NRL news: Bulldogs sign Alex Conti, three decades of dominance over for 2GB

One of the Wests Tigers brightest young stars is joining Canterbury from next season while 2GB’s Continuous Call team losing their ratings bragging rights. All in Saint, Sinner, Shoosh.

Bradman Best is set to receive a significant upgrade. Picture: Grant Trouville © NRL Photos

One of the Tigers brightest prospects Alex Conti is set to quit the club and join arch rivals Canterbury next season.

The Tigers have purchased a heap of halves going forward including veteran Aidan Sezer next year. They have also brought in external players Jayden Sullivan and Latu Fainu on mega four year deals to push for starting spots in 2024 which has come at the expense of local product Conti.

He is now expected to challenge for a top grade spot at Canterbury in a bid to solve their long-term halves problems.

A host of rival clubs and even rugby were interested in securing Conti, who captained Balmain’s Harold Matthews Cup side this year. Conti was picked in the Junior Blues squad last year and has long been touted as strong first grade talent.

Balmain Tigers SG Ball Cup captain Alex Conti. Picture: Pete Kenny Photography Framing Life

TIGERS TO MAKE BIG BID FOR BEST

Wests Tigers are preparing to make a rich play for Newcastle star Bradman Best once the November 1 trade window opens.

It is understood that the Tigers will want to make Best one of the highest paid centres in the competition by offering a long-term deal worth more than $800,000 a year. The Tigers are on the lookout for a strike centre with Best at the top of their list. They could also make a play for St George Illawarra centre Moses Suli, who made his NRL debut at the Tigers in 2017.

While the Tigers are ready to pounce on Best, Newcastle are confident they will lock him down before he is free to negotiate with rival clubs and have already been engaged in positive talks with Best and his new agent.

Coach Adam O’Brien and head of football Peter Parr were spotted catching up with Best and his family last month as they move to keep the strike weapon at their club.

Bradman Best is a man in demand. Picture: Grant Trouville/NRL Photos

The Knights will put together a three-year contract worth more than $700,000 as they look to keep their finals team together.

Even that contract would make Best among the top paid centres in the game. Only the likes of Joey Manu ($820,000), Valentine Holmes ($875,000) and Jack Wighton ($850,000) are expected to earn more than him playing at centre when his new deal kicks in.

After an inconsistent start to this year Best found his groove in 2023 culminating in a NSW Origin debut. He was part of the Kangaroos extended squad before being narrowly overlooked for a place in the 21.

Newcastle are desperately working to keep their improving squad together.

Utility Phoenix Crossland has already accepted less money than his market value to help keep the team in tact after inking a new two-year deal.

The Knights are also in talks with prop Jacob Saifiti to keep him at the club. Newcastle have Best, Saifiti, Dane Gagai, Enari Tuala, Mat Croker, Tyson Gamble and Tyson Frizell among the free agents come November 1.

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The battle for rugby league radio bragging rights has never been tighter with 2GB’s Continuous Call team losing their once powerful grip on top after the latest radio survey.

2GB, Triple M and ABC all take the lead at some stage during their coverage on Saturdays while Triple M sit on top on Sunday’s ending the Continuous Call team’s three decades of dominance.

Despite the largest lead-in of any of the three networks, 2GB shed listeners throughout the day on Saturday. They finish with a 6.6 per cent audience share between 1-10pm with Triple M at 6.5 per cent and ABC on 6.3 per cent. Triple M lead between 1-7pm.

Triple M’s Sunday show of Ben Dobbin, Gorden Tallis, James Graham and James Hooper are the big winners claiming consecutive ratings victories. They win the day at 6.6 per cent closely followed by 2GB at 6.3 per cent and ABC at 5.8 per cent.

2GB smash the rest of the competition on Friday nights.

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Barry Ross (R) pictured with Rugby League Immortal Graeme Langlands at a Men of League Foundation dinner. Pic Supplied

SAINT

Barry Ross — The broadcast legend died on Tuesday and while he was well known for his media career it was his work with the Men of League foundation which should stand out.

SINNER

The Kangaroos selectors for leaving the game’s best player Kalyn Ponga out of the squad. Not once. But twice.

SHOOSH

Which player pocketed a reported $15,000 to play in the Koori Knockout last weekend?

SHOOSH II

Which Kangaroos player did Peter V’landys add to the squad? The squad was meant to be capped at 20 but the chairman of selectors bumped it up by one after the selectors were split.

