Aaymon Fitzgibbon headlines list of fresh faces set to hit the NRL transfer market

There will be some fresh faces touring NRL clubs on Monday with a phalanx of emerging stars poised to send the player market into a frenzy.

The teenage son of Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon, a rampaging Warriors forward and a classy Sydney Roosters playmaker are among a phalanx of emerging stars poised to send the player market into a frenzy on Monday.

Aaymon Fitzgibbon has been starring for Illawarra’s finals-bound SG Ball side, scoring a hat-trick of tries as recently as last week, but he will be up for grabs when round six of the NRL is over given he is off contract at the end of the season.

Under NRL rules, young players like Fitzgibbon are banned from signing with another club until round six or until they have played five senior games in either first grade, NSW or Queensland Cup.

It means some of the game’s rising stars have been off limits through the opening months of this season. That is about to change this weekend as round six ticks over and rival clubs can begin their poaching raids.

Already St George Illawarra youngster Finau Latu has begun touring rival clubs as he explores the chance to move to a new team, having most recently spent time at the Knights. He met the five-game criteria last weekend and has already sparked interest from a host of clubs.

The Dragons have put a multi-year extension to Latu but that might not be enough to keep the boom forward.

Fitzgibbon is at the head of the queue and the smart money suggests he will leave the Dragons given there are no shortage of clubs waiting in the wings to get his signature.

Funnily enough, it seems unlikely that his father’s Sharks will be among them as he and his dad seek to avoid the pressure that comes with being involved at the same club.

Creighton Meafou (Illawarra). Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

Not everyone is like the Clearys at Penrith, the father-son combination who have managed to sprinkle the Panthers in magic dust during their time together.

Sharks aside, Fitzgibbon certainly won’t have trouble finding a new home given his performances for the Steelers’ this season, having helped them into the finals in the No.6 jersey.

Two of the Sydney Roosters’ brightest talents could also be on the move.

Half Lachlan Metcalfe was judged the best back for the Roosters’ Harold Matthews side last year and has formed a potent combination with Charlie Webb — the son of former New Zealand player Brent Webb — in the same competition this year.

Ipswich Jets/Broncos youngster Finn Kendall. Picture: Nick Tucker.

The Roosters finished the regular season in second place thanks in large part to Metcalfe’s influence and his class has been noted by a host of clubs.

So has the quality of his Roosters teenage teammate Michael Nassar, a lighting fast outside back with an ability to find the try line.

Warriors prop Lucian Mikaela is also set to feature prominently on hit lists after firing the New Zealand side into the finals.

Only last weekend he scored a brace, showing an a nose for the try line and startling pace for a big man as the Warriors cruised into the finals of the Harold Matthews competition.

There are plenty of players north of the border under the spotlight.

Jackson Koina, at the Broncos, is the son of former Parramatta player Nathan Koina. Finn Kendall, also at the Broncos, has also captured attention.

Originally published as Aaymon Fitzgibbon headlines list of fresh faces set to hit the NRL transfer market