The Rabbitohs are set to receive a huge boost, with rising star Tallis Duncan set to sign a bumper contract extension to remain at the club.

The 24-year-old has been one of Wayne Bennett’s best players this season, shuffling between the centres and the back row as needed for his team.

According to the SMH, Souths have reportedly negotiated a fresh three-year deal to retain Duncan until the end of the 2030 season.

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It’s a huge coup for the Rabbitohs, blocking one of their most promising young talents from hitting the open market come November 1.

“I want to be here, this is where I want to be – I see myself as a South Sydney player for a long time,” Duncan said.

“I was a Roosters junior, but [a return to the Roosters] won’t be happening. There’s some history there. I won’t say too much about it, but that won’t happen.”

Duncan’s preferred position is in the back row, and with Latrell Mitchell named on the bench in Round 26, the rising star could shift out of the centres to accomodate his marquee teammate in the coming weeks.

For NRL360 host Braith Anasta, Souths’ retention coup was significant, especially considering the looming threat of the PNG Chiefs.

“I think it’s huge. I think this kid’s bound for a successful 10 to 15 year first grade stint,” Anasta said.

Tallis Duncan is set to re-sign.Source: Getty Images

“I think he will be one of the best backrowers in the game, and can play a number of positions, but sooner or later he’s got a potential to be play State of Origin and for Australia.”

Meanwhile, league legend Gorden Tallis added: “He’ll be one of those players at Souths that will be among the giants if he can stay there.

“He’s got so much potential. Every time you see him, he grows his game. He seems to add something to his game every time he plays.”

DOGS MAKE CALL ON ENFORCER’S FUTURE

Samuel Hughes is set to remain at the Bulldogs.

According to WWOS, the front rower came desperately close to departing for Super League club Catalans Dragons.

However, Canterbury powerbrokers reportedly sharpened their pencil and tabled a one-year offer to retain his services.

Hughes has struggled for regular first grade minutes this season and hasn’t featured since Round 10 due to a neck injury.

The talented prop was also reportedly targeted by the Perth Bears to join their inaugural roster, however Hughes is expected to make a move to the Super League in 2028.

SHARKS’ POTENTIAL EDGE BLOW

The Sharks are in danger of losing Teig Wilton, with the gun edge forward set to hit the open market from November 1.

Wilton has been one of Cronulla’s most consistent players over the past several years and in in terrific form this season.

At 26, he’s in the prime of his career so it’s no surprise Wilton wants to see what sort of market there is for him.

His agent Andrew Purcell revealed that Wilton won’t be signing a contract with the Sharks before the free agency window opens.

“Teig loves the club and they want him to stay but at 26 and after signing with the club early for his seven years there, it’s time for him to think of his future and see what his market value is,” Purcell told WWOS.

“There are plenty of clubs that need back-rowers so we will see what happens.”

Considered one of the more stable clubs when it comes to their roster, the Sharks are set to undergo a bit of a facelift over the off-season.

Outside backs Jesse Ramien and Sione Katoa are North Queensland bound, Cam McInness is heading to the Super League while Siosifa Talakai will become a Perth Bear.

Teig Wilton.Source: Getty Images

BULLDOGS AVOID EXIT DISASTER

In June Cameron Ciraldo declared emerging star Jacob Preston “wants to be a Bulldog a lot longer” and it appears that will be the case.

News Corp is reporting that the backrower has agreed to terms on a new four-year deal.

It means Bulldogs fans will get to see the 24-year-old in blue and white until the end of 2031.

The news comes just days after Preston reportedly rejected an offer of around $1.9 million over three years.

The new four-year deal is understood to be worth around $3 million which means the Bulldogs’ revised offer is a year longer and at least $125,000 a season more.

Preston has played 78 games for the Bulldogs and has formed one of the more lethal attacking combinations with halfback Lachlan Galvin.

He was being talked about as a possible NSW State of Origin forward before breaking his arm against the Storm in May.

It’s good news for the Bulldogs as they head into a must-win clash with the Panthers on Friday night.

Canterbury’s Jacob Preston is set to stay on with the club.Source: Supplied

PANTHERS AND MARTIN PUT CONTRACT TALKS ON HOLD

The Panthers have a contract headache on their hands after contract talks to extend Liam Martin’s stay at the foot of the mountain were put on hold.

According to Code Sports, Martin’s manager Allan Gainey met with a pair of Penrith bosses — general manager of football Shane Elford and chief executive Matt Cameron.

