Opinion Francis Molo ?

[bradtalo]

Three clubs interested in ex-Origin forward
He is off-contract at the end of the season.

ETHAN LEE CHALK
WRITER | MARCH 13, 2024 - 8:20A


Off-contract at the end of the season, a St George Illawarra Dragons forward has reportedly caught the attention of three rival clubs looking to sign him.

Yet to sign a new contract for next season, Wide World of Sports understands that three clubs have shown interest in signing Francis Molo for the 2025 season, with one of those clubs being the New Zealand Warriors.

Born in Auckland, New Zealand, before moving to Australia, Molo could be a direct replacement for Addin Fonua-Blake in the forward pack, who will leave for the Cronulla Sharks at the end of the season.

An experienced middle forward, Molo has played 40 games for the Dragons since moving there from the North Queensland Cowboys at the start of the 2022 season and is on approximately $600,000 per year.

A two-time Origin representative for Queensland, Molo has also played for the Brisbane Broncos (2014-15) and represented the Cook Islands and Samoa in the international arena.

"There is plenty of interest but we are in no hurry," Molo's new manager Wade Rushton of Rush Sports told Wide World of Sports.

"The Dragons want to keep him but there is also outside interest - we will let him get a few games under his belt and then see where things stand."

 

[Tassie Devil]

Three clubs interested in ex-Origin forward
He is off-contract at the end of the season.

ETHAN LEE CHALK
WRITER | MARCH 13, 2024 - 8:20A


Off-contract at the end of the season, a St George Illawarra Dragons forward has reportedly caught the attention of three rival clubs looking to sign him.

Yet to sign a new contract for next season, Wide World of Sports understands that three clubs have shown interest in signing Francis Molo for the 2025 season, with one of those clubs being the New Zealand Warriors.

Born in Auckland, New Zealand, before moving to Australia, Molo could be a direct replacement for Addin Fonua-Blake in the forward pack, who will leave for the Cronulla Sharks at the end of the season.

An experienced middle forward, Molo has played 40 games for the Dragons since moving there from the North Queensland Cowboys at the start of the 2022 season and is on approximately $600,000 per year.

A two-time Origin representative for Queensland, Molo has also played for the Brisbane Broncos (2014-15) and represented the Cook Islands and Samoa in the international arena.

"There is plenty of interest but we are in no hurry," Molo's new manager Wade Rushton of Rush Sports told Wide World of Sports.

"The Dragons want to keep him but there is also outside interest - we will let him get a few games under his belt and then see where things stand."

What the hell is the point of a rumours section?

 

[bradtalo]

What the hell is the point of a rumours section?

It's not really a rumour though. We don't know who the other clubs are besides Warriors. I'm interested to know if he's a decent player worth considering for us and for around 600K they say he's on now

 

[Brendan7]

He’s just a mediocre Liam Knight

 

[KLil]

Utoikamanu..

 

[wendog33]

Utoikamanu..

Reckon he'd exercise his get out clause to join us?
At what point would it be possible to talk to his manager?
Mid year if Tiges down the bottom with no prospect of making the 8?

 

[D.O.W.]

He’s just a mediocre Liam Knight

He sh!ts on Liam Knight

 

[surfdog]

Has there ever been a better time to be a middle forward and off contract

 

[Brendan7]

He sh!ts on Liam Knight

hardly. Bloke does nothing send him to the Tigers or something we maybe desperate we ain’t that desperate

 

[Moedogg]

I fear we'd end up paying overs due to the shortage of props. Let's face it, he's not the pack leader that we need, career Q cup player who's been in and out of FG. Don't want too many of these types taking up cap space. I'd rather wait it out and save the money to find a young Mark O' Meley from the Roosters or Broncos, they won't be able to keep them all.

 

[KLil]

Reckon he'd exercise his get out clause to join us?
At what point would it be possible to talk to his manager?
Mid year if Tiges down the bottom with no prospect of making the 8?

2 months ago. After AFB decided on sharks.

 

[NPC83]

He’s already on a pretty good salary for his ability according to that report and it sounds like his manager is angling for an increase. Unless he joins the squad immediately via a release I don’t think it’s a worth it for us.

 

[Bad Billy]

NRL needs a fkn transfer window.
I understand teams locking up forwards in case their needed, but at least if there was a window, you’d be able to approach a team about a player, when it’s obvious they won’t need him.

 

[B-Train]

He's a solid prop but he's not worth close to 600k or paying big money for.. Someone like May who is still young and has massive upside is worth that money but it looks like that ship has sailed and he'll probably stay at the Roosters.

 

[Lynchpin]

He’s already on a pretty good salary for his ability according to that report and it sounds like his manager is angling for an increase. Unless he joins the squad immediately via a release I don’t think it’s a worth it for us.

More likely, he and the Dragons want to do an extension, but not @$600k.
So, his manager is shopping him around to show the Dragons what market-value currently is. Is that $600k - who knows?

Yes, good props are welcome, but if you're asking for $600k+, you'd better be an Alpha (and an aggressive one at that).
Not sure he is that (at least in our context). Solid number 2 maybe (that could be taken one of two ways, I suppose...)

 

[surfdog]

I guess if Tino can con 1.3m for 10 years , anything is possible

 

[wendog33]

More likely, he and the Dragons want to do an extension, but not @$600k.
So, his manager is shopping him around to show the Dragons what market-value currently is. Is that $600k - who knows?

Yes, good props are welcome, but if you're asking for $600k+, you'd better be an Alpha (and an aggressive one at that).
Not sure he is that (at least in our context). Solid number 2 maybe (that could be taken one of two ways, I suppose...)

Lol

 

[Brendan7]

I guess if Tino can con 1.3m for 10 years , anything is possible

Tino is the modern day Nate Myles (ex Roosters player). Bloke turns i to Gorden Tallis for QLD and does nothing for his club

 

[DinkumDog]

It's not really a rumour though. We don't know who the other clubs are besides Warriors.

And therefore it’s not Bulldogs news…

 

[Pottz]

Has there ever been a better time to be a middle forward and off contract

Right?! It's the Haas effect. You've got the agile guys with big tanks like Haas, Fonua-Blake, JFH and Tapine, and then the big boppers like Leota and Collins, all of them are just carving it up over the last few years. Worth every cent too.