NRL 2021: Corey Allan set to join Bulldogs as Souths look to make play for Penrith discard Josh Mansour

Already flush with fresh talent, Canterbury are close to adding a new fullback for 2021 as Souths look to move an Origin star to fund a push for a Panthers discard.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 17: Corey Allan of the Rabbitohs is tackled by Tyrone May of the Panthers during the NRL Preliminary Final match between the Penrith Panthers and the South Sydney Rabbitohs at ANZ Stadium on October 17, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Trent Barrett’s Belmore rebuild continues to take shape, with Queensland Origin fullback Corey Allan set to wear Canterbury’s No.1 jersey in 2021.

Allan is on the verge of being released by South Sydney to take up a three-year contract with the Bulldogs, which would allow the Rabbitohs to make a play for out-of-favour Penrith winger Josh Mansour.

Allan will join Nick Cotric (Canberra), Jack Hetherington (Penrith), Kyle Flanagan (Sydney) and Corey Wadell (Manly) as Canterbury’s new recruits, with Melbourne’s Josh Addo-Carr signed from the 2022 season.

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Corey Allan will likely get to play fullback at the Bulldogs.

Both Allan and Mansour are contracted to their respective clubs for 2021, but have been told they are free to look elsewhere.

It is understood Allan is currently on a deal worth about $330,000 at Souths, but rival clubs had been quoted a figure as high as $500,000 a season for the outside back.

Mansour, 30, has been told he will likely start the season in reserve grade if he remains at Penrith, who are looking to transition Charlie Staines into their starting side.

If Mansour links up with the Rabbitohs, the club at which he played under-20s before heading west to Penrith, he will compete with Alex Johnston and Jaxson Paulo for a wing spot.

The Rabbitohs are also well stocked in the centres with Dane Gagai and Campbell Graham the likely first-choice pairing, with Braidon Burns, Jed Cartwright and new recruits Taane Milne and Tautau Moga vying for places in a crowded backline.

Allan, 22, has had a remarkable two years at South Sydney after leaving the Broncos.

Corey Allan made his State of Origin debut in 2020.

He made his NRL debut in 2019 and played 29 games for the Rabbitohs before being picked at fullback for Queensland in last year’s State of Origin decider.

While Allan had an up-and-down night in his Origin debut, the Maroons claimed a famous series victory at Suncorp Stadium.

But his Queensland and South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett will now grant him a release from the final year of his contract to head to Canterbury.

Allan was set to lose South Sydney’s No.1 jersey this season with Test and Origin star Latrell Mitchell to return from a hamstring injury.

The Rabbitohs have given Allan permission to look at other opportunities and new Bulldogs coach Barrett is expected to lure him to Canterbury with the carrot of playing fullback.

“We’ve been having discussions over the last week or so, we are open to the opportunity,” said Allan’s manager Sam Ayoub.

“Souths are happy for Corey to stay, but he has limited opportunity in his preferred position at fullback with Latrell there.

Souths are interested in Josh Mansour.

“Souths are aware we have been talking with the Dogs and our preference is for him to end up there this year rather than next year.

“I spoke to Corey on Monday and he is very happy at Souths and if he stays there it won’t be an issue.

“But if he can move for a better opportunity to be a regular fullback, consolidate on his Origin debut and put that to good use on a regular basis at the Dogs then the appeal is there.”

Barrett has been steadily bolstering the Bulldogs’ ranks after Canterbury slumped to 15th spot last year.

Cotric is his biggest signing while NSW Origin star Josh Addo-Carr will join the club from Melbourne in 2022.

Originally published as NRL 2021: Corey Allan set to join Bulldogs as Souths look to make play for Penrith discard Josh Mansour