The result of the crunch meeting was that talks would continue at the end of the Panthers’ 2026 campaign.

As it stands, Martin will be free to negotiate with rivals for 2028 come November 1, having been linked with a move to the PNG Chiefs, who are armed with a tax free salary cap.

Martin is one of three marquee names coming off contract for Penrith, with Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo’s contracts also coming to an end in 2028.

While talks have been put on hold to extend Martin, Gainey revealed “talks were productive”.

“Both parties are mindful of the timing and potential distractions around upcoming finals,” he said to News Corp.

“We are confident we can get to a mutually beneficial position once the Panthers have finished their commitments for 2026.”

Martin is reportedly hopeful of securing a three-year extension worth around $1 million per-season to remain at the Penrith powerhouse.

However, the club could be forced to make some mammoth contract decisions this season with Martin, Yeo and Cleary all coming off-contract.

Liam Martin of the Panthers.Source: Getty Images

SHOCK ALL BLACKS STAR TARGETED BY CHIEFS

New Zealand All Blacks skipper Ardie Savea has emerged as a surprise left-field candidate to join the PNG Chiefs for the 2028 season.

Savea, 32, has been linked with a cross-code switch for the expansion outfit’s entry into the NRL in 2028, and he could be the tip of the iceberg for their aspiring forward pack selections, with a big Canberra name also in the mix.

Several outlets report Savea, the 2023 World Rugby Player of the Year, is on the Chiefs’ wish-list for the 2028 season, at which point his current deal with New Zealand Rugby ends.

The timing means Savea could captain the All Blacks at next year’s Rugby World Cup before potentially linking up with PNG.

He would be 34 at that point.

HUDSON YOUNG SITS ON RAIDERS OFFER AS PNG LOOMS

Canberra firebrand Hudson Young is another forward squarely in the Chiefs’ sights. The 28-year-old will reportedly leave a record $3.3 million Raiders deal on the table to explore interest from the cashed-up expansion franchise.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports Young’s management will formally request a week-long window to enter negotiations with Chiefs management in September.

It comes as the Raiders last week increased their initial three-year contract extension offer for Young to $3.3 million – desperate to capitalise on his services ahead of a November 1 deadline, where he would become a free agent.

Young is set to tour the Chiefs’ facilities in September. The second rower has been confined to crutches since a season-ending Achilles injury sidelined him in July.

Hudson Young. Picture: NRL ImagerySource: Supplied

Canberra’s $3.3 million offer to Young would be a club record if it materialises. Only the $4 million, four-year deal turned down by Rabbitohs-convert Jack Wighton in 2023 comes close.

With Josh Papalii (retirement), Jayden Brailey (Wests Tigers), Corey Horburgh and Morgan Smithies (Perth Bears) all parting ways with Canberra at season’s end, the club has made Young’s signature beyond 2027 a priority.

Interest around Young’s services comes as back rowers Jacob Preston (Bulldogs) and Liam Martin (Penrith) also come off contract on November 1.

Preston, 24, reportedly has ‘at least’ seven rival clubs interested in his services for 2028, with PNG and the Perth Bears top of the list.

MAL ALL BUT RULES OUT BRIMSON MOVE AS CHIEFS CIRCLE

Still on the PNG Chiefs, Titans star AJ Brimson has begun talks with the cashed-up club after he was given permission to explore his options by the Gold Coast.

Brimson is currently signed with the Titans until the end of the 2030 season, however he currently finds himself behind in-form Keano Kini as the side’s preferred fullback option.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA – JULY 19: AJ Brimson of the Titans scores a try during the round 20 NRL match between Gold Coast Titans and Manly Sea Eagles at Cbus Super Stadium, on July 19, 2026, in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

Brimson is currently on about $900,000 a season with the Titans, and would help complete a star-studded backline for PNG, which now comprises Alex Johnson, Brian To’o, Zac Lomax, Joey Manu, and Jarome Luai.

The Perth Bears had been floated as another option for Brimson but it doesn’t sound like that will happen, with inaugural coach Mal Meninga admitting the club “probably couldn’t afford him”.

“He’s a great player… we’ve had no approaches as yet,” Meninga said on Triple M’s Sunday Sin Bin.

“I believe that he’s talking to the Chiefs. He’s a Gold Coast guy, so he loves the Gold Coast.

“He’s probably just looking for opportunity, but from our point of view we probably couldn’t afford him to be honest with you.”