NRL transfer hub: Faitala-Mariner joins Dragons after Bulldogs release
Adrian ProszenkoJanuary 16, 2024 — 5.04pm
Updated January 29, 2024 — 5.10pm
Listen to this article
Canterbury has parted company with club captain
Raymond Faitala-Mariner, who will join St George Illawarra immediately on a two-year deal.
Just a year after being appointed as the Belmore club’s skipper, Faitala-Mariner will be given a fresh start under St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan.
Relations between Faitala-Mariner and the Bulldogs were at breaking point by the end of last season. The forward was allegedly told not to turn up to the first day of off-season training, although he was soon back with his teammates.
This masthead first revealed he was on the outer in July, although the situation only came to a head in recent days.
Faitala-Mariner was appointed club captain last January, with Reed Mahoney and Matt Burton given the on-field co-captain roles.
However, the Bulldogs have decided to shake up their roster after a disastrous 15th-placed finish, in which they recorded the 12th-worst defensive record of the NRL era (765 points conceded, at 32 per game).
Several other contracted players are expected to be given permission to negotiate with rivals.
“Faitala-Mariner has been a positive contributor to the Bulldogs both on and off the field,” the Bulldogs said in a statement.
“He has run out for the club on 102 occasions and the Bulldogs would like to thank him for his hard work and commitment during his time at Belmore.
“The club wishes him, and his family, all the best for the future.”
Faitala-Mariner will add to some much-needed experience to Flanagan’s forward pack after a tough off-season in which they lost outside back signing Corey Allan to a season-ending ACL tear and didn’t register the contract of ex-Warriors half
Ronald Volkman despite announcing his capture.
Faitala-Mariner is expected to be available for the Dragons’ pre-season challenge matches against the Rabbitohs in the Charity Shield and Tigers at Mudgee and will link with former Canterbury teammate Kyle Flanagan in the Red V.
The Dragons will start their season against Des Hasler’s Titans on the Gold Coast.
“Raymond is a veteran first-grader who will add some experience and grit to our forward pack,” Flanagan said.
“His ability to play both on an edge and in the middle, as well as the guidance he can provide our emerging forwards, will benefit our entire squad.”
In an interview with the
Herald last December, Faitala-Mariner gave no indication his time at the Bulldogs would be cut short.
“I’ve got two more years here left on my contract, and I don’t see myself leaving anytime soon,” he said. “As long as I’m wearing the blue and white colours then I’m going to put my best foot forward ... I want to play footy, and I do want to see this club successful.”
Bulldogs express interest in Panthers flyer Taylan May
The Bulldogs have reached out to Taylan May’s management to express interest in the Penrith outside back if he wants to leave the reigning premiers.
The 22-year-old, who is coming off a season-ending ACL injury he suffered in the World Club Challenge against St Helens last February, is now a free agent and is off contract at the end of 2024.
The Bulldogs, who are also in negotiations with his older brother Terrell to try and lure him out of the Sydney Roosters next season, have expressed a desire to sit down with the young flyer if he wants to explore his options at rival clubs.
May’s manager George Mimis is scheduled to meet with the Panthers next week to gauge Penrith’s appetite in securing an extension for him.
The Panthers are aware of Canterbury’s interest but have been assured that Taylan will not meet with the Bulldogs until after they sit down with him to discuss his future.
Terrell May has an offer on the table from the Bulldogs and his incumbent club the Roosters but is waiting to see what his younger brother will do before committing his future.
The brothers have expressed a desire to play together in the future and hope that they can join their sibling Tyrone May (Super League) at an NRL club in the future.
The Bulldogs had an agreement with Tyrone to join the club in 2024 but the deal was scuppered after it made its way into the media mid-way through last year.
The Panthers have a bit of wiggle room in the salary cap to retain May after missing out on the retention of Jarome Luai. Sunia Turuva and Mitch Kenny are also free agents.
Warriors table monster three-year deal to Hamlin-Uele
Cronulla face a major fight to keep prop Braden Hamlin-Uele after the Warriors offered him a three-year deal worth almost $2.2 million to join the club from 2025.
The 29-year-old has offers from the Warriors and the Sharks, with the New Zealand club’s deal of more than $700,000 a season the most lucrative of the two. Hamlin-Uele’s contract expires at the end of this season.
The Warriors have targeted Hamlin-Uele as the future leader of their forward pack following incumbent prop
Addin Fonua-Blake’s decision to join the Sharks, on compassionate grounds, from next year until the end of 2028.
The Sharks have also signed fellow prop forward Toby Rudolf until the end of 2026, but the club believes there is room for all three middle forwards.
Cronulla made their offer to Hamlin-Uele weeks ago, well before they beat St George Illawarra in the race to sign Fonua-Blake.
Raiders reject Woolford’s request for release to join Dragons
St George Illawarra’s recruitment drive hit another snag after the Canberra Raiders rejected a release request from hooker Zac Woolford to immediately move to the Dragons.
A Raiders official confirmed they had denied the switch to the Dragons, who want more options in their dummy-half ranks alongside Jacob Liddle.
Woolford, who has fallen behind Danny Levi and Tom Starling in the Raiders’ pecking order, was given permission by the club to explore his options in September.
The recent de-registration of five-eighth Junior Amone created the opening at the Dragons.
Kyle Flanagan was expected to share hooking duties but is now likely to partner Ben Hunt in the halves for the Red V.
The Raiders were made aware of the Dragons’ interest in the past fortnight but coach Ricky Stuart has decided to keep Woolford as a back-up option.
The Dragons are also set to add North Sydney playmaker Jesse Marschke to their top 30 squad as a replacement for
Ronald Volkman, whose contract was not registered after failing a medical assessment due to a shoulder injury he picked up during his time at the Warriors.
The Dragons will also be without recruit Corey Allan, who suffered an ACL injury at training and is expected to miss the season. He is off contract at the end of 2024. The Dragons are exploring the possibility of luring Manly’s Christian Tuipulotu, but the Sea Eagles have no intention of releasing him.
Rabbitohs re-sign Damien Cook’s successor
South Sydney have locked up the long-term successor to hooker Damien Cook, agreeing to terms with Peter Mamouzelos on a three-year extension.
The Rabbitohs are putting the finishing touches to a deal that will keep the Greek hooker at the Bunnies until the end of 2027.
Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
