NRL transfer news: South Sydney re-sign star duo Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker

South Sydney have made the biggest splash of the NRL off-season just days before Christmas - with a move they hope will deliver premiership glory.

Tonga international Ben Murdoch-Masila is set to join the Dragons. NRL Imagery.

The wait has been prolonged but well worth it.

After months of patient yet productive negotiations, South Sydney will finally announce the retention of star players Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker.

The Daily Telegraph has been told Mitchell and Walker’s much-hyped retention will be made public at 11am on Wednesday.

It comes six days after Souths officially nailed down hooker Damien Cook.

With Mitchell, Walker and Cook all staying long-term, South Sydney fans can continue to dream about title number 22.

Cody Walker (L) and Latrell Mitchell (C) have both signed new deals to keep them at South Sydney. Picture: Getty

Mitchell, 25, will re-sign for another three seasons with Walker’s deal ending after 2025. Cook signed for a further two years.

It will be a re-signing package worth a cool $5 million.

While not categorically confirming the re-signing of Mitchell and Walker, Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly said: “We are extremely close to re-signing Latrell and Cody - hopefully on Wednesday.

“The negotiations have been delayed as a result of the uncertainty with the salary cap and CBA for the next five years, but the players and their management have been incredibly patient through this period. I want to thank them for this patience and understanding.

The latest round of re-signings follows the recent retention of star hooker Damien Cook. Picture: Getty

“They have all played State of Origin with our club, and had a number of individual awards in the red and green.

“Each of them has the character, resilience and desire to win that every great Rabbitoh player possesses. They are much loved by our members and fans and we want them to stay and ideally win a premiership with us.”

Mitchell, Walker and Cook still have another year remaining on their existing contracts.

DRAGONS SET TO SIGN TONGAN STAR

- BY MICHAEL CARAYANNIS

St George Illawarra are set to add international forward Ben Murdoch-Masila to their forward pack from next season.

Murdoch-Masila is in the final stages of being granted a release from the final year of his Warriors contract to link up with the Dragons for the next two seasons. A host of Super League clubs – including Catalans Dragons - were linked to the 31-year-old who will bring some experience and a point of difference to the Dragons forward pack.

Murdoch-Masila has played 85 NRL matches including 11 at the Warriors this year. He joined New Zealand after five seasons in the Super League.

Tonga international Ben Murdoch-Masila is set to join the Dragons. NRL Imagery.

He played off the bench for Tonga in the World Cup where he was coached by Kristian Woolf – the brother of new St George Illawarra assistant coach Ben.

Dragons coach Anthony Griffin also worked with Murdoch-Masila when Griffin was Tongan assistant coach.

The Dragons have been patient in their recruitment for next season with the club having some salary cap space and roster spots still free. They have only added Wests Tigers duo Zane Musgrove and Jacob Liddle. Should Murdoch-Masila’s signing eventuate as planned, the Dragons will still have three spots left on their roster.

PANTHERS FIGHT FOR STAR AMID CAP CRISIS

By Dean Ritchie

Penrith has refused to concede defeat in their desperate fight to re-sign star centre Stephen Crichton with Panthers chief executive declaring: “We will do everything we can to keep our best kids.”

It comes as speculation swirls over Nelson Asofa-Solomona with sources close to the Storm surprised the 115kg giant prop had been linked to Canterbury.

Penrith management admit the club’s salary cap is becoming increasingly tight but Panthers Rugby League CEO Matt Cameron will not consider allowing Crichton to leave without one hell of a fight.

Cameron hopes the NRL can finally land on a salary cap for next season before re-engaging with a concrete offer for Crichton.

Belmore bound? Stephen Crichton is in demand. Picture: Getty Images

Crichton, a St Clair junior, has been strongly linked to Canterbury for the past three months with an alleged promise to play fullback.

“With respect to Stephen, our goal is to do everything we can to keep our best kids here at Penrith,” Cameron said.

“We want to keep every local junior who is progressing into the first grade squad at our club for as long as we can. That is what we are working towards.

