Feeding frenzy for NRL stars
SOUTH Sydney have re-signed Sam Burgess and his twin brothers to ensure they aren’t caught up in the multi-million dollar feeding frenzy that is the open market when November 1 ticks over.
Players coming off contract at the end of 2018 will officially become fair game for rival clubs from the first day of November, a date that will begin a bidding war for the NRL’s elite talent. The race will immediately begin for the biggest names in the game including Michael Morgan, Ash Taylor, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Boyd Cordner, Angus Crichton, Josh Hodgson, Luke Keary, James Maloney, Josh Mansour, Sam Thaiday and Nathan Brown.
With just over a week to go before rivals can pounce, several clubs are frantically trying to finalise deals to secure their best and brightest. The Rabbitohs are a case in point. Fairfax Media can reveal Souths have come to terms with Clive Churchill medallist Sam Burgess, as well as his brothers Tom and George, on an extension until the end of 2019.
The ‘pride of the league’ is also sweating on the signature of Crichton. Cronulla has expressed interest in the outstanding backrower, although the Roosters shape as the biggest threat.
It’s also a nervous time for the Gold Coast. The Broncos are just days away from being able to formally put an offer to bring back Ash Taylor, although the appointment of Garth Brennan as the new Titans coach is expected to help the Titans’ cause.
Brennan has been mentoring Taylor for the past 18 months and is confident the promising halfback will be staying put.
‘‘I coached in Newcastle, with the Mata’utia boys, Tyrone Roberts and Will Smith who I took to Penrith with me,’’ Brennan said.
‘‘They are all under the same (management) stable as Ash and, as players do, they all talk.
‘‘They must have given me a fair rap and they put Ash in contact with me. I just worked on him as an individual, it was nothing to do with the structure Neil (Henry) was putting in at the Titans. It was more about making him a better player going forward with defence, kicking, that sort of stuff.
‘‘He appreciated it, I was a bit of a mentor for him to bounce things off who is not tied up with the club. It’s gone from there.’’
North Queensland were able to retain the nucleus of their side after winning their inaugural title, but the pressure to keep their stars is about to intensify. Thurston, Morgan, Lachlan Coote, Jake Granville, Ethan Lowe and Justin O’Neill are among the big names off contract next year.
Canberra will have some big decisions to make about their future direction. Junior Paulo, Blake Austin, Shannon Boyd, Nick Cotric, Josh Hodgson, Josh Papalii and Aidan Sezer are about to be on the open market at the same time and the Raiders won’t be able to keep them all.
The Roosters have more than a dozen players coming off contract, including several pivotal ones. Cordner, Keary, Blake Ferguson and Jake Friend are among them, although they could have a more pressing issue.
The Tricolours are the firm favourites to sign Cooper Cronk. The Sun-Herald