NRL 2023 free agency market: Rating every club’s recruitment and retention
How a club performs in the free agency market can make or break a season before a ball is kicked. We rate every club’s recruitment and retention heading into Round 1.
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Performance on the free agency market can make or break a club — and every team has a different way of going about it.
The Bulldogs have gone on a signing spree and attracted seven key players, while on the other hand, the Rabbitohs have not recruited a single player.
Below, our team of rugby league experts rate every club’s recruitment and retention for 2023.
Broncos
Ins: Reece Walsh (Warriors), Jesse Arthars (return from loan), Jock Madden (Tigers)
Outs: Brenko Lee, Tesi Niu (both Dolphins), Te Maire Martin (Warriors), Tyson Gamble (Knights), Jake Turpin (Roosters), Zac Hosking (Panthers), Ryan James (retired), David Mead (retired).
The Broncos recruited brilliantly last season with the signing of Adam Reynolds and Kurt Capewell and once again Brisbane have been shrewd in the player market.
Their marquee off-season recruit is Reece Walsh, who returns to the Broncos after his 18-month stint at the Warriors. Walsh oozes class and the Broncos will be banking on his attacking flair to be the X-factor that delivers a finals appearance.
The Broncos needed depth in the halves and the signing of Jock Madden from the Tigers gives them a handy back-up in the event of injury to Ezra Mam or chief shot-caller Adam Reynolds.
Brisbane have lost Te Maire Martin (Warriors) and Jake Turpin (Roosters), the latter’s departure putting the heat on Billy Walters to fire at hooker. Herbie Farnworth and Tom Flegler are Brisbane’s two major off-contract players next season and both will attract big offers elsewhere.
Rating: B
- Peter Badel
Bulldogs
Ins: Viliame Kikau (Panthers), Reed Mahoney (Eels), Ryan Sutton (Raiders), Josh Reynolds (train-and-trial contract), Hayze Perham (Eels), Andrew Davey (Sea Eagles), Franklin Pele (Sharks)
Outs: Jack Hetherington (Knights), Jeremy Marshall-King (Dolphins), Paul Vaughan, Matt Dufty (both Warrington), Joe Stimson, Aaron Schoupp (both Titans), Ava Seumanufagai (released), Corey Allan (Roosters), Josh Jackson (retired).
The drums are beating in Belmore on the back of the competition’s most hotly-anticipated recruitment drives. Eels grand final hooker Reed Mahoney is set to solve the club’s dummy-half issue.
Equally as major is the signing of the game’s most damaging back-rower, Viliame Kikau. He doesn’t only create carnage with the ball in his hand, but it’s what he also can provide for his support men and more importantly, in defence, which is a mandatory area of improvement for the Dogs.
Add more starch in the pack with ex-Raiders prop Ryan Sutton and the capable Andrew Davey and Canterbury should be laying an even greater platform than last season for Matt Burton, who has re-signed until the end of 2027, to launch his aerial raids.
Rating: A
- David Riccio
Dolphins
Ins: Euan Aitken, Jesse Bromwich, Kenny Bromwich, JJ Collins, Herman Ese’ese, Poasa Faamausili, Oliver Gildart, Tom Gilbert, Jamayne Isaako, Robert Jennings, Isaiya Katoa, Felise Kaufusi, Brenko Lee, Edrick Lee, Connelly Lemuelu, Jeremy Marshall-King, Anthony Milford, Mark Nicholls, Kodi Nikorima, Sean O’Sullivan, Ray Stone, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Mason Teague, Valynce Te Whare, Jarrod Wallace.
The Dolphins enter the NRL next season with a clean slate to work with across the board. They have no salary cap baggage from previous poor recruitment decisions and haven’t splashed ridiculous cash on a big-name signing that may not fire.
While they have struggled to attract a marquee player, the Dolphins have pieced together a solid forward pack and made a few astute young signings.
