2014 NRL Player Rumours & Signings

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It really does seem like they're trying to recruit a reserve grade team at the moment. George Rose, Beau Henry, Rulon Nutira, Eto Nabuli, Heath L'Estrange & Kris Keating while losing Brett Morris, Jack Stockwell, one of their best juniors in Jack Bird who was a Junior Kangaroo & possibly Trent Merrin.
 
Joshhh said:
It really does seem like they're trying to recruit a reserve grade team at the moment. George Rose, Beau Henry, Rulon Nutira, Eto Nabuli, Heath L'Estrange & Kris Keating while losing Brett Morris, Jack Stockwell, one of their best juniors in Jack Bird who was a Junior Kangaroo & possibly Trent Merrin.
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I thought that as well, quickly becoming favourites for the spoon
 
Sharks make a formal offer to Ben Barba but may need Broncos subsidy to complete deal


  • PETER BADEL
  • THE SUNDAY MAIL (QLD)
  • NOVEMBER 09, 2014 12:00AM

THE Sharks have tabled a formal offer for Ben Barba as the fallen Dally M star moves a step closer to leaving the Broncos.

While Barba has interest from two other NRL clubs, Cronulla is in the box seat and is expected to formally clinch his signature in the next 48 hours.

Sharks coach Shane Flanagan refused to comment, but it is understood the embattled club is keen to secure Barba until the end of 2017.

The cash-strapped Sharks can’t afford to buy out the remaining two years of Barba’s Brisbane deal and are banking on a Broncos subsidy to formalise his transfer.

If the Broncos come to the party with a severance package as expected, Barba could be training in the Sutherland Shire as early as this week.

His manager Chris Orr on Saturday confirmed the Sharks were among the clubs in the hunt for the unwanted Broncos utility, who could play five-eighth at Cronulla next season.

“The Broncos have granted us permission to talk and yes the Sharks are interested, but nothing is over the line as yet,” Orr said.

“Ben has a two-year deal with the Broncos.

“If he wanted to stay, he could, but we understand Wayne Bennett’s stance and we’ll see what’s out in the marketplace.

“Ben doesn’t know how he feels at the moment. It’s an emotional time.

“His preference is to stay, but he’s a professional footballer and like any industry, if your boss doesn’t want you, you have to move on and find someone who does.”

Barba’s impending return to Sydney is sure to raise eyebrows.

The 25-year-old admitted he struggled with the pressures of life in the big smoke as he went off the rails at the Bulldogs following his stunning Dally M season in 2012.

But Broncos coach Bennett dismissed concerns over Barba’s mental state, believing he can consolidate next year on some moments of promise at Red Hill.

“I think he has rebuilt his career already,” Bennett said.

“The Broncos have done a lot for him, but he got some credibility back and he showed everyone last season how durable he was when he changed positions and played five-eighth.

“When you are getting paid what these NRL players are, it’s not too hard to start again.

“If your boss tells you don’t have a job, you have to move on.

“He moved from Canterbury two years ago and now he will have to move again.

“When you have elite players who are highly-paid, you don’t want them playing in the second-tier competitions.

“On our roster right now, that’s what will happen to Ben.”


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...to-complete-deal/story-fni3gv5x-1227116989649

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Cherry-Evans and Keary head recruitment hit list as Titans rebuild into a premiership force


  • PETER BADEL
  • THE SUNDAY MAIL (QLD)
  • NOVEMBER 09, 2014 12:00AM

THE Titans have drawn up a recruitment hit list headed by gun halves Daly Cherry-Evans and Luke Keary in a $3.9 million blueprint to rebuild the club as a premiership force.

The Sunday Mail can reveal the Titans have more than $3m to spend under the salary cap and are keen to bring Maroons ace Cherry-Evans back to Queensland.

It is understood a Gold Coast representative contacted the managers of Cherry-Evans and Keary last week to register the club’s interest.

Other recruitment targets include the Roosters’ Queensland Emerging Origin prop Dylan Napa, who recently debuted for Australia’s PM’s XIII, as the Titans look to shed four years of mediocrity.

The Titans have yet to table formal offers for the trio, but will discuss three-year deals for Cherry-Evans and Keary worth $1.3m collectively per season.

The Manly and Australian half-back will command at least $800,000 annually, while Keary will fetch around $500,000 after helping Souths to their first premiership in 43 years.

Cherry-Evans and Keary’s current clubs have tabled fresh upgrades and it would take massive offers to convince either player to walk away, but the Titans will enter the bidding war.

Few NRL outfits enjoy the salary-cap latitude of the Titans, who are cashed-up after the departure of 11 players last season, including Luke Bailey, Albert Kelly, Ashley Harrison and Mark Minichiello.

The Titans have a further 10 players off-contract in 2015, headlined by co-captain Nate Myles, Aidan Sezer, Paul Carter, Ben Ridge and James Roberts.

Hooker Matt Srama was also told during the week he is free to leave as the Titans free-up funds to sign three of the most exciting prospects in the code for 2016.

The Titans have struggled for scrumbase continuity in recent years.

