NRL transfer window: Bronson Garlick opens up on shock Storm call

Melbourne’s latest veteran recruit opens up on surprise deal, while Josh Hannay eyes loan Sharks and Raiders ready to pounce on Eels stars.

The Canberra Raiders are eyeing a swoop of Parramatta Eels stars Junior Paulo and Dylan Brown.

At 25, Bronson Garlick kept his first grade ambitions alive.

At a time in which teenage sensations including Reece Walsh, Sam Walker and Josh Schuster have dominated headlines, Garlick has taken a far different path to landing his NRL shot.

Strong performances with Newtown this season led to a shock phone call for the half/hooker from premiership heavyweight Melbourne.

“I knew coming to Newtown this year that this would be my last roll of the dice,” Garlick said.

“I knew I had to have a big season to have a crack at anything. It’s been my best season.

“I have never given up hope and I would’ve kept playing until I was 30 even if it was park footy. I just love playing. It’s a passion. If you don’t have the passion, you stop playing.

“Never in a million years did I think Storm would come knocking.”

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Newtown Jets' Bronson Garlickhas signed with Melbourne Storm. Picture: Bryden Sharp,

Garlick has signed a one-year development deal with Storm from next season. He does not need to look too far for inspiration as the club has handed first-grade opportunities to 20-somethings Aaron Pene, Billy Walters, Chris Lewis and Jordan Grant in recent years.

Garlick has travelled the long road. Born into a rugby league family, his dad Sean played 160 top-grade games for the Roosters and Souths.

But Bronson was overlooked for South Sydney’s junior representative sides before finally gaining a call-up into its under-20s.

He switched to the Bulldogs and was part of their 2018 reserve-grade state championship win and has signed part-time, one-year deals since. Garlick only joined Newtown this year.

“I did a couple of pre-seasons at the Bulldogs with the NRL squad,” he said. “When we won the (reserve grade) competition, everyone got an NRL deal except for me.

“Watching dad play, all I ever wanted to do was play first grade.”

HANNAY SENDS OUT SOS FOR LOAN SHARKS

By James Phelps

Josh Hannay is hoping his NRL rivals will help him save his season with the Sharks’ rookie coach revealing he has sent out a player loan SOS to his competitors.

In the midst of a player shortage crisis that will deepen when Royce Hunt goes on paternity leave, Hannay has turned to the NRL loan market in a desperate bid to make the finals.

Set to take on the Warriors without Matt Moylan after he was removed from an extended bench, the Sharks list of outs includes Shaun Johnson, Josh Dugan, Franklin Pele, Jackson Ferris, Wade Graham, Mawene Hiroti and Teig Wilton.

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“We will be looking around the rosters of the other teams and investigating the loan system,” Hannay said. “We will no doubt bring some players in over the coming weeks to strengthen the depth of our squad.

“We have Royce Hunt departing soon for the birth of his child so our numbers are getting thin. The loan system is there to help ease pressure like this and we are hoping to bring in some numbers to help fill the void.”

Josh Hannay is on the hunt for a loan player to bolster his Sharks’ injury-depleted squad. Picture: Ashley Feder/Getty Images

Sitting ninth after being jumped by the Knights on Thursday night, the Sharks will walk the finals tightrope with a makeshift pair of halves after Johnson was sent back to Sydney.

“Shaun left earlier in the week,” Hannay said.

“The decision there was that he would be out for the year and it was better for him to be with his family and continue his rehabilitation in Sydney. That was the best thing for both Shaun and his own wellbeing.”

Hannay, who has turned to the unlikely pairing of Connor Tracey and Braydon Trindall, admitted replacing Johnson would be impossible.

“We don’t have anyone capable of filling Shaun Johnson’s shoes,” Hannay said. “And we will be looking around those rosters and investigating but, to be fair, there won’t be a Shaun Johnson.”

Hannay has called on his players to show more discipline on Saturday after being blown away by the Sea Eagles.

“I don’t think we gave ourselves a chance,” he said. “We need to play our game and we didn’t do that. I think discipline really hurt us on the night.

“We had 19 errors, whether that be penalties or mistakes. We couldn’t put pressure on Manly, who are a really consistent side. It would have gotten even uglier if we didn’t hold them in the last 20.”

RAIDERS PREPARE TO PILLAGE PARRA’S ROSTER

By Dean Ritchie

Parramatta stars Dylan Brown and Junior Paulo are being courted by the Canberra Raiders.

The Daily Telegraph understands Canberra has engaged in internal discussions about lodging big money offers to Brown and Paulo, who can be formally approached by rival clubs from November 1.

Aware Parramatta will struggle to retain a host of stars coming off contract after next season, rival clubs are circling the powerful Eels roster.

Paulo, Brown, Clint Gutherson, Ryan Matterson, Reed Mahoney, Marata Niukore and Isaiah Papali’i have contracts that conclude after next season.

Five-eighth Dylan Brown is on the Raiders’ radar. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Brown has an option his way for 2023 but has yet to trigger the clause, meaning he is free to talk with rival clubs later this season.

Canberra is keen on Brown as a possible replacement for departed halfback George Williams while Paulo played at the Raiders between 2016 and 2018.

Both players will line up for Parramatta in Friday night’s big game against South Sydney on the Gold Coast.

The Daily Telegraph understands Canberra hasn’t yet lodged offers for the pair but the club’s interest is genuine.

There is even a suggestion Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has made inquiries with Brown’s manager, Chris Orr.

