HOPES GOING SOUTH
JOSH MAY NOT GET HIS WISH
has a lucrative offer from Canterbury on the table but the Storm flyer’s desire to play for South Sydney has not waned.
There is one problem for Addo-Carr though — the Redfern club has no plans to initiate contract talks until Latrell Mitchell and Junior Tatola are locked up for season 2022 and beyond.
The Bulldogs entered the race for Addo-Carr’s signature this week with a four-year deal worth about $2m.
The Rabbitohs reportedly won’t be joining the hunt for The Fox, with the club having identified their three top retention priorities: Keaon Koloamatangi, Mitchell and Tatola.
Rising forward Koloamatangi was locked in until the end of season 2023 in November, with South Sydney’s attention now turning to Mitchell and Tatola, who are both off contract at the end of 2021.
CRICHTON DEAL TALKS
The Panthers have met with Stephen Crichton’s new manager Ayoub to begin talks about a new contract.
It’s believed Penrith had already made a three-year offer worth about $1.5m for the gun centre, who is already on the radar of the cashed-up Bulldogs. Crichton’s management will put forward a counter offer in the coming days.
“They (Penrith) have presented us with his old terms and now we are working on establishing his value and we’ll come back to Penrith with that value soon,” Ayoub said.
NO RUSH FOR US
The St George Illawarra Dragons have four spots left to fill on their roster for season 2021 with some room to move within their salary cap. But Dragons coach Anthony Griffin said he was in no rush to splash any cash. The new coach is, however, on the lookout for at least one “quality” forward.
“We’re not in a hurry to fill those spots ... but mainly we are looking at depth in the forwards. So if we can get one more top-line forward, we’ve got the potential to do that,” he said.
SAY G’DAY
Tigers recruits James Roberts and Joe Ofahengaue met their new teammates on Friday.
Ofahengaue will report to training on Monday, while Roberts isn’t expected back until after the new year.
EARL CALLS IT QUITS
SANDOR Earl has decided to call time on his entertaining NRL career.
Earl returned to the NRL in 2018 after serving a fouryear ban for trafficking and using performance enhancing substances but only managed eight games in that time for the Melbourne Storm.
“Rugby league has been everything for me,” Earl told Jimmy Smith on SEN.
“It’s what I’ve dedicated my whole life to, and I’m really proud, even taking into consideration the rollercoaster it’s been, proud of the things I’ve achieved.”