Andrew McMurtrynews.com.au
Last season it was Latrell Mitchell, this season it’s Josh Addo-Carr’s contract saga that has drawn on as the Origin winger looks to secure his future.
The deal worked out well for Mitchell, coming into his own with the Rabbitohs, and it looks like it will be equally good for Addo-Carr who has reportedly been offered a big money contract in Sydney.
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Addo-Carr is still contracted to the Melbourne Storm for the 2021 season after the Storm released a statement that the flyer would remain with the defending champions for the 2021 season with his early release rescinded.
He had been putting feelers out in a move to Sydney to be closer to family, Addo-Carr was pursued by the Wests Tigers and Canterbury Bulldogs while South Sydney were also floated as a landing point.
Having made his debut for the Wests Tigers in 2016 before moving to the Storm, Addo-Carr has been forward about moving to fullback, with the position seen as a more lucrative position that on the wing.
The Daily Telegraphreported that Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis said that the club was now out of the running.
“We are only interested in engaging with players who want to come and play for us,” he said. “And if the perception is the player doesn’t wish to come to the Wests Tigers because their manager doesn’t engage with us, well, that is fine by us. I am not going to lose any sleep over it and we move on to greener pastures.”
The report also said the Newcastle Knights were making a surprise play for Addo-Carr as well.
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Josh Addo-Carr, a two-time premiership winner with the Storm.Source:Getty Images
But despite staying in Melbourne next year — with a rumoured upgrade to $375,000 for the season — Nine’s Danny Weidler posted on Twitter earlier this afternoon that Trent Barrett’s Bulldogs had put in a big offer — “above $2m” over four years from season 2022.
Barrett has been splashing the cash since being named the club’s coach, adding Nick Cotric, Kyle Flanagan, Matt Burton and potentially Addo-Carr in moves that would no doubt improve the club’s offensive prowess.
But it’s a brutal blow for the Tigers, who reportedly had a “heads of” agreement — essentially a drafted but, non-binding agreement.
Addo-Carr is one of the fastest players in the NRL and has scored 79 tries in just 105 matches, while being a mainstay of the NSW Origin set up and a Kangaroos representative.
