NRL team signing news 2021: Transfer, re-signing targets for every club
Nick Walshaw, Michael Carayannis, Chris Honnery, David Riccio, Gilbert Gardiner, Dean Ritchie, News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom
The NRL’s silly season is in full swing.
The November 1 deadline has lifted, meaning rival clubs can talk to players coming off contract next season, while
recruitment chiefs are still trying to finalise their rosters for 2021.
We look at who every club is trying to sign — and re-sign — as the off-season heats up.
(L-R) Josh Addo-Carr, Kotoni Staggs, Josh McGuire and Matt Burton are prime targets heading in to 2021.
KNIGHTS
Retention targets: Knights coach Adam O’Brien wants to make a priority of No. 7
Mitchell Pearce, although his $1 million contract could prove a sticking point given the club also has the likes of
Kurt Mann,
Phoenix Crossland and
Tex Hoy coming off contract in 2021.
Recruitment targets: Have already landed a big one in NSW Origin forward
Tyson Frizell, who will give the Knights pack a huge boost next season.
Verdict: At full strength, will have a strong side for 2021. But as for how things alter beyond that? Much will depend on what happens with Pearce and, if re-signed, how many zeros come at the end of his new deal.
— NW
PANTHERS
Retention targets: Plenty. Breakout centre
Stephen Crichton is an obvious priority and by all reports, as good as secured for the next couple of years. Elsewhere, the club is also confident of keeping lock
Isaah Yeo, who is considered a 2021 captaincy candidate. Elsewhere, the NRL grand finalists
may have to choose between young playmakers Jarome Luai and Matt Burton.
Recruitment targets: Penrith have snapped up former Panthers
Robert Jennings and
Matt Eisenhuth from the Wests Tigers to bolster their depth for next season. Will continue to develop from within.
Verdict: Already TAB premiership favourites for 2021, and with good reason. Obviously the Panthers will lose a couple of young stars – given the size and success of their nursery, it happens. Yet the key, as always, is choosing the correct ones to keep.
— NW
The Tigers are not the only club chasing Melbourne speedster Josh Addo-Carr. Picture: Phil Hillyard
WESTS TIGERS
Retention targets: Winger
Dave Nofoaluma is coming off contract in 2021 and, undoubtedly, a priority for coach Michael Maguire. Another is promising prop
Josh Aloiai, who should be recovered from a serious knee injury by Round 1. Other retention targets include forwards
Thomas Mikaele and
Zane Musgrove
Recruitment targets: Josh Addo-Carr is the obvious one, with Wests Tigers keen to bring the Melbourne premiership flyer back to the club next year. Elsewhere, the joint-venture club is also expecting big things from towering Parramatta young gun
Stefano Utoikamanu.
Verdict: Would love to land another big name recruit for 2021, with Foxx the key target. Boast a promising young pack but need to find stability, particularly in the halves.
— NW
EELS
Retention targets: Nathan Brown and
Maika Sivo loom as the high profile Eels off-contract. Sivo will be in line for an upgrade while Brown is now in the Origin squad.
Blake Ferguson needs a total reverse in form for the Eels to consider offering him an extension while
Daniel Alvaro is unlikely to be re-signed.
Recruitment targets: Still have five spots to fill. Are in discussions about retaining
Will Smith and close to signing Warriors hooker
Nathaniel Roache to a development contract. Huge uncertainty surrounds
Michael Jennings ’ place at the club because of a looming drug ban which leaves a big void. Will be in the market for a strike centre for 2022 including
Brent Naden,
Braidon Burns,
Kotoni Staggs or
Dylan Walker.
Verdict: Have lost a lot of depth from the middle-to-bottom tier of their roster. The likes of
Kane Evans Stefano Utoikamanu,
David Gower,
Peni Terepo,
Jai Field,
Andrew Davey and
Brad Takairangi have moved on.
Isaiah Papali’i is a welcome addition but still need to jag a few players .
