000 lifeline midway through last season.

Jack Gosiewski has opened talks on a new deal with the Broncos. Picture: Getty Images

Gosiewski, who turns 31 next month, is off-contract at season’s end and playing for his future, but the unheralded utility forward is keen to remain at the Broncos for 2026 and beyond.

The five-club veteran is so content in Brisbane he has purchased a chicken franchise, Chargrill Charlie’s, and is hellbent on stuffing the Chooks for the second time in six weeks on Friday night.

“Definitely,” he said when asked if he wants to stay at Brisbane.

“We have just bought a business, we have opened one in New Farm so that will lock us in here for a few years.

“I definitely want to stay here at the club. I am off-contract this year and I want to stay.

“I don’t really go into that (the negotiations). It is not part of a field that I do but we have started the process.

Gosiewski’s early-season revival has piqued the interest of English Super League clubs but he is chasing only a new deal with the Broncos.

“That (playing in England) is always an option and we have always wanted to look into that,” he said.

“Obviously some other things have happened now so depending on timeline and what we want to do we will make that decision when we have to.”