NRL star’s move unlocks three-team switch

Manly’s move to snap up a Broncos rising star has potentially triggered a player movement carousel involving three NRL clubs.

Ryan James, Ethan Bullemor and Moses Suli. Photos: Getty, NRL Photos, News Corp Australia.

Manly’s move to snatch rising star Ethan Bullemor from the Broncos has potentially unlocked a three-team player switch.

Multiple reports on Tuesday night claimed Bullemor has reached an agreement surrounding a three-year deal with the Sea Eagles.

The Courier-Mail first revealed the Broncos granted Bullemor an early release from the final year of his contract in order for the 21-year-old prop to join Manly for the start of the 2022 season.

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The prop forward’s unconfirmed move to Manly will reportedly have a domino effect that could also see two other star players move to rival clubs.

Bullemor’s arrival at Manly goes hand in hand with the club’s reported decision to allow centre Moses Suli to seal a move to the Dragons next year.

Ethan Bullemor on the move. Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images.

Suli was facing a fight to retain his spot starting in the centres at Manly next season and it was first reported last month the Sea Eagles have given him permission to speak with rival clubs while remaining under contract.

St George Illawarra and Manly were reported to be locked in a negotiation surrounding a transfer fee payment of $50,000 — despite the Dragons and Suli having already agreed to terms on a three-year contract worth $1.7 million.

Moses Suli is out of favour. Photo by Matt King/Getty Images.

Channel 9’s Danny Weidler posted on Twitter Monday night that the Dragons had successfully acquired Suli without needing to pay the transfer fee.

It comes after the Dragons demanded a $50,000 transfer fee when the club released winger Jason Saab to join Manly.

It remains unclear what Suli’s move will mean for Jack Bird, who has been playing in the centres for the Dragons this year.

Meanwhile, Bullemor’s move comes after reports of a stalemate between the Broncos and star prop Payne Haas surrounding a long-term contract upgrade.

Haas had already signed a long-term deal through to the end of 2024, but his form this year was reported to have prompted the club to upgrade and extend his contract through to the end of 2027.

No agreement has been reached.

The Broncos are now reported to be chasing forgotten Raiders forward Ryan James as a replacement for Bullemor and add further depth to ease some of the load on Haas’ shoulders.

Ryan James looking for a new start. Digital image by Robb Cox NRL Photos

James, a former Titans star, has struggled at the Raiders and in July suffered a season-ending knee injury.

The Courier-Mail’s Travis Meyn reports the Broncos want to replace Bullemor with a middle forward and have been in talks with James about a deal that would see James move to Brisbane before the start of the 2022 season.

James, 30, remains contracted with Canberra through to the end of 2022.

He signed a two-year deal with the Raiders in 2020 and was believed to have taken a $200,000 per-season pay cut to join the Raiders.

Originally published as NRL star’s move unlocks three-team switch