NRL 2022: Suspended Newcastle Knights wild man Mitch Barnett signs with Warriors
Controversial suspended Knights star Mitch Barnett has been granted an early release from Newcastle to join a rival club. See all the latest signing news.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Suspended Newcastle forward Mitch Barnett has quit the club to take up a three year deal with the Warriors.
Newcastle have given Barnett a release from the final year of his contract to join the Warriors next season.
Barnett was given permission to negotiate with rival clubs by the Knights. He shares a close relationship with Warriors coach Nathan Brown from their time at Newcastle.
Brown signed Barnett from Canberra to join Newcastle in 2016 and helped establish him as an NRL player. He is the midst of serving a six game ban after being sent off for elbowing Penrith’s Chris Smith.
Stream every game of every round of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free In Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >
“The Warriors presented me with an opportunity to further my game,” Barnett said.
“I have personal goals of playing representative football and I am also looking forward to working with Brownie again.
“The Warriors impressed me on and off the field which made my decision easier.
New Zealand have already been among the most active clubs ahead of next season. They have added Dylan Walker, Luke Metcalf and fellow back-rower Marata Niukore. They have allowed Euan Aitken to exit a season early for his three-year deal.
SHOCK SUITOR FOR IN-DEMAND MUNSTER
— David Riccio
The demand for Cameron Munster has gone to extraordinary levels with almost half the NRL indicating their interest in signing the Test star.
News Corp can reveal the hottest prospect in the NRL has seven clubs chasing his signature and surprisingly, one of them is Newcastle.
The Knights appetite to enter the race alongside the Dolphins is the first sign that Newcastle are preparing for the potential loss of gun fullback Kalyn Ponga, or that they will attempt to bolster their roster by adding Munster to their side.
Knights coach Adam O’Brien has a relationship with Munster having previously worked with the Storm playmaker when he was an assistant coach in Melbourne for 11 years.
Ponga is yet to decide whether he will take-up an option in his contract to continue playing with the Knights beyond this season.
He too, is being swooned by the Dolphins, who have the salary cap room to sign both Ponga and Munster.
The Knights captain met with the head coach of the NRL‘s newest franchise, Wayne Bennett, only a fortnight ago.
Publicly Newcastle are saying they are prepared to wait patiently for their marquee signing to make a call, but privately they are eager for the 24-year-old to end the conjecture - one way or another.
The Knights are no clearer on Ponga‘s future ahead of an Easter Sunday clash with St George-Illawarra.
Munster must wait until November 1 to meet with rival clubs as he isn’t off-contract with the Storm until the end of the 2023 season.
He rejected an offer to extend his tenure beyond 2023 with the club earlier this year.
That deal was considered on average $500,000 less over the term of the contract compared to his current $1.25 million per-season deal.
It was that contract rejection from Munster that has piqued the interest of rival clubs.
The Storm have since secured the futures of halfback Jahrome Hughes and hooker Harry Grant.
The Dolphins are confident they will be able to secure Munster as their marquee signing for 2024 - but the question is, would the 27-year-old be granted an early release to lead the Redcliffe-based franchise in their first game next season?
Storm CEO Justin Rodski told the press on Friday the club had no interest in letting Munster go prior to the expiration of his current deal.
“Cameron‘s a contracted player and a required player for the 2023 season,’’ Rodski said.
“He’s playing some really good footy and contributing really well to the team.
“The Melbourne Storm haven‘t provided permission for Cameron Munster’s management to talk to other clubs about an early release.
“We’re not getting caught up in what’s been said or hasn’t been said.
“We’re just focused on this year and next year and what happens after that? Well, we’ll wait and see.”
Tigers back on Sharks star’s radar
- James Phelps
Briton Nikora has refused to rule out a shock move to the Wests Tigers, with the barnstorming backrower declaring himself still for sale after knocking back the Sharks.
Reported to be a done deal at the Sharks after rejecting the Tigers, News Corp can reveal that Nikora is still on the open market after knocking back a contract extension offer from the Sharks.
“That’s all in the hands of my manager,” Nikora said.
