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By Adam Pengilly and Michael Chammas
Updated November 25, 2021 — 6.47pm
The Bulldogs will rely on up to five players graduating from their NSW Cup squad to fill NRL spots in 2023 in order to be salary cap compliant after landing Eels gun Reed Mahoney, arguably the biggest fish of a stunning recruitment drive.
As Parramatta count the cost of losing their third player in as many weeks, Canterbury prised Queensland State of Origin hopeful Mahoney from their western Sydney rivals in a mega four-year deal to fill their troublesome No.9 role.
Mahoney, who played for the Bulldogs as a junior, broke the news to Eels coach Brad Arthur on Thursday morning, less than a fortnight after back-rowers Isaiah Papali’i (Tigers) and Marata Niukore (Warriors) told the club they would be leaving at the end of 2022.
It is another blow to Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins, who had previously registered an interest in Mahoney while chasing Melbourne hooker Brandon Smith, with the NRL’s 17th team yet to sign a marquee player for their inaugural season.
Mahoney knocked back a three-year extension with the Eels to sign with the Bulldogs, having been spotted dining with club officials at Canterbury League Club earlier this month, where the 23-year-old was said to be impressed in his first meeting with coach Trent Barrett and chairman John Khoury.
Sources with knowledge of negotiations told the Herald that Mahoney has accepted a four-year deal at the Bulldogs worth bout $650,000 a season.
The Eels recently upped their offer, but were still close to $100,000 short in each year of the deal, as well as offering one season less than the Bulldogs were willing to table.
Canterbury general manager Phil Gould is believed to be comfortable with the club’s salary cap predicament for 2023, despite Mahoney’s signature coming a week after the Bulldogs secured Penrith back-rower Viliame Kikau on a four-year deal worth $800,000 a season.
Gould presented to the Bulldogs board on Thursday night and the club is forecasting as many as five players from their junior pathways and NSW Cup squad to be part of the top 30 roster in 2023.
They already have 21 players, including Mahoney and Kikau, on their roster for that year, along with options on the contracts of Jack Hetherington and Jeremy Marshall-King.
The Bulldogs announced it would end a partnership with Mounties, who were their NSW Cup affiliate in 2021, to bring their reserve grade team under the Canterbury umbrella next year, stressing the need to return to being a development club after a massive recruitment haul.
But there is likely to be at least one big name who will have to leave the kennel, with the club willing to release Nick Cotric, Luke Thompson and Corey Allan to clear space in the salary cap, with the former heavily linked with a return to his former home in Canberra.
Cotric appears the player with the most appeal to rival clubs, and the Bulldogs only have to show the NRL they will fit their squad under the salary cap before the start of the 2023 season, giving Gould plenty of time to move if needed.
The Eels have had a mixed month on the retention front and will now turn their full attention to star front-rower Junior Paulo, who has also been a target of the Dolphins.
Parramatta has lost Niukore on a four-year deal worth more than $600,000 a year. The Eels wouldn’t get close to that offer and Niukore will leave with their blessing at the end of the 2022 season.
The same goes with Papali’i, who will join Wests Tigers in 2023 after agreeing to a three-year deal with the joint-venture club. The Eels’ original offer was to upgrade his deal from about $200,000 to $275,000 a season, while also extending his contract for two years at $425,000 a season. The Tigers are believed to have offered the back-rower a three-year deal worth $1.8 million to lure him away from Parramatta.
The Eels have enjoyed one victory in the retention stakes by holding onto Clint Gutherson. Gutherson has agreed to a three-year extension worth about $750,000 a year, but the Herald understands the final year has clauses and triggers.
Mahoney’s paperwork is expected to be registered with the NRL in coming days before the Bulldogs announce his signature.
Meanwhile, Melbourne prop Christian Welch has signed a three-year extension with the Storm to take him through to the end of 2025 and Dragons young gun Jayden Sullivan has inked a deal with St George Illawarra until 2025.
