NRL NRL General Recruitment Thread

The Rabbitohs are reportedly looking to raid Cronulla’s stocks, as the neighbouring club continues its search for reinforcements.

Ahead of Wayne Bennett’s impending Redfern return, South Sydney is conjuring up ways to support its middle forward rotation.

According to veteran journalist Phil Rothfield, the Rabbitohs are interested in poaching Sharks prop Royce Hunt – and they’re ready to table an offer that Cronulla cannot.

“Souths are interested in Royce Hunt,” he said on Big Sports Breakfast.

“They’ve got a bit of cap money left.

“Souths have been desperately short of middle forward strength, haven’t they?

“Cronulla have got a number of very similar middle forwards they roll off the bench all the time.”

The catch is that Hunt inked a two-year extension in May last year, seeing him locked up until the end of the 2025 season.

Under current regulations, rival teams are not able seal Hunt’s signature from 2026 and beyond until November 1 this year.

To secure Hunt’s signature, Souths will need the Sharks to be willing to play ball and explore granting an immediate release.

“Souths are going to talk to the Sharks about offering him a long term deal, which Cronulla can’t do, and maybe he’ll jump ship this year,” Rothfield added.

Hunt has been in and out of the Sharks’ top grade, having played six NRL games and three with Newtown in the 💙 Mighty NSW Cup.

There’s no word as to whether the Sharks would be open to releasing Hunt, or any of its players, during this season.

Cronulla now finds itself in a mini form slump, having lost two straight and conceded an average of 35 points across the last three weeks
 

Wests Tigers offer $4 million deal to young gun​

Thursday, Jun 13
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The Wests Tigers have moved to keep Stefano Utoikamanu away from circling clubs, offering the prop forward a five-year, $4 million contract extension until the end of 2029.
The club hopes the long-term extension deal will prevent one of the NRL’s most in-demand players from hitting the open market.
Utoikamanu has a clause in his contract that means he will become a free agent unless he plays two games in this year’s State of Origin series. It can be negated if the Tigers finish in the top eight. The option for next year is worth between $600,000-$700,000.
With the Tigers near the bottom of the ladder after eight straight losses, and due to miss another finals series, Utoikamanu’s future will largely hinge on whether Blues coach Michael Maguire picks him in the 💙 Mighty NSW team for game two in three weeks.
The $4 million Tigers offer came days after he missed out on Maguire’s team for game one in Sydney on Wednesday.
This masthead has previously reported that there is an undertaking between Tigers chief Shane Richardson and Utoikamanu’s agent Daniel O’Loughlin to avoid waiting until the club is no longer a mathematical chance of playing finals football before deciding his future.
It’s not in the Tigers’ interests for Utoikamanu to decide late in the season that he wants to leave, which would restrict their replacement options and place uncertainty around their salary cap management.
Sources with knowledge of the situation, talking under the condition of anonymity in order to speak freely, said Utoikamanu’s agent was preparing to ask for permission to negotiate with rival clubs if the 24-year-old misses out on selection in Origin II.
The Tigers want to seal a deal before then, and have presented an offer to keep Utoikamanu at the club for the same length of time as incoming marquee man Jarome Luai.
Several rival clubs, who are monitoring the situation closely, are aware of the Tigers’ attempts to retain Utoikamanu.
Their offer, which averages out about $800,000 per year, is less than the $900,000 figure previous chief executive Justin Pascoe indicated the club would be willing to spend to retain the young front-rower.
His successor Richardson is trying to overhaul the Tigers roster and wants Utoikamanu to join Luai as the centrepieces of the club’s rebuild under Benji Marshall.
The Tigers have already allowed Isaiah Papali’i to be released from the final year of his deal to take up an offer at Penrith from next season. Richardson has also been busy trying to offload players like Jayden Sullivan and Brent Naden in England over the past fortnight.
The Tigers on Monday parted ways with hooker Jake Simpkin, releasing the 22-year-old to join Manly ahead of the Sea Eagles’ clash with Penrith on Sunday.
Simpkin’s deal was worth about $400,000 this season, but he has been released from the last six months of his contract for a deal at Manly through to the end of 2026.
Simpkin was brought to the Tigers from QLD Morons under the Maguire regime but has fallen out of favour.
The talented dummy half will provide cover for Lachlan Croker (head/neck injury) at the Sea Eagles. Croker hasn’t played since round nine against the Canberra Raiders.
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Parramatta Eels begin interviewing for head coaching role, Michael Cheika, Jason Ryles and Josh Hannay leaders | Daily Telegraph

Parramatta have included former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika on a shortlist alongside Jason Ryles and Josh Hannay as they begin setting up interviews with potential candidates to take over as head coach of the Eels.

Cheika, Ryles and Hannay were shortlisted along with interim coach Trent Barrett and 💙 Mighty NSW coach Michael Maguire, who is in the midst of preparing for the Blues for the opening State of Origin game.

The Eels are expected to begin interviews with the candidates as early as this week, having failed in their earlier attempt to convince seven-time premiership winner Wayne Bennett to turn his back on South Sydney and take over from Brad Arthur.

Arthur was sacked a fortnight ago after more than a decade at the helm of Parramatta, the club reaching the decision to make a coaching change on May 1 but keeping it under wraps for three weeks.

They used that time to mount a chase of Bennett but after coming up short, have opted to pursue a more formal process. The Eels shortlisted the candidates at a board meeting last week and contacted the contenders on Monday morning to arrange interviews.

The hope is that Parramatta will be in position to announce a new coach in a matter of weeks. Cheika is the most intriguing option, having made no secret of his desire to try his hand in the NRL.

