NRL Market Watch: Player depth tested as Dolphins and English Super League come calling

Questions are already being asked about whether there is enough talent to fill a 17th NRL team - now club rosters are under further threat of a potential $5 million player raid.

Player depth concerns in the NRL could reach crisis point as UK Super League clubs target more than $5 million worth of Australian-based talent.

The attempted plundering of Australian players comes less than six months before the latest expansion side, the Dolphins, are due to begin pre-season training ahead of their 2023 debut.

English agents and representatives of several Super League clubs travelled to Brisbane for Magic Round armed with an NRL hit list that included unwanted Bulldogs Matt Dufty, Paul Vaughan and Corey Allan.

Warrington CEO Karl Fitzpatrick, England coach Shaun Wane, Hull KR coach Willie Peters, and English agents Andy Clarke and Ian Sibbit were among the Super League representatives in Australia to do business.

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Canterbury's Corey Allan could be leaving Belmore. Picture: NRL Imagery

Leeds CEO Gary Hetherington also made the trip down under earlier this year.

Australian agents also flocked to Brisbane for the biggest weekend of wheeling and dealing so far this year.

“Magic Round creates a great opportunity to do business with not only every NRL team in the same place at the same time but also people from all over the world coming for the event,” said leading Australian agent Sam Ayoub.

“There were a lot of meetings going on behind the scenes and I imagine lots of deals were being done.”

Ayoub revealed one of his clients was close to doing an English Super League deal.

“We potentially got a deal done there last weekend with one of our players,” Ayoub said.

“I think you will find most of the Australian agents were up in Brisbane getting business done too.”

Bulldogs fullback Dufty looks set to become the first player on the hit list to be snapped up by the Super League with Warrington keen to secure his signature.

Tigers talisman James Tamou is coming to the end of his current deal.

Others on the list include:

SIOSIUA Taukeiaho

THE Roosters prop has been linked to French team Catalans. The 29-year-old is off contract at the end of the year and is tipped to be reunited with his former Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce in the south of France.

COREY Allan

SEVERAL Super League clubs are circling the former State of Origin player. Unable to break into the NRL with the Bulldogs, Allan would also be happy to break his deal with Canterbury and make the switch to the Super League. A number of English clubs are interested in Allan but the Bulldogs may have to pay out a percentage of his contract given he is on almost $350,000 a year.

It will be interesting to see which way Brisbane winger Corey Oates’ future goes. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

PAUL Vaughan

THE former Australian Test prop has been unable to attract any interest to stay in the NRL and may be forced to travel overseas to finish his career. Vaughan has attracted interest from at least one UK based club.

JAMES Tamou

THE Tigers captain looks set to leave the NRL at the end of the year with his management firm in negotiations with several overseas based outfits. Tamou’s experience and leadership qualities will almost certainly land him a deal.

JOE Stimson

ANOTHER Bulldog on a big money deal, Stimson has been shopped to a number of Super League clubs.

Other players on the Super League hit list include Brandon Wakeham, Euan Aitken, Ryan James, Corey Oates, Billy Tsikrikas, Kevin Proctor, Jarrod Wallace, Sauaso Sue, Josh Mansour, Mitch Rein and Josh McGuire