2 weeks Ago
The Tigers are open to offloading John Bateman to the Sea Eagles at the right price, while Ben Hunt’s options for leaving the Dragons are dwindling amid his asking price. Meanwhile, the Eels are eyeing a Knights star to fill their hooker void and the Rabbitohs are set to baulk at signing out of favour Bulldogs star Josh Addo-Carr. Read on for the latest NRL Transfer Whispers .
Watch every game of the 2024 Pacific Championships with expert analysis LIVE with no ad-breaks during play, on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today > STICKING POINT AS TIGERS OPEN TO OFFLOADING BATEMAN TO MANLY John Bateman may have denied it, but the Tigers are looking to offload the Englishman to the Sea Eagles if they can strike a deal. Bateman is on a deal worth $800,000 a season for the next two years, which Manly don’t have on their salary cap, but the Tigers are willing to chip in a chunk of that deal to get him off their books.
The Daily Telegraph’s Dave Riccio revealed on SEN radio that the Tigers won’t stand in Bateman’s way if he can get a deal elsewhere. “John Bateman is a very strong character,” Riccio told SEN 1170 Breakfast . “Benji Marshall certainly had his work cut out for him as a rookie coach to manage John’s character.
“There is tension there and they did butt heads on occasions this season. “John went back to England this season and has returned and is speaking in all the right terms in being rejuvenated and ready to go again. “He’s being offered to Manly and if the money is right, there is no way in the world that the Wests Tigers will stand in his way and that’s fact.
“The Tigers want players that want to be there. It will come down to money and from Manly’s point of view, it’s experience. “It’ll come down to whether (Manly) can squeeze Bateman in the cap.
” The 31-year-old has scored 10 tries in 66 games for the Raiders and Tigers in the NRL, while he has also scored 50 tries in 219 games for Bradford, Wigan and Warrington in the Super League. MORE NRL NEWS CRAWLEY: Bold switch that can make Lomax a ‘superstar’; Mam should sit season TALKING POINTS: Mal’s big ‘luxury’ call looms for final; Eels’ Lomax predicament WHISPERS: Rising Storm star’s shock move as succession clause floated on next deal EELS IN HUNT FOR KNIGHTS HOOKER AMID SALARY CAP SQUEEZE The Eels are reportedly eyeing Knights hooker Jayden Brailey in a bid to fill their glaring dummyhalf void. The Eels have struggled to replace Reed Mahoney since his switch to the Bulldogs, with Brendan Hands and Joey Lussick struggling to cement the No.
9 role and new coach Jason Ryles knows how important the position is to turning the club around. The Daily Telegraph’s Dave Riccio explained on SEN radio that the Eels want Brailey, but the Knights don’t want to lose him, despite salary cap pressure. “I can tell you that Parramatta are sitting and watching his situation closely,” Riccio said of Brailey.
“(Newcastle coach) Adam O’Brien doesn’t want to let him go. “However, due to salary cap stress, Brailey is on the radar.” The 28-year-old has scored 14 tries in 130 NRL games for the Sharks and Knights since his debut in 2017 and would have played plenty more were it not for season ending injuries in 2020, 2022 and 2023.
HUNT’S LACK OF OPTIONS STOPPING DRAGONS EXIT AMID CONTRACT CIRCUS Ben Hunt might want out of the Dragons, but the club has no plans to let him go before the end of 2025 at this stage. Hunt has been vocal of his desire to leave the Dragons, but he would need to take a significant pay cut to join an NRL rival and at present no concrete offers have been put on the table. The Daily Telegraph’s Dave Riccio explained Hunt’s predicament as he tries to get out of the club he has spent the last six seasons at.
“Hunt is the halfback of the St George Illawarra Dragons and I think fans are getting confused with the whole circus,” Riccio said on SEN radio. “At no point have the Dragons given Ben Hunt permission for him to negotiate with rival clubs to get out of next season’s deal. “They’ve given him permission to find a deal for 2026 and beyond.
“Until the Dragons have an alternative at halfback for next season, they won’t be letting Ben Hunt go.” Riccio also revealed there are no clusb currently interested in breaking the bank for the veteran playmaker, who at most has a couple of years left in the NRL. “The counter to that is that there are no suitors for Ben Hunt at this time,” Riccio said.
“There are a number of factors. One would be the salary that you would have to pay (for Hunt). Another would be how much Ben Hunt is willing to take.
He’d be coming back from a $1 million to at least half of that. “As far as the Dolphins and Titans rumours, it’s all smoke at this point. There are no formal offers or talks from any club because they are all waiting for this November 1 period to unfold.
“You are not going to invest in a 35-year-old before you see what other dominoes fall after November 1.” Hunt has scored 84 tries and 397 points in 334 games for the Broncos and Dragons since his debut in 2012. BUNNIES BAULK AT SIGNING FOXX The Rabbitohs are reportedly more concerned with re-signing boom young gun Tyrone Munro than making a play for out of favour Bulldogs winger Josh Addo-Carr.
Addo-Carr is facing the sack from the Bulldogs over his drugs saga after being hit with a breach notice and has been linked with the Dragons and Rabbitohs. However, The Daily Telegraph’s Dave Riccio believes Addo-Carr is unlikely to be at the Rabbitohs any time soon. “I would say he’s unlikely (to go to the Rabbitohs),” Riccio said on SEN radio.
“Their priority is Tyrone Munro (who) is a sensational young talent and is far more of a priority than Addo-Carr. “Addo-Carr’s management has been pushing for a three-year deal from rival clubs and they are not interested. Clubs don’t want him for three years, only two.
“The Dragons have been the club linked but they are waiting on Clint Gutherson.” The 29-year-old has scored 140 tries in 179 NRL games for the Tigers, Storm and Bulldogs since his debut in 2016 and has played 15 Origins for the Blues and seven Tests for the Kangaroos. TWO RIVAL CLUBS LEADING RACE FOR KNIGHTS ENFORCER The Bulldogs and the Raiders are reportedly leading a number of contenders in the race to sign Knights prop Leo Thompson.
The Knights are also hopeful of keeping Thompson, who has signalled his intention to test his value on the open market come November 1. The Daily Telegraph’s Dave Riccio explained the Knights’ lack of veteran mentors for Thompson could be a roadblock to him staying at Newcastle. “A million per cent that he is firmly on the Bulldogs’ radar,” Riccio said on SEN radio.
“There are also six to seven clubs who are interested in Leo Thompson. “The Bulldogs have been sitting back and waiting for November. The concern for Thompson at the Newcastle Knights is that he is losing his mentors.
“Daniel Saifiti has left for the Dolphins, Dane Gagai has only got next season on contract, Jayden Brailey is an experienced leader of that Knights team that is being linked to rival clubs. “The Canberra Raiders, where Thompson was formerly at, are keen to get him back.” The 24-year-old has scored two tries in 64 NRL games since his debut in 2022 and has played three Tests for New Zealand.
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