The good news for the Dolphins is they’ve got plenty of money to spend in 2024 and beyond which should help them land a big fish.
They’ve got a solid base upfront with Melbourne trio Jesse and Kenny Bromwich and Felise Kaufusi while Tom Gilbert was a smart pick-up from the Cowboys.
Throw in some young guns like Isaiya Katoa, Harrison Graham and Jack Bostock and the Dolphins have some names to watch out for in the future. They have done well with only a limited time frame to sign players and have a solid base to work from.
Rating: B
- Travis Meyn
Cowboys
Ins: James Tamou (Tigers), Jack Gosiewski (Dragons)
Outs: Connelly Lemuelu (Dolphins), Tom Gilbert (Dolphins), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins), Ben Condon (Sea Eagles), Brendan Frei (unsigned).
Stability is the key for the Cowboys, who have only added a sprinkling of new faces following their fairytale charge to the preliminary final last season. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
But fresh blood is never a bad thing and the signing of James Tamou, who returns to Townsville for a career swan song at age 33 after six years away, will add some premiership know-how to the Cowboys pack.
Jack Gosiewski (Dragons) adds depth to the back row with Heilum Luki (ACL injury) and Luciano Leilua (off-field issues) set to miss the start of the season.
The Cowboys have lost two key squad members in Origin firebrand Tom Gilbert and speed machine Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to the Dolphins. Gilbert, in particular, will be a huge loss.
The Cowboys have a whopping 15 players off-contract next season, including rising superstar Jeremiah Nanai, who will command huge offers from rival clubs.
Rating: C
- Peter Badel
Dragons
Ins: Jacob Liddle (Tigers), Zane Musgrove (Tigers), Nick Lui-Toso (Northern Pride/QRL), Ben Murdoch-Masila (Warriors)
Outs: Jackson Ford (Warriors), Jack Gosiewski (Cowboys), Andrew McCullough (retired), Daniel Alvaro (Toulouse Olympique), Poasa Faamausili (Dolphins), Josh McGuire (Warrington), George Burgess (released) Tariq Sims (Storm)
Yet again the Dragons have failed to inspire on the recruitment front. Former Tiger Jacob Liddle will add some much needed spark out of dummy half. Journeyman Zane Musgrove arrives with his career at the crossroads, while they have also added Tongan international prop Ben Murdoch-Masila from the Warriors and young front-rower Nick Lui-Toso who is from the Northern Pride and is in his mid-20s, searching for opportunity.
But it’s the departure lounge where Dragons fans have every right to be feeling a little short-changed given the conga line of players brought to the club – most on Anthony Griffin’s watch – who have now been ushered out without setting the world on fire during their stay.
There’s no question the Dragons have some wonderful juniors and that is obviously what they’re banking on. But are they ready to carry a club that has not made the finals since 2018 back into the play-offs in 2023? Time will tell.
Rating: D
- Paul Crawley
Eels
Ins: Josh Hodgson (Raiders), J’maine Hopgood (Panthers), Jirah Momoisea (Knights), Jack Murchie (Warriors)
Outs: Marata Niukore (Warriors), Isaiah Papali’i (Tigers), Oregon Kaufusi (Sharks), Reed Mahoney (Bulldogs), Ray Stone (Dolphins), Tom Opacic (Hull KR), Hayze Perham (Bulldogs), David Hollis (released)
Have lost four regulars in the top 17 in Reed Mahoney, Isaiah Papali’I, Marata Niukore and Oregon Kaufusi. Throw in Tom Opacic and you could almost argue that’s five down, while the tough-as-nails Ray Stone was also a regular before being struck down by injury.
The flip side of that is that in their place comes Josh Hodgson — who is undisputedly world class but coming off a couple of seasons ruined by injury. While the other new arrivals in J’Maine Hopgood, Jirah Momoisea and Jack Murchie are all promising additions, but with a lot still to prove when it comes to cementing their places at NRL level.
With that in mind you’d have to say the Eels have come up short on the retention and recruitment front.
The re-signing of Dylan Brown on a long-term deal is a big show of faith in the Eels’ process, although the Mitchell Moses contract saga continues to drag on.
While time will be the best judge, right now plenty would argue Parramatta don’t appear to be in a better position to end the club’s premiership drought than this time last year.
Rating: D
- Paul Crawley
Knights
Ins: Adam Elliott (Raiders), Jackson Hastings (Tigers), Jack Hetherington (Bulldogs), Tyson Gamble (Broncos), Greg Marzhew (Titans)
Outs: Mitchell Barnett (Warriors), Jake Clifford (Super League), David Klemmer (Tigers), Edrick Lee (Dolphins), Jirah Momoisea (Eels), Tex Hoy (Hull FC), Jake Clifford (Hull FC), Anthony Milford (Dolphins), Sauaso Sue (Hull KR), Pasami Saulo (Raiders), Chris Randall (Titans)
Newcastle were active through the recruitment of Jackson Hastings, Adam Elliott, Jack Hetherington, Tyson Gamble and Greg Marzhew. The club has attracted players to cover a wide range of positions and clearly look more formidable in 2023. Hastings will be the key. He will finally give Newcastle some much-needed direction. Some suggest Hastings’ kicking game is among the best in the NRL. Certainly his short kicking game is elite.
On the verge of securing Cronulla’s Lachie Miller as fullback as they shift Kalyn Ponga into the halves for a new-look spine.
Elliott and Hetherington will give Newcastle’s pack the aggression it lost after allowing David Klemmer to join Wests Tigers.
Rating: B
- Dean Ritchie
Panthers
Ins: Jack Cogger (Huddersfield), Luke Garner (Tigers), Zac Hosking (Broncos), Tyrone Peachey (Tigers)
Outs: Api Koroisau (Tigers), Viliame Kikau (Bulldogs), Isaiya Katoa (Dolphins), Robert Jennings (Dolphins), J’maine Hopgood (Eels), Sean O’Sullivan (Dolphins), Charlie Staines (Tigers)
The Panthers aren’t short of options for life in the post-Stephen Crichton era, and switched-on fans may have heeded the signs days before announcing he was leaving.
The club last week revealed the re-signings of four of their rising talents, which includes playmaking utility Jack Cole, and highly-rated winger Jesse McLean.
Cole, a Dubbo product, is a playmaker by trade but saw some playing time in the three-quarter line in the lower grades last year.
McLean is a specialist winger, which could result in second-year flyer Taylan May making a move one in from the touchline, while Sunia Turuva can play anywhere along the backline.
There’s more experience in Jaeman Salmon, Luke Garner and Tyrone Peachey, who can all do a job, but the smart money might be on a rookie from Boorowa.
Tom Jenkins debuted alongside Cole in Round 26 last year wearing the No.4 jumper, and scored 20 tries in 22 games for their all-conquering NSW Cup side last season.
He also averaged 108 metres and tallied 73 tackle breaks and 16 line breaks.
There’s only one problem: he’s off-contract at the end of this year, although we’re tipping he’ll command less money than the man he’s potentially replacing.
While the departure of Crichton hurts, Brian To’o (2027) and Liam Martin (2024) agreeing to stay is a big boost.
The Panthers’ famed junior nursery also softens the blow of losing Api Koroisau and Viliame Kikau, as well as an impressive list of young talent including Isaiya Katoa, J’Maine Hopgood, Sean O’Sullivan and Charlie Staines.
However, it didn’t stop Penrith from having to dip into the free agency market to sign Wests Tigers forward Luke Garner to replace Kikau after Parramatta poached the best internal option, NSW Cup forward Hopgood.
Preston Riki is a less viable option after his deal was downgraded to a train-and-trial. Chris Smith filled in on the edge during the season but he’ll be challenging for a bench spot. Ativalu Lisati got a taste of NSW Cup last year and while he is a highly touted prospect, the development player is a work in progress. He will join the top 30 in 2024.
Jack Cogger, who returns to the NRL from Huddersfield, comes in as Sean O’Sullivan’s replacement. Tyrone Peachey comes in as a utility option following winger Charlie Staines going the other way to Wests. He can cover in the spine, backs and at lock. Jaeman Salmon and Matt Eisenhuth have re-signed for this season.
The Panthers’ junior system is already showing the future remains bright with the club last week announcing the re-signings of talented young players in playmaker Jack Cole, fullback Isaiah Iongi, outside back Jesse McLean and edge forward Harrison Hassett until the end of the 2025 season.
Rating: C
- Matt Encarnacion and Fatima Kdouh
Rabbitohs
Ins: -
Outs: Mark Nicholls (Dolphins), Kodi Nikorima (Dolphins), Jaxson Paulo (Roosters).
They’ve lost Mark Nicholls, Kodi Nikorima and Jaxson Paulo. In their place is … no one. The Rabbitohs have been easily the least active team in free agency, and will instead focus on retention. They began with Isaiah Tass, Izaac Thompson, Ben Lovett and Taane Milne (2024) in late August, followed it up with key playmaker Lachlan Ilias (2025), and, Shaquai Mitchell (2024).
The Rabbitohs then celebrated the big re-signings of Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker and Damien Cook who, despite being in the final year of their deals, never seemed in any doubt about staying at Redfern.
The futures aren’t so secure for the likes of Blake Taaffe, Thomas Burgess and the underrated Siliva Havili who can all receive offers from rival clubs for 2024.
Rating: B+
- Matt Encarnacion
Raiders
Ins: Pasami Saulo (Knights), Danny Levi (Huddersfield Giants)
Outs: Josh Hodgson (Eels), Adam Elliott (Knights), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Warriors), Ryan Sutton (Bulldogs)
Lost a host of established players and replaced them with just two first-graders. Former captain Josh Hodgson’s departure was offset by the fact he has spent a long time on the sidelines in recent seasons that the club has become accustomed to playing without him. But hard-nosed forwards Adam Elliott and Ryan Sutton who fit Canberra’s style nicely will be missed. It tests Canberra’s depth. Pasami Saulo has some real potential but struggled to get a decent showing at the Knights. Danny Levi is a journeyman who will start for his fourth NRL club and more recently turned out for Huddersfield. His career is at the crossroads but he can provide some much needed spark out of dummy half which the Raiders lacked at times in 2022.
Instead of spending their money externally, the Raiders spent a large chunk of their salary cap upgrading the likes of Xavier Savage, Matt Timoko, Corey Harawira-Naera and Joe Tapine. Tying down Tapine on a deal until at least the end of 2027 was significant after his season as the game’s best prop. Savage was given a two-year extension until the end of 2025.
Rating:D
- Michael Carayannis
Roosters
Ins: Brandon Smith (Storm), Jaxson Paulo (Rabbitohs), Jake Turpin (Broncos), Corey Allan (Bulldogs)
Outs: Siosiua Taukeiaho (Catalans Dragons), Daniel Suluka-Fifita (Rabbitohs), Oliver Gildart (Tigers - returning from loan), Sam Verrills (Titans)
They already had a star-studded squad, but the arrival of Brandon Smith, Jake Turpin and Jaxson Paulo should make the Roosters considerably stronger in key areas.
Smith could be buy of the year. There’s no hiding from the fact this team has struggled to fill Jake Friend’s void, and while Sam Verrills was starting to find his form after some injury setbacks, Smith’s X-factor will keep opposition defences on alert even more.
It was a big call to go out and sign Smith when they already had the respected Verrills contracted for a couple more years. It might not always be popular at first, but it’s done with building further success being the key motivator.