— MC
The Bulldogs have locked up Jake Averillo until the end of 2023. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images
BULLDOGS
Retention targets: The Bulldogs stellar off-season continues with
the club securing 20-year-old local product Jake Averillo until the end of 2023. New coach Trent Barrett wants to have a look at the likes of
Dean Britt,
Lachie Lewis,
Jeremy Marshall-King and
Nick Meaney before a decision is made on their futures.
Dylan Napa is also off-contract.
Recruitment targets: Still not done for 2021 yet with a handful of spots open.
Matt Burton is their top priority but a 2022 arrival seems more probable. Still working through
Blake Green’s situation but may look to sign a stopgap one-year contract with an experienced half if Green stays in Newcastle. Outside of Burton, hooker remains their priority for 2022 while
Reimis Smith could be on the move too heading into next year which makes
Josh Addo-Carr in play.
Verdict: Some good additions in
Kyle Flanagan,
Nick Cotric and
Jack Hetherington to go with a full season from
Luke Thompson. Still two class players away from pushing for a top eight spot but after years of uncertainty are finally headed in the right direction.
— MC
DRAGONS
Retention targets: Incoming coach Anthony Griffin will have a bit of freedom in the cap come 2022.
Corey Norman is at long odds to be re-signed while the likes of
Trent Merrin,
Korbin Sims,
Jordan Pereira will be battling for extensions.
Matt Dufty is off-contract and will be a priority while
Paul Vaughan has a player option in his favour but was underwhelming in his performances this year. Skipper
Cameron McIness is also off-contract.
Recruitment targets: Have four spots to fill and a fair bit of money to play with. Their roster will be shaped by the outcome of
Jack de Belin’s court case in November. Have made no secret of their desire to land an experienced forward with the likes of
Josh McGuire mentioned.
Jack Bird looms as the most likely first signing as a centre/back-rower. Will sit back and wait knowing teams need to make space and they are one of the few who have spare cash.
Verdict : Really need to add some players. Liking their strategy of not rushing but if they are any hope of returning to the finals they need to secure two strike forwards and an outside back to join the smart recruitment of
Poasa Faamausili.
— MC
Addin Fonua-Blake is a big loss for the Sea Eagles and a big gain for the Warriors. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images
WARRIORS
Retention targets: A few players returning from injury including
Bunty Afoa and
Leeson Ah Mau are off-contract. Their no. 1 target will be retaining
Tohu Harris and ensuring
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck does not defect to rugby.
Josh Curran,
Jackson Frei,
Karl Lawton,
Hayze Perham,
Adam Pompey and
Jazz Tevaga are all off-contract and fighting for their futures.
Recruitment targets: Have just one spot left in their roster and still have a little bit of money to play with. Among the most active clubs in the off-season adding
Euan Aitken,
Kane Evans,
Addin Fonua-Blake and
Ben Murdoch-Masila. On the lookout for another back-rower.
Verdict: Great finish to the season will give the Warriors hope given the quality they have added to their roster. Would love to jag a high quality half and hooker to make them a premiership threat.
— MC
MELBOURNE STORM
Retention targets: Ricky Leutele (2020),
Cooper Johns (2020),
Jahrome Hughes (2021),
Isaac Lumelume (2021) are the key names. Late-season recruit Leutele is contracted with Toronto Wolfpack but should the Super League outfit not be able to compete next year, due to financial pressures and COVID-19 travel restrictions, the Storm would be very keen to retain the 2016 Cronulla Sharks premiership winner. Developing playmaker and brilliant clubman Johns remains in the frame for an extension. Hughes and Lumelume still have a season to run on current contracts but Storm has a habit of future-proofing its talent ahead of time.
Recruitment targets: Ex-Eels winger
George Jennings will be at the club next season on a two-year deal. With inexperienced Lumelume the leading contender to fill one of the wing vacancies, Storm remains keen to secure a second high-class finisher as the replacement for
Josh Addo-Carr. Storm has 31 on its list for 2021 currently but that includes the captain
Cameron Smith and Addo-Carr.
Verdict: Lather, rinse, repeat. Storm will be a contender again next season. It says a bit about the club and its development practices when the probable retirement of arguably the greatest ever in Smith is not so much feared but somewhat needed to retain ready-made successors in
Brandon Smith (2022) and
Harry Grant (2022).