“But I believe that is the case. He is looking after all of that, but all I know is that my future is very much still in the air and nothing has been ruled in or out.”
In a major blow that could force a recruitment rethink for the Sharks, Nikora’s manager Sam Ayoub last week rejected an extension offer from Cronulla.
It is understood the deal fell well short of the offers he has attracted from rivals, including the Tigers.
While he declined to talk about the offer, the Kiwi edge forward sensation did say that he would be forced to consider his financial future.
The Sharks signed Nikora for a bargain basement deal of $5000 when he 17.
“I love the Sharks,” Nikora said.
“And, of course, I would love to stay here. But I also have to think about what is best for myself and my family at this stage of my career. I have to consider what is out there. I really just want to stay out of all this and concentrate on my football.”
Nikora admitted that he could be tempted by a monster offer from the Tigers.
“I know Madge (Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire) from the Kiwis and he is a good fella and a good coach,” Nikora said.
“I have a few things to weigh up but as I said, no decisions have been made and my manager will sort it out.”
Nikora said he will be available to play next week after missing the clash against the Storm because of Covid.
“I will be out of isolation on Monday,” Nikora said.
“It is a bummer I missed out on the game but I am hoping to be back for next week. The game is on Thursday so it will be a quick turnaround, but I am ready to do whatever is best for the team.”
New club joins hunt for Broncos star
- Brent Read and Peter Badel
Parramatta have expressed an interest in Brisbane centre Herbie Farnworth as the race for the Englishman extends to Sydney and threatens to price the Broncos out of the market.
Farnworth is off contract at the end of the season and in the sights of a handful of clubs, chief among them the Dolphins.
News Corp understands the Eels are also watching Farnworth closely as they weigh up making a move for the 22-year-old, who was electric over the opening month of the season.
Farnworth scored four tries in Brisbane’s opening five games before he was sidelined by injury against Penrith on Friday night. The Broncos sorely missed him as they were battered by the defending premiers.
They may have to get used to it as Farnworth edges towards making a call on his future.
The Broncos are doing their level-best to keep him, but they acknowledge they face an immense challenge given the lack of quality centres on the open market and the level of interest Farnworth is attracting.
It is understood the Eels are not the only Sydney side monitoring the situation as they look to strengthen their outside backs heading into next season.
The club was in the market for some immediate help after suffering a slew of injuries in the outside backs, but they may hold their nerve as Marata Niukore makes his return from suspension and Maika Sivo edges towards a comeback from long-term injury.
Their focus instead may be on strengthening for next season, and that is where Farnworth will enter the equation given he is arguably the best outside back on the open market.
The Dolphins have chased him hard, offering the sweetener of the right centre spot, where he prefers to play. At the Broncos, his path to that position is blocked by his centre partner, Kotoni Staggs, who produced an outstanding performance in the loss to the Panthers.
Broncos football boss Ben Ikin has conceded Brisbane face a battle to retain the British flyer, that task only becoming more difficult as more clubs enter the race for one of the most coveted players still available for next season.
“It depends how much the other clubs will be prepared to bid for Herbie, but he’s a guy we want to keep,” Ikin said.
“We have a number of good young players coming off-contract and ideally you want to keep all the players you feel are an important part of what you are trying to build.
“We understand there are market forces out there that impact on what you are trying to do. That’s what happens in an industry governed by the salary cap.
“Herbie is a very good NRL player. He is a terrific ball runner, every week and every season he continues to play, he keeps learning and growing.
“He is right at the start of his journey and he is showing us a lot of good stuff. I have no doubt there will be a whole host of clubs looking to have a crack at him.”
More Coverage
Originally published as NRL 2022: Suspended Newcastle Knights wild man Mitch Barnett signs with Warriors
Ryles challenged to find five Eels who are winners
Talent gets you identified but workers are winners is some of the advice that new Parramatta Eels coach Jason Ryles received at a recent lunch with some of rugby league’s finest minds.
Horrific images of Bronco’s crash emerge
Shocking photos of Ezra Mam’s head on crash have rocked the Broncos with the driver of the other car sharing new details.