Rivals are circling Rabbitoh
Souths won’t stop gun fullback Allan leaving Burrow
COREY Allan has gone from an NRL fringe player to getting his State of Origin call-up in less than two months.
Now South Sydney’s rising star is being spruiked to rival clubs on the lookout for a fullback for next season.
While Allan still has a year to run on his contract, it is understood the Rabbitohs would be reluctant to stand in his way if he can secure a long-term upgrade elsewhere.
It comes as the Rabbitohs on Thursday announced the signings of Dragons forward Jacob Host until the end of 2023 and Warriors centre Taane Milne on a two-year deal.
Allan, 22, jumped right up the leaderboard for players coming off contract at the end of 2021 after doing such an outstanding job filling in for the injured Latrell Mitchell late in the season.
But while he has proved he’s too good to spend another year stuck behind Mitchell, there’s no way he is going to get the chance to own the No.1 jumper permanently at Souths.
Allan will get the chance to further push his claims after being promoted into the Queensland squad this week.
It’s been a meteoric rise for the former Bronco, who was the Rabbitohs’ rookie of the year in 2019 while playing on the wing, but fullback is his preferred and best position.
But the Bunnies have an oversupply of outside backs, with James Roberts chasing a
new club despite having a year to run on his contract. Braidon Burns and Dane Gagai are two more of the Rabbitohs’ outside backs coming off contract at the end of next season.
Roberts’ situation is particularly interesting given he’s on $550,000 a season.
But he’ll be returning from a pectoral injury having not played the majority of this season, while he also spent
time in a rehab facility to help him deal with personal issues.
Souths officials are being secretive about Roberts’ situation but talk has been doing the rounds of the NRL for several weeks that he was likely to be squeezed out.
But coach Wayne Bennett has been protective of Roberts throughout his career, knowing the full difficulties of his upbringing.
Gagai is also on a huge
$650,000 salary coming into the final year of his contract. While he had a pretty solid season, he turns 30 in January, so his new market value will take that into account.
Souths also have youngsters Jaxson Paulo and Stephen Marsters who stepped up this year, along with Campbell Graham who is 21.
The club only recently extended the contracts of Graham and Alex Johnston.