— GG
Cronulla's Siosifa Talakai was immense in 2020. Picture: Phil Hillyard
CRONULLA SHARKS
Retention targets: After breakout seasons in 2020, off-contract forwards
Siosifa Talakai and
Toby Rudolf are priority signings for Cronulla. If — and how much for — the Sharks re-sign
Shaun Johnson after he suffered a major achilles injury will be one of the biggest questions for incoming Sharks GM Darren Mooney. On the Sharks Dally M leaderboard,
Aaron Woods polled third behind Johnson and Talakai after playing all 21 games. Watch for negotiations to begin with the off-contract Woods, while talented utility
Connor Tracey won’t be off contract for long either. The futures of
Josh Dugan,
Matt Moylan,
Will Kennedy and
Billy Magoulias will be determined by April-May next year.
Recruitment targets: The Sharks are poised to sign Bulldogs prop-forward
Aiden Tolman on a one-year deal. The 31-year-old, who has played 276 games, will join local junior
Luke Metcalf — who returns after a stint with Manly and who has the ability to play half or fullback — as the club’s only major off-season signings. Without another dummy-half in the club, the Sharks desperately need a back-up hooker to support rising star
Blayke Brailey. Unless they are able to move a major player from their current cap, any other recruits for the Sharks will be in the lower $100,000 to $150,000 bracket.
Verdict: Boast a talented roster on paper with their growth and experience of this season likely to aid the development of several promising debutants. Ultimately though, 2021 shapes as more of the same from the Sharks given their inability to make any major roster moves.
— DR
CANBERRA RAIDERS
Retention targets: Young forwards
Emre Guler and
Hudson Young headline the priority signatures as the Raiders prepare for life after
John Bateman. Prop
Dunamis Lui, whose form earned a Queensland State of Origin call-up, and breakout Fijian winger
Semi Valemei are also coming off contract next season.
Recruitment targets: After bringing in Penrith flyer
Caleb Aekins and Gold Coast veteran
Ryan James, Canberra are content with the make-up of their squad. There’s some talk that
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad might be moved from fullback to wing or centre following Aekins’ arrival.
Verdict: Bateman and winger
Nick Cotric have gone but Canberra officials are more than happy with the make-up of their squad.
Corey Harawira-Naera proved an astute mid-season purchase while star hooker
Josh Hodgson will return from a serious knee injury that wiped out the second half of his 2020 season. The premiership window open remains open for the Raiders.
— DR
Retaining Latrell Mitchell is all the more important if Joseph Suaalii leaves the Rabbitohs. Picture: Phil Hillyard
RABBITOHS
Retention targets: A couple of big ‘uns in halfback
Adam Reynolds and fullback
Latrell Mitchell, the latter of whom becomes more crucial if rising star
Joseph Suaalii quits the club as expected. Mitchell was strong in his first season at fullback – a position, coincidentally, Souths officials have long thought would be filled by Suaalii.
Recruitment targets: Have already secured Queensland Origin forward
Jai Arrow and have expressed interest in
Josh Addo-Carr. The bigger issue however is trying to retain a host of players whose deals expire after 2021 – among them Reynolds, Mitchell,
Braidon Burns,
Corey Allan and
Dane Gagai.
Verdict: Finished one game short of a grand final this year despite a couple of key injuries, most notably Mitchell. Will be right in the mix again for 2021.
— NW
ROOSTERS
Retention targets: James Tedesco is the obvious one, with the NSW Origin fullback’s camp currently working through with Roosters officials the length of a deal that will be worth roughly $1 million per year plus drinking silver. Early tip is to re-sign for another three years.
Recruitment targets: Schoolboy sensation
Joseph Suaalii. Say what you like about the Roosters – plenty do – but this joint does a better job of getting its man than Dog the Bounty Hunter. If Suaalii signs however, somebody may eventually have to make room. Could be backrower
Angus Crichton, despite an outstanding back end to the year for the NSW Origin incumbent.
Verdict: As always, have a squad capable of winning the 2021 premiership. There will, however, be question marks placed over young halfback contenders
Lachie Lam and
Sam Walker. As the early departure of Kyle Flanagan proved, you win or you walk.