“But it is getting harder. And not just with Stephen. Every player in our squad is getting better and deserves more money. Jarome (Luai), Dylan (Edwards) and Isaah (Yeo) come off contract after 2024. That’s just us as a club moving forward.

“We can’t get to a landing position without a solid salary cap for 2023. Once that happens, we can do our maths and know where we sit to progress the conversation.

“We’ve just put the brakes on at the moment, and not just with respect to Stephen. We think we have a landing position but until they actually ratify it … I think every club would be the same.

“At the moment we only have 26 players for this coming year so we still have to sign another two players but I’m reluctant to do anything until I know what the salary cap is.

“We need some clarification to move ahead.”

The Bulldogs have been linked with Nelson Asofa-Solomona. Picture: NRL Photos

There was even a suggestion Crichton could sign with the Bulldogs for 2024 but then seek to leave Penrith immediately for 2023.

This was refuted by Cameron, who said: “No way. We have had no indication of that and we have been pretty strong in the past with situations like this.

“We’d like to think players finish out the season at the club that they’re at.

“We haven’t shown an interest previously for letting players go early unless it suits the Penrith Panthers and in this case I don’t think it does.”

Asofa-Solomona comes off contract after next season and will attract considerable rival interest.

Overseas rugby union clubs have previously had a nibble at the big front-rower and there have been quiet whispers the Bulldogs may express an interest.

Melbourne sources are unaware of any rival club making plans to hunt down Asofa-Solomona and remain confident he will stay at AAMI Park.

Canterbury would need to find significant space in their salary cap to sign Crichton and Asofa-Solomona.

SOUTHS’ DIFFICULT DECISION AFTER KEY SIGNING

A difficult decision looms in the final season of Damien Cook’s freshly inked contract extension as South Sydney navigate a succession plan for their star hooker.

The Rabbitohs on Friday confirmed Cook had signed a new deal that would keep him at Redfern until the end of 2025.

He is the first of the Rabbitohs’ big three to officially recommit, after The Daily Telegraph on Thursday revealed Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker had also agreed to new three and two-year deals respectively, to be announced early next week.

Cook had been chasing a three-year extension but the club refused to budge, only offering Cook, 31, two more years.

It echoed the stance the Rabbitohs took in 2021 with club legend Adam Reynolds, who eventually left for a three-year contract with Brisbane after only being offered a 12-month deal to stay.

Damien Cook has signed a new deal that will keep him at Redfern until the end of 2025.

The issue for Souths is the emergence of young hooker Peter Mamouzelos, who is being groomed to take over from Cook.

The local junior turns 22 in January, having only made a handful of appearances since making his NRL debut in 2021.

He is under contract at Souths until the end of 2024, and given Cook is now locked in for a year beyond that, Mamouzelos will need to be convinced there is a path to regular first grade for him at Redfern.

Cook’s comments on the eve of signing his extension this week, though, cast doubt over that.

“I spoke to (Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou), the three years isn’t going to be there which is understandable, the club has to look after their position as well,” Cook told Fox Sports.

“But speaking to JD, he said if I’m playing good footy at that time there is no doubt he’ll re-sign me on that third or fourth year.”

Peter Mamouzelos is being groomed to take over from Damien Cook. Picture: Bryden Sharp

That would potentially take Cook to the end of 2026, which would mean two years of shared hooker duties for Mamouzelos.

Mamouzelos only made two NRL appearances in 2022 and Cook has shown, that even at 31, he’s an 80-minute footballer.

Complicating matters for the Rabbitohs is the hooker free agency situation emerging around the NRL and the demand for quality No. 9 options.

Parramatta have signed Josh Hodgson on a two-year deal to replace Reed Mahoney. The club has an option to take up his contract for the 2024 season. But, at 33, he’s not a long-term solution for the Eels.

Lachlan Croker has been an admirable servant at hooker for Manly since losing Manase Fainu three years ago. Croker’s current contract expires at the end of 2024, the same time Mamouzelos becomes a free agent.

