NRL transfer news 2023: Tyson Frizell re-signs with Newcastle Knights, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui to hit open market

Newcastle will move to lockdown their latest Origin star, after another Knights veteran made a call on his NRL future. See the latest transfer news.

The Knights will turn their attention to re-signing Bradman Best (left) after Tyson Frizell (right) recommitted his future to Newcastle. Picture: Getty Images.

Tyson Frizell has officially recommitted to Newcastle as the Knights now shift their focus to trying to retain NSW duo Bradman Best and Jacob Saifiti before the pair hit the open market later this year.

Frizell has long been tipped to remain at Newcastle and informed the club before kick-off on Friday that he intended to take up a new two year deal. The 31-year-old attracted interest from the Tigers and Canterbury but is now set to play our his NRL career in Newcastle colours after originally joining the club on a three-year contract from St George Illawarra in 2021.

Tigers assistant coach Benji Marshall tried to entice his former teammate to the club.

The Knights will turn their attention to re-signing Bradman Best (left) after Tyson Frizell (right) recommitted his future to Newcastle. Picture: Getty Images.

Frizell joins the recent addition of South Sydney’s Jed Cartwright in strengthening Newcastle’s forward pack next year. Frizell won Newcsatle’s player of the year award last year and has been in better form this year which resulted in a return to the Origin arena for the opening two matches of this year’s series.

He was axed for game three. The Knights have been confident of retaining Frizell but discussions had dragged out in recent months.

The Knights also tried to sign Warriors centre Adam Pompey but Pompey will ink a contract extension with New Zealand. Lachlan Fitzgibbon also announced he would leave the NRL to join Warrington next year.

Frizell has been in stellar form for the Knights, even earning an Origin recall for Games I and II. Picture: Getty Images.

With Frizell secured, the Knights will try and tie down Best and Saifiti before they hit the market on November 1.

Newcastle’s tight salary cap situation has them in a precarious state but the Knights are confident they will be able to keep the local products on their books long-term.

There was speculation Best was free to leave the club at the end of the season but that was quickly quashed by Newcastle officials. He impressed on Origin debut last Wednesday, scoring two tries.

Saifiti also returned to the Origin arena playing his second game for NSW.

Meanwhile, injured centre Dane Gagai is expected to make his return from a plantar fascia injury in time to play the Storm on Saturday night. He has missed Newcastle’s past two wins.

The Knights have kept their finals hopes alive with back to back wins after defeating the Tigers 38-14 on Friday night.

TITANS BOMBSHELL AS SKIPPER ACTIVATES FREE AGENT’S CLAUSE

—Peter Badel

Titans captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui is up for sale.

In a bombshell development, Fa’asuamaleaui will notify the Titans of plans to activate a free-agent’s clause in his contract – allowing the Queensland Origin star to test his value on the open market immediately.

Fa’asuamaleaui’s management will contact the Titans in coming days to advise the club the Maroons enforcer will formally trigger a contractual clause that puts the Gold Coast skipper in the NRL’s shopfront window.

But the Coast have a trump card of their own, with Fa’asumaleaui’s soaring salary – rising to $1 million next year and $1.1m in 2025 – to make it difficult for NRL rivals to beat the Titans in a bidding war.

Titans star Tino Fa'asuamaleaui is set to test his value on the open market, after the sacking of Justin Holbrook made him a free agent. Picture: NRL Photos.

As revealed by this masthead, Fa’asuamaleaui and teammate David Fifita have a clause in their existing deals that states the duo’s contracts are null and void in the event of coach Justin Holbrook being sacked.

Holbrook was terminated three weeks ago, and under the terms of their deals, Fa’asuamaleaui and Fifita are not free agents until they officially inform the Titans of their intention to activate the relevant clause.

It is understood Fifita has yet to do so, but Fa’asuamaleaui’s agent Simon Mammino confirmed he will reach out to the Titans in the most definitive sign yet the Maroons prop will explore formal offers from rival clubs.

Once the Holbrook clause is activated, Fa’asuamaleaui and Mammino have a three-month period to test the market.

Fa'asuamaleaui has suddenly become one of the most sought-after players in the competition. Picture: Getty Images.

The Titans skipper has suddenly become one of the most sought-after players in the code – six NRL rivals have lodged expressions of interest – and Mammino confirmed he is ready to take Fa’asuamaleaui to free agency.

The move comes just 24 hours after Payne Haas’ management rocked the Broncos by revealing plans to explore rival offers from November 1.

“We have to formally advise the Titans and I will do that to confirm that we will activate the clause to make Tino a free agent,” Mammino said.

“At this stage, no deal has been offered to Tino, but we have three months to work through things and see what’s out there.

“That’s not to say Tino is leaving the Titans. I still believe the Titans are likely to keep him.

“But this situation gives Tino the chance to explore his future and we have some time to assess all options.”

While activating the clause gives NRL rivals the chance to table formal offers, the Titans remain in the box seat to retain Fa’asuamaleaui.

The Titans captain is on $900,000 this season and has a ratchet clause in his deal, linked to the NRL’s salary-cap increase, that will see the Origin and Test star become a $1 million player next year.

The Titans are hopeful no rival club will be able to beat his Gold Coast salary. Picture: Getty Images.

His salary for the 2025 and 2026 seasons will then rise to $1.1 million annually, a wage hike that will force potential suitors to pay at least $1.2 million a season.

The Roosters were one club interested in Fa’asuamaleaui – they made preliminary inquiries last week – but quickly withdrew when they learned of his pending $1 million contract.

Mammino said Fa’asuamaleaui had enormous respect for Titans senior advisor Mal Meninga and added he had no interest in stringing NRL clubs along.

“The reality is it will be hard for clubs to afford what Tino is on,” Mammino said.

“We’ve had no formal offers at this stage.

“I’ve told the clubs, ‘I don’t want to lead you down a gully and stuff you around, we will only talk if things are genuine’.

“The Dolphins were really keen on Tino a few years ago, they went hard for him.

“Because of the status of player he was, the Titans didn’t want to lose him, we weren’t arguing over money, we wanted stability and that’s why the clause (relating to Holbrook) went in.

“The Titans are backing their system, their staff and their board to keep Tino at the club, so we’ll see what happens over the next three months.

“His preference is to stay at the Titans.”