SHOOSH III

Which Penrith player was caught out dancing in the nude in the dressing sheds on Sunday night? The photo was briefly captured on a teammate’s Instagram but quickly deleted.

SPOTTED I

South Sydney recruit Jack Wighton having a water at The Coogee Bay Hotel with mates. He jumped out of his seat to open the pub doors to help a lady in a wheelchair up an entrance ramp and into her reservation.

SPOTTED II

Kangaroos prop Lindsay Collins launching The Sydney Gateway Project where he spoke about the importance of workplace mental health at St Peters.

SPOTTED III

Swimming superstar Kyle Chalmers having a bite to eat at the trendy Bondi Icebergs.

SPOTTED IV

Parramatta Eels back-rower Bryce Cartwright taking in some sun at Bondi Beach.

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THE $170 MILLION DEMAND THAT ALMOST BLEW UPON THE GAME

The NRL has headed off a revolt from clubs after dropping a demand that would have required each of the 17 teams to provide a $10 million bank guarantee before being handed a place in the premiership next season.

Club officials were stunned in recent days when they received a draft licence agreement that set out their requirements to be part of the premiership from November 1, including a demand that each club provide $10 million as an upfront payment - $170 million across the game.

The demand would have required some clubs using their assets as collateral. The shock revelation prompted a flurry of phone calls between some of the most powerful figures in the game as they railed against the plan.

This masthead understands ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys agreed to drop the idea of a $10 million deposit after being warned that he would face open revolt if the NRL pushed ahead with the proposal.

The NRL has put together a committee headed by South Sydney chair Nick Pappas to oversee negotiations over the licensing agreements, which outline the requirements clubs must meet to be part of the NRL.

ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

The current deals expire on October 31 but there is genuine hope at Rugby League Central they can knock over a new agreement before the end of this month.

The early signs aren’t exactly promising given they have already hit a hurdle over the prospect of a licensing fee. The NRL had initially spoken about giving clubs a lifetime agreement but it is understood that has been revised to 20 years.

The NRL is also keen to put strict provisions around financial reporting at clubs and female representation both at management and board levels.

Clubs would be required to have 25 per cent female representation at management level and 33 per cent on their boards should the current conditions receive the green light in talks between the clubs and the commission.

The NRL will also require that all clubs have an inclusion policy but it is understood the agreement will give the clubs no power over expansion of the competition.

If clubs want to stop or limit expansion, their only avenue will be to use their power to vote off commissioners. The escalation of talks with the clubs comes as the Queensland and NSW Rugby Leagues front the commission to shore up their funding.

Queensland and NSW officials addressed the commission on Wednesday to argue their case for increased funding.

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SUPER SMITH ON NRL RADAR

Wigan and England half Harry Smith has become the latest overseas star to appear on the radar of NRL clubs at a time when the code is desperately crying out for young playmakers.

The 23-year-old Smith made his full England debut earlier this year in a big win over France, scoring a try and kicking nine goals.

He has played more than 100 games for Super League giants Wigan and established himself as one of their best players, catching the eye of NRL clubs in the process as they prepare to launch a fresh raid on Super League.

Smith has one year remaining on his deal with Wigan and looks ripe for the picking. Crucially, his agent Iestyn Harris has Australian ties through Sam and Liam Ayoub, who worked with him on deals that delivered Kai Pearce-Paul and Will Pryce to Newcastle.

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Reece Walsh has some high profile company at Alter Ego Drinks. Credit: Supplied.

WALSH STRIKES ALLIANCE WITH AFL STARS

Brisbane sensation Reece Walsh has crossed codes to form an entrepreneurial alliance with AFL stars Bailey Smith, Charlie Curnow, and Nick and Josh Daicos.

The quintet are part of a company - Alter Ego Drinks - that has launched BARRY, a drink made with shochu, vodka, and soda water. It comes in two flavours - crushed lemon and watermelon and lemon.

The drink is the brainchild of Smith, who was inspired by the bars in downtown Tokyo.

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Penrith spent part of their threepeat celebrations on the Sydney Harbour. Credit: Supplied.

Penrith were all smiles when they jumped on board this fancy cruise ship to take in Sydney Harbour as their grand final celebrations continued during the week.

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Bulldogs prop Max King recently got married. Credit: Instagram.