Canberra found out about Brown’s availability through a story in The Daily Telegraph.

Brown hasn’t needed to be a playmaker at Parramatta – that responsibility has fallen onto Mitch Moses – but could adapt his game under Stuart, a former Australian and NSW halfback.

Canberra would hope to lure Brown and Paulo to the club for the start of 2023, perhaps earlier.

Eels officials believe Paulo is happy at the club and wants to re-sign.

But Paulo did say last month in Origin camp: “For myself, I’m happy to be in Sydney with my family but whatever happens, that’s footy. You do whatever you have to do to provide for your family.”

Junior Paulo has already had a stint in the nation’s capital. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

It is unknown whether Canberra would have sufficient room in their salary cap to sign both players for next season should they suddenly become available.

Brown has been shopped to rival clubs to gauge interest while Niukore and Papali’i are on minimal contracts and will attract solid interest elsewhere.

There would be some excitement in Canberra seeing how Brown could coexist with champion Raiders five-eighth, Jack Wighton in the halves.

Paulo has established himself among the elite front-rowers in rugby league and has now played six games for NSW. He left Canberra under harmonious circumstances.

The Eels will have additional money through the departure of former Test winger Blake Ferguson, who was being paid around $500,000 a season.

Meanwhile Cronulla prop Aaron Woods has contacted Wests Tigers about rejoining the Concord club from next season.

Woods, 30, played 146 games for Wests Tigers before joining Canterbury after the 2017 season. He remains highly regarded at the club but officials are yet to discuss the prospects of a return.

“We don’t discuss recruitment publicly. All recruitment discussions we have remain internal to our club,” said Wests Tigers chief executive, Justin Pascoe.

STORM’S SHOCK PLAY TO KEEP SMITH AND GRANT

By James Phelps

Brandon Smith is one step closer to becoming rugby league’s next $1 million man after the Melbourne Storm made a shock first-up offer of $600,000 a year to retain their in-demand star.

In a move that will start a bidding war between the six rival clubs that have already expressed an interest in signing Smith from 2022, Melbourne this week made the surprise offer that could tempt the Kiwi wrecking ball to snub the likes of the Sydney Roosters and the Canterbury Bulldogs.

A club famous for its ability to sign players on “unders” deals thanks to the lure of success, the Storm’s bid showed they were serious about keeping both Smith and Harry Grant at the club long term.

Brandon Smith is in demand. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

It also set the scene for a rugby league auction that could make Smith one of the game’s richest players should he decide to go to market on November 1.

“I was pleasantly surprised with their offer,” said Smith’s manager Stan Martin.

“It is certainly a lot higher than I thought it would be. I was really surprised and I think they are aware of what it will take to keep him.”

The Daily Telegraph can reveal that at least six clubs have expressed an official interest in signing Smith for 2023 and beyond.

Those clubs include the Roosters, Bulldogs, Wests Tigers and NRL expansion hope the Redcliffe Dolphins.

“We have fielded a number of expressions of interest,” Martin said.

“Yes. There have been six clubs. Easily.”

While the Storm’s first-up offer shows the club is serious about keeping both Smith and fellow hooker Harry Grant in Melbourne, the Kiwi strike weapon is still expected to field official offers from rivals when the 2022 transfer window opens on November 1.

“We can’t sign any contract with anyone other than the Storm until the 1st of November,” Martin said.

Harry Grant is contracted to the Storm until the end of 2023. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

“We can discuss options but we can’t sign. He has another year to go on the contract. I will give them an indication of his value. As an agent I would like to think he could get a million but $800,000 may be a more realistic target.”

While the Storm have not discussed terms, Smith’s desire to play as a starting NRL hooker may force him to leave Melbourne, even though he is currently wearing the No. 9 jumper with Grant coming off the bench.

“That is part of the problem,” Martin said.

“And that is the reason we put him on the market originally. We don’t know how they are going to play him at Melbourne and that is fair enough because they have Harry Grant.”

Smith headlines the list of star players who are coming off contract at the end of next year.

Junior Paulo, Cody Walker, Viliame Kikau and Joseph Manu will also attract strong interest should they remain unsigned after November 1.

Michael Chee Kam has the chance to impress, and secure a contract extension, in the final rounds of 2021. Picture: Jeremy Piper

UTILITY A CHEE-KY CHANCE OF NEW DEAL

Michael Chee Kam could earn himself a new Tigers deal after forcing his way into Michael Maguire’s top-team.

News Corp Australia can reveal the Tigers kick started contracts talk with the Samoan powerhouse ahead of picking him to start for the first time since round seven.

After being relegated to 18th man following the loss to the Sea Eagles, Chee Kam won himself a start in the centres for the clash against the Bulldogs after impressing last week when he returned to the NRL by way of the bench.

The 29-year old, who also plays back-row, may have also earned himself a new deal with the Tigers opening talks to retain him beyond the year.

One of seven Tigers coming off contract at the end of the year, Chee Kam was recruited to Concord in 2016 following a two-year stint with the Sea Eagles.

Chee Kam was promoted into the top team for the Bulldogs clash following a positional shuffle caused by an injury to Daine Laurie.

Mbye has been shifted from centre to fullback for the clash after Laurie broke his fibula during last week’s shock defeat to the Warriors.

Chee Kam could not only earn himself a new deal but lock down the centre spot for the remainder of the season with Laurie ruled out for the rest of the year.

Originally published as NRL transfer window: Bronson Garlick opens up on shock Storm call