Former Bronco Turpin could also prove a shrewd pick-up to share the dummy half duties, while former Rabbitoh Paulo will also be a welcome addition to cover a spot at either centre or wing.
Paulo has had his struggles, but no one argues he’s a player with exceptional talent. The club have also added former Canterbury and Queensland winger Corey Allan to bolster the Roosters’ outside back stocks.
Rating: B
- Paul Crawley
Sea Eagles
Ins: Kelma Tuilagi (Tigers), Ben Condon (Cowboys), Cooper Johns (Storm), Nathaniel Roache (Eels)
Outs: Kieran Foran (Titans), Dylan Walker (Warriors), Martin Taupau (unsigned), Andrew Davey (Bulldogs)
Kelma Tuilagi was the big pick-up from from Wests Tigers but Manly have been relatively low key in the open market, due to salary cap space and having a fairly stable roster moving into 2023.
Lost key players Kieran Foran (Titans), Dylan Walker (Warriors), Martin Taupau (unsigned) and Andrew Davey (Bulldogs) amid fears too many big-game players have walked out at the same time.
Tuilagi is a hot prospect who is expected to prosper among an exciting pack, while young Johns should prove more than a handy back-up when Daly Cherry-Evans is called up into representative football.
Rating: C
- Dean Ritchie
Sharks
Ins: Oregon Kaufusi (Eels)
Outs: Luke Metcalf (Warriors), Andrew Fifita (retired), Aiden Tolman (retired), Franklin Pele (Bulldogs)
The Sharks didn’t need to make mass roster changes with the majority of their impressive 2022 squad locked up for 2023.
The retirement of premiership hero Andrew Fifita and experienced forward Aiden Tolman gives the Sharks a more youthful look to their pack in 2023.
The arrival of Oregon Kaufusi, 23, won’t attract major headlines, but the young prop’s reputation is an increasing one after a stellar season that included 28 games in a Parramatta pack that made the grand final before playing in a World Cup final with Samoa.
The retention of skipper Wade Graham on a bargain-based deal is a smart move, particularly given his experience. It’ll be required after the exits of Fifita and Tolman.
Rating: B
- David Riccio
Storm
Ins: Eliesa Katoa (Warriors), Tariq Sims (Dragons), Joe Chan (Catalans), Aaron Pene (Warriors)
Outs: Felise Kaufusi (Dolphins), Brandon Smith (Roosters), Jesse Bromwich (Dolphins), Kenny Bromwich (Dolphins), David Nofoaluma (Tigers – returning from loan)
Melbourne have lost a significant amount of experience on the back of the Dolphins’ raid of the side’s forward pack. Replacing Brandon Smith, Felise Kaufusi and the Bromwich brothers was never going to be an easy task. Yes, the latter two are nearing the end of their careers but replacing almost 700 games of NRL experience is a feat near impossible.
Former St George Illawarra and NSW Blues forward Tariq Sims is a handy pick-up who will inject some of the mongrel and aggression that has been lost.
Eliesa Katoa’s signature has the potential to be one of the buys of the season. It has a similar feel to Parramatta’s astute acquisition of Isaiah Papali’i … a rising Warriors forward that just could not hold down a regular spot in the 17, but excelled under a change of scenery and new system.
Katoa burst onto the scene in 2020 and produced a suburb rookie season but struggled to kick on at the Warriors. A move to Melbourne is a chance for the 22-year-old to reach his potential under the guidance of coach Craig Bellamy. Young Catalans Dragons forward Joe Chan, the son of former Melbourne player Alex, joins the club on a two-year deal.
Rating: B-
- Fatima Kdouh
Tigers
Ins: David Klemmer (Knights), Apisai Koroisau (Panthers), Isaiah Papali’i (Eels), David Nofoaluma (Storm – return from loan), Charlie Staines (Panthers), Will Smith (Hull FC), John Bateman (Wigan).