— NW
BRONCOS
Retention targets: Thomas Dearden,
Xavier Coates,
Anthony Milford and
Kotoni Staggs are the priority re-signing targets.
Ben Te’o could also be retained for another season to maintain some experience in the squad.
Jack Bird has been linked with a move to the Dragons, as has
Joe Ofahengaue, as the club looks to free up cash while
Matt Lodge could be off to the Warriors.
Recruitment targets: With the departure of
David Fifita (Titans) and no contract renewals for
Jamil Hopoate or
Rhys Kennedy as of yet, the Brisbane forward pack is beginning to get a bit light on. Former Cowboy
John Asiata is on Brisbane’s radar while hooker
Andrew McCullough returns after a stint with Newcastle.
Verdict: New coach Kevin Walters has already conceded changes will need to be made to the roster following the club’s woeful 2020 season. With about eight spots left to fill in their top 30 roster, expect a lot of changes at Red Hill this off-season.
— CH
There is plenty of interest from other clubs for Brisbane’s Kotoni Staggs. Picture: Scott Davis/NRL Photos
TITANS
Retention targets: Ash Taylor and
Tyrone Peachey both had strong finishes to the 2020 season and that could see them extend their stay on the Gold Coast beyond next year.
Brian Kelly – who won the Titans Paul Broughton best and fairest medal this year – is another retention target for the club. The club is hoping to get a bit more experience from the rest of their off-contract players and will likely assess their futures next year.
Recruitment targets: The Titans are light on hookers following
Nathan Peats’ departure. They’ve made no secret of the fact they would love to have the services of Melbourne great
Cameron Smith next year, while fellow Storm hookers
Brandon Smith and
Harry Grant have also been mentioned.
Verdict: Justin Holbrook’s roster revamp is well and truly underway, having already landed gun forwards
David Fifita,
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and
Herman Ese’ese along with Warriors back
Patrick Herbert.
— CH
COWBOYS
Retention targets: Scott Drinkwater was one of North Queensland’s best in 2020 and shapes as a key signing. Meanwhile, fellow half
Jake Clifford’s management has reportedly asked for a release from the final year of his contract.
While the Cowboys currently expect Clifford to play in 2021, Newcastle are reportedly keen on his services.
Recruitment targets: Veteran
Benji Marshall could reunite with ex-Tigers teammate and new Cowboys coach Todd Payten as he looks to continue his NRL career, but that scenario only looks possible if the club lose one of their halves. Rising Penrith star
Matt Burton has also been linked to the Cowboys – among many clubs. Former Warrior
Lachlan Burr arrives as Payten’s first signing.
Verdict: North Queensland has undergone a complete revamp of their coaching and footballing staff and the new appointees are still working through the club’s roster.
The club has already done well in already securing their stars long-term, in
Jason Taumalolo,
Michael Morgan and
Valentine Holmes, but with nearly a dozen players off contract at the end of 2021, they will need to be quick to hold on to their homegrown talent.
— CH
Not wanted at the Wests Tigers, Benji Marshall, may find a new home at the Cowboys. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
SEA EAGLES
Retention targets: Manly has a settled playing roster for next season but will re-evaluate after 2021 with
Kieran Foran,
Tevita Funa,
Reuben Garrick,
Jack Gosiewski,
Brad Parker,
Toafofoa Sipley,
Curtis Sironen,
Jorge Taufua and
Dylan Walker coming off contract.
Recruitment targets: Manly may look at securing a hooker after
Danny Levi was told he wasn’t required next season. Coach Des Hasler may look internally with
Cade Cust,
Lachlan Croker and Foran his dummy half options. Manly has forward depth but
overcoming the loss of Addin Fonua-Blake will be difficult. Foran will be Manly’s only significant signing for 2021.
Verdict: Manly was tipped to play finals this year but fell apart, winning just seven of 20 games. While not using a horrid injury toll as an excuse, Hasler is adamant he has a finals roster with some overdue luck. Manly’s big three –
Tom and
Jake Trbojevic along with
Daly Cherry-Evans – prevent the club targeting another big name.