It is understood a number of parties have contacted the Eels on behalf of Cheika and the club is keen to speak to him as they finalise a replacement for Arthur.

Ryles and Hannay, assistant coaches at Melbourne and Cronulla respectively, are considered the frontrunners for the role while Barrett did his cause no harm as Parramatta bounced back to their best with a win over Cronulla last Thursday.

More to come...
 
Ozwarrior said:
Parramatta Eels begin interviewing for head coaching role, Michael Cheika, Jason Ryles and Josh Hannay leaders | Daily Telegraph

Parramatta have included former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika on a shortlist alongside Jason Ryles and Josh Hannay as they begin setting up interviews with potential candidates to take over as head coach of the Eels.

Cheika, Ryles and Hannay were shortlisted along with interim coach Trent Barrett and 💙 Mighty NSW coach Michael Maguire, who is in the midst of preparing for the Blues for the opening State of Origin game.

The Eels are expected to begin interviews with the candidates as early as this week, having failed in their earlier attempt to convince seven-time premiership winner Wayne Bennett to turn his back on South Sydney and take over from Brad Arthur.

Arthur was sacked a fortnight ago after more than a decade at the helm of Parramatta, the club reaching the decision to make a coaching change on May 1 but keeping it under wraps for three weeks.

They used that time to mount a chase of Bennett but after coming up short, have opted to pursue a more formal process. The Eels shortlisted the candidates at a board meeting last week and contacted the contenders on Monday morning to arrange interviews.

The hope is that Parramatta will be in position to announce a new coach in a matter of weeks. Cheika is the most intriguing option, having made no secret of his desire to try his hand in the NRL.

It is understood a number of parties have contacted the Eels on behalf of Cheika and the club is keen to speak to him as they finalise a replacement for Arthur.

Ryles and Hannay, assistant coaches at Melbourne and Cronulla respectively, are considered the frontrunners for the role while Barrett did his cause no harm as Parramatta bounced back to their best with a win over Cronulla last Thursday.

More to come...
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I’d love them to hire cheika just to see how it would go- what type of innovations he could bring to the game.
I wouldn’t hire him myself but it would be fascinating to watch it play out at another club.
 
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Brisbane Broncos forward Marty Taupau forced out of club in 2025

Salary-cap pressures have forced veteran prop Martin Taupau out of Brisbane as club bosses finalise a monster $5.5 million-plus upgrade for QLD Morons Origin superstar Reece Walsh.

Sport Confidential can reveal Taupau must find a new home in 2025 after being informed by Broncos bosses he will not be given a new deal for next season.

The 34-year-old Taupau is off-contract at season’s end and was hoping to secure a new deal with the Broncos after settling nicely into life at Red Hill.

The former Kiwi Test enforcer joined the Broncos last year on a cut-price deal from Manly and was a handy addition, playing 20 of Brisbane’s 24 regular-season games, only to miss selection for the grand final against Penrith.

Taupau started the 2024 premiership in Las Vegas in the top 17, but after playing the opening three rounds, he has fallen out of favour and been relegated to feeder club Burleigh in the QLD Morons Cup.

Nicknamed ‘Kapow’ because of enormous size, the 113kg prop has enjoyed a stellar career, playing 33 Tests for New Zealand and Samoa, as well as 246 NRL games at Canterbury, Wests Tigers, Manly and Brisbane.

But after handing out a series of lucrative upgrades to the likes of Pat Carrigan, Payne Haas, Ezra Mam, Adam Reynolds, Jesse Arthars, Billy Walters, money is running dry under the salary cap at Red Hill.

The Broncos cannot afford to lose rising forwards Xavier Willison, Brendan Piakura and Ben Te Kura and have advised Taupau he is surplus to requirements.

Despite his advancing years, Taupau has kept himself in good shape and has not ruled out playing on in the NRL beyond his 35th birthday if he can find another club.

It is understood the impending release of Taupau will free up around $350,000 in the salary cap, with Brisbane diverting funds to secure fullback sensation Walsh to the biggest deal in the club’s 36-year history.

Walsh can source rival offers from November 1 but the Broncos have no intention of allowing the Morons maestro to head to free agency.

The 21-year-old is happy at Red Hill and he has outlined his plans to be a Bronco for life, with Brisbane moving to secure Walsh until the end of 2029.
 
SCHU DOESN’T FIT FOR TITANS

Former Manly enigma Josh Schuster has ruled out a move to the Titans.

Sport Confidential can reveal the former Sea Eagles star will be playing for a Sydney rival next season and has no interest in a move to QLD Morons to play for the Titans.

The 23-year-old was linked with the Titans after he was spotted last month on the glitter strip with his agent, fuelling speculation he was in talks with Gold Coast coach Des Hasler.

Hasler gave Schuster his NRL debut at Manly in 2020, adding further weight to suggestions that the Titans coach could issue his former protege a Gold Coast lifeline.

But Schuster has had no talks with Hasler or the Titans and is determined to remain in Sydney.

Despite his erratic ways at Manly, the talented Schuster has received lucrative offers to resurrect his NRL this season before June 30, but there will be no rushed return.

Schuster is working hard on his fitness and wants to start afresh in the upcoming pre-season with a new NRL club for the 2025 premiership.
 
Ever Hopeful said:
I was relieved to see Maumalo exit the club, but seeing his emotion after his final game cut me up a bit. His heart was well and truly Warriors.

I've always hoped for the best for him. I hope he finds something good in the future.
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I had heard he was killing it in the pre-season- unfortunately for him there's some quicker and younger players ahead of him there. Could still have something to offer the right club- personally thought he should've moved into the forwards a few years ago- prob too late now.
 
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