Canterbury open talks with Semi Radradra about NRL return
The wheels are in motion for Semi Radradra’s return to NRL with one Sydney club holding initial discussions with the Fijian flyer — and Parramatta fans won’t be happy.
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Canterbury have held initial talks with former Parramatta winger Semi Radradra over a return to the NRL in 2021.
Chief executive Andrew Hill confirmed club representatives met Radradra and his agent George Christodoulou as they attempted to gauge whether the Fijian rugby union international was realistic about returning to the code.
It is understood the discussions were purely about 2021, Radradra having outlined his desire to play for Fiji in the Rugby World Cup, which starts later this month, and the Olympics in Japan next year. He is also under contract with French club Bordeaux, with that deal running until the end of 2020.
It means any NRL club looking to sign Radradra will have to play a waiting game as he finishes his commitments in rugby union.
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The Bulldogs are one of a number of clubs with money to spend in 2021 and Radradra shapes as an attractive proposition, although his price tag as a winger may cause some NRL clubs to think long and hard about signing him.
It is understood Radradra’s deal with Bordeaux is worth in excess of $1 million a year and there has been talk that he would want upwards of $800,000 a year to play in the NRL.
Clubs have traditionally been reluctant to spend that sort of money on wingers, although Radradra was one of the most devastating players in the game before his decision to switch codes at the end of 2017.
“There was an opportunity offered to us to meet with Semi while he is in Australia,” Hill said.
“We took that opportunity to introduce ourselves and let him know that at the right time should he wish to come back to the NRL, we would be interested in talking to him.
“But at this stage it was purely an introduction to our club.”
The Bulldogs are poised to be one of the most active clubs in the game over the next year given they have money to spend from 2021, when they clear some space in their salary cap
They have been linked with Gold Coast forward Jai Arrow and are likely to take a look at Brisbane backrower David Fifita, both of whole come off contract at the end of next season.
Arrow has already started gauging interest for 2021 after being given permission by the Titans to go to market before the November 1 deadline for players entering the final year of their deal.
It is understood Wests Tigers could meet with Arrow as early as this week. Fifita is arguably hotter property than his Queensland State of Origin counterpart and although Brisbane are confident of retaining him, there has been widespread interest from Sydney clubs after they were given an indication that he would genuinely consider a move from the Broncos.
Both players would likely command upwards of $800,000 a season on the open market, making it hard for the Gold Coast and Brisbane to compete with offers from Sydney.
Cronulla are also expected to take a look at Arrow given their cap pressure eases in 2021.
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