Updated November 25, 2021 — 6.47pm
The Bulldogs will rely on up to five players graduating from their NSW Cup squad to fill NRL spots in 2023 in order to be salary cap compliant after landing Eels gun Reed Mahoney, arguably the biggest fish of a stunning recruitment drive.
As Parramatta count the cost of losing their third player in as many weeks, Canterbury prised Queensland State of Origin hopeful Mahoney from their western Sydney rivals in a mega four-year deal to fill their troublesome No.9 role.
Mahoney, who played for the Bulldogs as a junior, broke the news to Eels coach Brad Arthur on Thursday morning, less than a fortnight after back-rowers Isaiah Papali’i (Tigers) and Marata Niukore (Warriors) told the club they would be leaving at the end of 2022.
It is another blow to Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins, who had previously registered an interest in Mahoney while chasing Melbourne hooker Brandon Smith, with the NRL’s 17th team yet to sign a marquee player for their inaugural season.
Mahoney knocked back a three-year extension with the Eels to sign with the Bulldogs, having been spotted dining with club officials at Canterbury League Club earlier this month, where the 23-year-old was said to be impressed in his first meeting with coach Trent Barrett and chairman John Khoury.
Sources with knowledge of negotiations told the Herald that Mahoney has accepted a four-year deal at the Bulldogs worth bout $650,000 a season.
The Eels recently upped their offer, but were still close to $100,000 short in each year of the deal, as well as offering one season less than the Bulldogs were willing to table.
Canterbury general manager Phil Gould is believed to be comfortable with the club’s salary cap predicament for 2023, despite Mahoney’s signature coming a week after the Bulldogs secured Penrith back-rower Viliame Kikau on a four-year deal worth $800,000 a season.
Gould presented to the Bulldogs board on Thursday night and the club is forecasting as many as five players from their junior pathways and NSW Cup squad to be part of the top 30 roster in 2023.
They already have 21 players, including Mahoney and Kikau, on their roster for that year, along with options on the contracts of Jack Hetherington and Jeremy Marshall-King.
The Bulldogs announced it would end a partnership with Mounties, who were their NSW Cup affiliate in 2021, to bring their reserve grade team under the Canterbury umbrella next year, stressing the need to return to being a development club after a massive recruitment haul.
But there is likely to be at least one big name who will have to leave the kennel, with the club willing to release Nick Cotric, Luke Thompson and Corey Allan to clear space in the salary cap, with the former heavily linked with a return to his former home in Canberra.
Cotric appears the player with the most appeal to rival clubs, and the Bulldogs only have to show the NRL they will fit their squad under the salary cap before the start of the 2023 season, giving Gould plenty of time to move if needed.
The Eels have had a mixed month on the retention front and will now turn their full attention to star front-rower Junior Paulo, who has also been a target of the Dolphins.
Parramatta has lost Niukore on a four-year deal worth more than $600,000 a year. The Eels wouldn’t get close to that offer and Niukore will leave with their blessing at the end of the 2022 season.
The same goes with Papali’i, who will join Wests Tigers in 2023 after agreeing to a three-year deal with the joint-venture club. The Eels’ original offer was to upgrade his deal from about $200,000 to $275,000 a season, while also extending his contract for two years at $425,000 a season. The Tigers are believed to have offered the back-rower a three-year deal worth $1.8 million to lure him away from Parramatta.
The Eels have enjoyed one victory in the retention stakes by holding onto Clint Gutherson. Gutherson has agreed to a three-year extension worth about $750,000 a year, but the Herald understands the final year has clauses and triggers.
Mahoney’s paperwork is expected to be registered with the NRL in coming days before the Bulldogs announce his signature.
Meanwhile, Melbourne prop Christian Welch has signed a three-year extension with the Storm to take him through to the end of 2025 and Dragons young gun Jayden Sullivan has inked a deal with St George Illawarra until 2025.