It is wedding season in the NRL. Popular Canterbury prop Max King married fashion model Christy at Curzon Hall last week. The deeply devout pair met at church and had publicly stated their decision to remain celibate until their wedding day.

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This is the moment former Kangaroos skipper Boyd Cordner ruptured his pectoral while competing in a reality television show.

The ex-rugby league hardman was forced to undergo surgery after suffering the serious injury during filming of Channel 7 reality show SAS Australia which was filmed in Jordan earlier this year.

He suffered the injury while trying to jump onto a rope dangling from a helicopter.

Former boxer and rugby league star Anthony Mundine, Olympic swimming gold medallist Stephanie Rice, ex-AFL player Jason Akermanis, Olympian Peter Bol and gold medal diver Matthew Mitcham are among the cast. Cordner’s injury will be shown on a Tuesday night after the show’s launch on Monday night.

Former Roosters captain Boyd Cordner was forced to undergo surgery after suffering a serious injury during filming of Channel 7 reality show SAS Australia. Credit: Supplied.

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ABDO WARNS CLUBS AND PLAYERS TO BE ON BEST BEHAVIOUR BEFORE NOVEMBER 1

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo has warned that club officials and agents face suspension and deregistration if they flout the game’s new rules and start talks with the likes of Ezra Mam and Jarome Luai in the lead-up to November 1.

Head office recently announced that clubs and agents were prevented from engaging in negotiations prior to November 1 unless those discussions were over a player with the incumbent club.

In the lead-up to the player market frenzy kicking off in November, Abdo has warned clubs and agents to be on their best behaviour. The likes of Mam, Luai, Tom Dearden and Keaon Koloamatangi headline the list of players who are up for grabs.

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo.Picture: Monique Harmer/Daily Telegraph

“What is very clear in the rules is that we are able to take and make sanctions which may include things like fines, things like suspension and things like deregistration if we feel the rules have been breached,” Abdo said.

“The penalties can be severe. We’re expecting a high level of compliance. Everyone needs to understand the rules. Where we have evidence that the rules have been broken, we will take action.”

There has been plenty of confusion around what is and isn’t allowed prior to November 1 under the new guidelines. Abdo said clubs could express an interest in a rival player but not go beyond that.

“There can’t be active negotiations,” Abdo said.

“The onus is on them. What you are describing is not necessarily an active negotiation. That is not a negotiation.

“If someone puts out there that they are interested in a player, I wouldn’t say that is a negotiation.”

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Ben Dobbin.

MEDIA PROFILE

Name: Ben “Dobbo” Dobbin

Age: 47

Job title: Triple M NRL commentator and host of Sunday Sin Bin; Nine news QLD rugby league insider.

First job: First real job was as a jackaroo in the Northern Territory (Brunette Downs) then a stock and station agent cattle auctioneer which then led me to becoming a NRL commentator and host

Your sporting heroes: Terry Lamb. Growing up I was a mad Bulldogs supporter and he was the best, just an absolute legend. I was also a huge fan of Greg Norman. I love golf and for an Australian to be No.1 - he was the Great White Shark and we could not get enough of him

What NRL team did you follow: Growing up was always a Bulldogs supporter. These days I am very impartial. Look, if I am honest now living in south east QLD, I cover the Broncos and Dolphins. So I would love to see them do well

What sports did you play: Rowing, rugby and rugby league. I was hopeless at cricket and just a bush footballer who enjoyed post-match more than actually playing. I am now addicted to golf and that’s my sport of choice.

How do you spend a day off? With my family. We get a few days off in the league season and I have five kids. So a day off is all about having some quality time with my wife and kids

Career highlight? Look, calling my first game in 2013 was beyond special. My co-commentators were Gordy (Tallis) and Dell (Wendell Sailor) and the game was Brisbane v Titans. Being part of the Origin and grand final coverage is always special. Hosting Sunday Sin Bin is my favourite day of the week.

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Mark Beretta will line up to cover his 25th Bathurst 1000 on Sunday. The Sunrise host will be joined alongside Mel McLaughlin to head up Channel 7’s coverage. Others trackside for the event includes Erebus Motorsport driver Jack Perkins, Mark Skaife Neil Crompton, Greg Murphy and Emma Freedman.

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Originally published as NRL news: Bulldogs sign Alex Conti, three decades of dominance over for 2GB