Five-eighth Sezer is talented but has battled a series of injuries, while Kelly was offloaded after repeated breakdowns, highlighted by a vein condition in his foot.

Cherry-Evans has previously expressed an interest in returning to Queensland, telling a Broncos international last year he was considering coming north.

But with the Broncos recently signing half-back Ben Hunt to a long-term deal, the Titans are the only Queensland-based club that can afford to meet Cherry-Evans’ asking price.

Signing Cherry-Evans would transform the Titans into a serious premiership contender, while Napa, who turns 22 this week, is rated among the NRL’s most feared young enforcers.

Cherry-Evans has told Manly he is in no rush to sign a new deal, giving the Titans time to put together an attractive package for the Origin and Test star.

“Daly hasn’t re-signed with Manly and the bottom line is we have to nut out a plan moving forward,” said his manager Chris Orr.

“Daly is a Queensland boy and most Queensland guys eventually return home, but he also has to weigh up the cost of any move.

“At the moment, Daly is focused on Four Nations duty but once that is out of the way, we will consider all offers.

“It would take a significant drawing card to pull Daly out of Manly, we won’t do anything until we speak to Manly first.”

The Titans’ pursuit of Keary may not be helped by his turbulent past at the club.

The classy pivot was axed from the Titans’ under-20s system in 2011 and has capitalised on his lifeline from the Rabbitohs.

“We’re trying to sort my future out now,” Keary said.

“Hopefully it’s not too much of a lengthy process, we’ll see what happens over the next month or two.”

Prior to releasing Kelly a fortnight ago, Titans coach Neil Henry conceded the club needed to address their roster on several fronts, including scrumbase options.

“The balance of your playing roster is vital and it needs a bit of thought,” he said.

“There’s no doubt we missed a regular halves pairing, they (Kelly and Sezer) played just six completed games together (last season).

“All coaches see themselves as development coaches and want to bring players through and it’s no different here.”


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...remiership-force/story-fnp0lyn3-1227116847653
 
North Queensland Cowboys set to offer Jason Taumalolo $1m to fend off rivals’ interest


  • PETER BADEL
  • THE COURIER-MAIL
  • NOVEMBER 10, 2014 12:00AM

THE Cowboys are facing a battle to retain Jason Taumalolo with the Kiwi giant to test his value on the open market after becoming the most sought-after forward in the NRL.

The Courier-Mail can reveal a staggering 10 NRL clubs, including the Roosters, are targeting Taumalolo, who terrorised England in the Kiwis’ 16-14 Four Nations victory on Saturday night.

But North Queensland hierarchy have moved to stave off a poaching raid, armed with a multi-year, $1 million-plus package to keep Taumalolo in Townsville.

Cowboys football manager Peter Parr has opened talks with Taumalolo’s management and is ready to table a formal offer when the Test star completes his Four Nations commitments.

Off-contract next season, Taumalolo is happy at the Cowboys, but the mass interest has convinced him to gauge his value before any decision to commit to North Queensland.

The Roosters view Taumalolo as an ideal replacement for All Blacks defector Williams and he underlined his potential by starring as the Kiwis qualified for the Four Nations final.

“I’m confident we can keep Jason. I’ve spoken to his manager and we are ready to table a deal and go from informal to formal talks when they are ready,” Parr said.

“I would be surprised if we couldn’t work something out, but given the interest Jason will attract, you don’t take anything for granted.

“His agent (Chris Orr) doesn’t want to do anything until Jason’s commitments are finished in the Four Nations.

“Once they are finished, we will have a good discussion about how to keep him at the Cowboys.

“Jason has been with us since he was 14 and we’ve had no indication that he wants to go anywhere else.

“But I’m a realist, he is only 21 and is playing some outstanding football, so we won’t be the only club interested in Jason.”

Significantly, the Cowboys, with Parr as their chief negotiator, have a history of trumping Sydney-based rivals for their marquee stars.

Champion playmaker Johnathan Thurston has twice rejected NRL rivals to stay in Townsville, while James Tamou and Matt Scott knocked back Parramatta last year to sign long-term deals.

It is understood the Roosters are prepared to pay $500,000 annually to lure Taumalolo, who was guarded about his future after the Kiwis’ defeat of England in Dunedin.

“I’m not giving too much away on that,” he said.

“My focus right now is the Four Nations tournament and doing my best for the Kiwis.

“After this, maybe I will settle in and start to look at my future.

“I haven’t thought too much about it yet, I’m focusing on this tournament but we’ll see what happens with the Cowboys.”

Taumalolo’s manager Orr said:

“Jason has a lot of interest in the marketplace, but we’ll talk to the Cowboys first and go from there.”


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-rivals-interest/story-fni3g8pa-1227117430662

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From Phil Rothfield's column in the Daily Telegraph

SHOOSH I

Expect the Sharks to announce the signings of Gerard Beale, Kyle Stanley and Jason Bukuya within the next 24 hours.
Click to expand...

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...not-be-tolerated/story-fnp0lyn3-1227117561120
 
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