Outs: Jackson Hastings (Knights), Luke Garner (Panthers), James Tamou (Cowboys), Kelma Tuilagi (Sea Eagles), Zane Musgrove (Dragons), Tyrone Peachey (Panthers), Oliver Gildart (Dolphins)
The club’s biggest coup is Englishman John Bateman on a four-year deal. Bateman’s competitive edge and nature, his unwavering desire to win, makes him the most important signing for the club in recent times. His ability to lift others around him will be the difference between another disappointing season and a competitive Tigers outfit.
Bateman is the cherry on top of a strong recruitment drive, which includes Penrith premiership dummy-half Api Koroisau to solve the side’s No. 9 conundrum.
Koroisau is more than an elite rake, he brings with him the one ingredient that has been missing at Concord – winning. The club must do everything to harness that side of the three-time premiership winner’s game.
The hit to back-row stocks, in Luciano Leilua, Kelma Tuilagi and Luke Garner, is remedied by the signing of grand finalist Isaiah Papali’i. The club is rightly backing it’s own talent to rebuild depth putting faith in the likes of Shawn Blore and rising star Justin Matamua.
David Klemmer’s arrival from Newcastle adds much-needed aggression to the forward pack.
Overall, the club has made some astute signings but the loss of Jackson Hastings, who was their best in 2022, when halves stocks are thin should sound alarm bells.
Rating: A-
- Fatima Kdouh
Titans
Ins: Kieran Foran (Sea Eagles), Sam Verrills (Roosters), Aaron Schoupp (Titans), Joe Stimson (Bulldogs), Chris Randall (Knights)
Outs: Greg Marzhew (Knights) Jarrod Wallace (Dolphins), Jamayne Isaako (Dolphins), Corey Thompson (retired), Herman Ese’ese (Dolphins), Sam Lisone (Leeds)
After making the 2021 finals, the Titans made some terminal free agency decisions last year which caused the club to crash in dramatic fashion.
They didn’t show enough respect to the importance of key position players and paid the price after releasing co-captain Jamal Fogarty to Canberra and running with an inexperienced spine.
The decision nearly cost coach Justin Holbrook his job as the Titans crashed to a bottom-four finish last season, but the club showed faith in him.
Holbrook has addressed his team’s playmaking deficiencies by signing Manly veteran Kieran Foran and Roosters hooker Sam Verrills.
He has also beefed-up the forward pack by netting Joe Stimson from Canterbury while Bulldogs centre Aaron Schoupp has plenty of upside.
It’s been a relatively busy off-season for the Titans in the recruitment department, but the jury is out on whether Foran still has another two years of quality footy left in his battered body. Only time will tell.
Rating: B
- Travis Meyn
Warriors
Ins: Marata Niukore (Eels), Luke Metcalf (Sharks), Dylan Walker (Sea Eagles), Mitchell Barnett (Knights), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Raiders), Te Maire Martin (Broncos), Jackson Ford (Dragons), Brayden Wiliame (Perpignan).
Outs: Euan Aitken (Dolphins), Reece Walsh (Broncos), Eliesa Katoa (Storm), Aaron Pene (Storm), Jack Murchie (Eels), Ben Murdoch-Masila (Dragons).
The Warriors were certainly one of the more active clubs in the player market, having let go of Euan Aitken, Reece Walsh and Eliesa Katoa. And they could enter the new year with a new-look spine after recruiting three key-position players in young playmaker Luke Metcalf, returning fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, and the versatile Te Maire Martin, who is believed to be the frontrunner to partner veteran Shaun Johnson in the halves in their season-opener. Throw in utility Dylan Walker and another long-term project in Ronald Volkman, and rookie coach Andrew Webster has the option to go full rebuild from the get-go. The club also picked up two powerful second-rowers in Marata Niukore and Mitchell Barnett, both of whom will add some serious punch and experience in the forwards.
Rating: B
- Matt Encarnacion
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