Peter Mamouzelos in action for Greece at the Rugby League World Cup. Picture: Getty Images

Even at Penrith, where Mitch Kenny has assumed the No. 9 jersey following Apisai Koroisau’s move to the Wests Tigers, he has a deal that also runs two more years. Beyond that, they only have four of their top-30 squad contracted.

Mamouzelos is obviously seen as the future at Souths, but how do you move along the incumbent NSW hooker and one of the premier players in his position, especially when his mindset is: “The ball is in my court to make sure I keep my standard up and keep continuing the play good footy. The length of my career is up to me.”

Much like they did with Reynolds when the torch was passed to halfback Lachlan Ilias, this shapes as a defining moment for the Rabbitohs.

COOK FIRST OF BUNNIES BIG THREE TO INK EXTENSION

By Dean Ritchie

Damien Cook has become the first of South Sydney’s ‘big three’ to announce he is staying at the Rabbitohs.

South Sydney confirmed on Friday afternoon that the star hooker had agreed a two-year extension that will keep him at the club until the end of 2025.

The Daily Telegraph on Thursday revealed Cook and teammates Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker had all agreed to new deals, with the latter deals to be announced early next week.

Cook had been constantly linked to The Dolphins and a reunion with former Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett, but the 31-year-old will now see out his career at Redfern.

The latest round of re-signings follows the recent retention of star hooker Damien Cook. Picture: Getty

“I’m really excited about signing this new deal as I know we have some great opportunities in front of us over the next few years,” Cook said.

“This club is also part of my family. I’ve married my wife Courtney while here at Souths, we’ve had our two kids while being here too, and during some tough times in recent years the Rabbitohs could not have done more to look after our families and keep us connected throughout that time.

“I feel like my teammates, the coaches and the staff are part of my extended family and that’s why we’ve had some success in recent years.

“In saying that, we haven’t achieved what we have set out to achieve just yet and I think we have the team and support to win the 22nd premiership for the Rabbitohs in the next few years.

“We’re all focused on that goal and I’m really excited about having the chance to play my role in achieving that.”

The Rabbitohs have Peter Mamouzelos signed until the end of 2024 and is seen as Cook’s long-term replacement. Picture: Bryden Sharp.

South Sydney also have promising young hooker Peter Mamouzelos coming through the ranks.

The 21-year-old is contracted until the end of the 2024 season and is seen as Cook’s long-term successor in the hooking position.

The retention of Cook and expected re-signings of Mitchell and Walker will ensure the Rabbitohs’ premiership window remains open for the foreseeable future.

Mitchell’s new deal is expected to span three seasons, while Walker’s contract will be extended for a further two years.

All three players were already under contract for 2023.

$5M CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR SOUTHS FANS

South Sydney is just days away from announcing the retention of star players Latrell Mitchell, Damien Cook and Cody Walker.

It was hoped the deals could be finalised this week but are now more likely to be announced next week — giving Rabbitohs fans the ideal Christmas gift.

While still unconfirmed, Mitchell, 25, is expected to re-sign for another three seasons, Cook, 31, for a further two years and Walker, 32, until the end of 2025.

The combined contract values for Mitchell, Walker and Cook is around $5m.

Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker and Damien Cook are set to re-sign with the club.

Souths chief executive Blake Solly admitted new contracts for the three players were “extremely close.”

All three players — who have played 26 State of Origin games for NSW between them — have another year to run on their existing contracts.

Despite Mitchell, Walker and Cook being in huge demand, it seemed inevitable they would remain at Souths.

And their long-term retention keeps South Sydney’s premiership window wide open.

Just last month, Mitchell claimed he felt “at home” after joining the Rabbitohs from Sydney Roosters in 2020.

Walker and Cook had been linked to the new Dolphins club headed up by their old coach Wayne Bennett, but will now end their careers in the myrtle and cardinal red.

TAB bookies have Souths ($13) equal fifth favourites to win the premiership next year.

Originally published as NRL transfer news: South Sydney re-sign star duo Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker