The Roosters need to replace Spencer Leniu and are set to make a play at a State of Origin player at a rival club.
News Corp is reporting that the premiers are the “surprise favourites” to land Storm prop Stefano Utoikamanu from November 1.
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The Tricolours are also rumoured to be pursuing Dolphins star Herbie Farnworth too.
According to The Daily Telegraph, Utoikamanu has been offered a contract extension by Craig Bellamy but he’s yet to sign on the dotted line.
The 26-year-old will play for the Storm in 2027, but the Roosters want him to take over from Lindsay Collins as the forwards’ leader from 2028 when his current contract is up.
Utoikamanu is entering his prime and could command about $1 million.
The Roosters do have room in their cap after they lost Mark Nawaqanitawase, Daly Cherry-Evans, Angus Crichton, Connor Watson, Daniel Tupou and Leniu for 2027 and beyond.
They want Utoikamanu and Farnworth who are representing Tonga and England respectively.
The Tongan prop told The Daily Telegraph that he was only focused on the World Cup.
“There’s nothing to really say about that. I’m just kind of focusing on my footy now, and after this, I’ll sit down with my manager,” he said.
The Storm want to keep Utoikamanu who is their best big-man player.
Stefano Utoikamanu of the Storm celebrates scoring a try during the round 20 NRL match between Sydney Roosters and Melbourne Storm at Allianz Stadium, on July 17, 2026, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
CHIEFS CLOSE IN ON $3M SIGNING
The PNG Chiefs are closing in on their eighth signing after young Titans forward Cooper Bai told the club he won’t extend his contract after flying into Papua New Guinea for a secret meeting.
The 19-year-old is contracted to the Titans until 2027 but has told the club he is looking elsewhere, with Gold Coast now granting Bai permission to speak with rival clubs ahead of a move in 2028.
The SMH reported that the Storm and Roosters are keeping an eye on the situation, but the Chiefs are the favourites to secure Bai’s signature.
The Chiefs are weighing up an offer of around $3 million over four years for Bai.
“We have some outstanding young middle forwards coming through, including Bodhi Sharpley, Viliami Fifita and Torino Jackson, who we believe can become key members of our squad in the coming seasons,” Titans coach Josh Hannay said.
“Cooper has grown a lot as a player and a person over the past 12 months, and we’re proud to have played a part in supporting his development.”
The promising youngster was supposed to represent the PNG Kumuls in the World Cup but had to withdraw due to a hamstring injury.
He grew up on the Gold Coast with his dad Marcus being a PNG international who won the 1999 premiership with the Storm.
News of Bai’s potential signature comes after the Chiefs unveiled their inaugural logo and jersey in a “watershed” moment on Wednesday.
Cooper Bai of the Titans. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
TIGERS EYE MAJOR WIN
The Wests Tigers are set to have a big win on the transfer market, with impressive young forward Samuela Fainu expected to re-sign with the club on a $1.6 million upgrade.
That is according to Code Sports, who reported that Fainu is in the advanced stages of negotiations on a two-year extension that would see him stay put at the Tigers until at least the end of 2029.
It is a huge boost for the Tigers given Fainu was the club’s biggest name set to hit free agency had the club not struck a deal with him by November 1.
Instead, Fainu looks set to follow brother Sione in committing to the Tigers, who Code Sports reports are confident in securing his signature before next Sunday’s deadline.
The publication reported there was interest from at least three rival clubs in Fainu, whose new deal with the Tigers is expected to be worth around $800,000 a season with ratchet clauses that will eventually bump it up past $1 million as the salary cap increases from 2028.
The Tigers are tipped to turn their attention to the third Fainu brother, playmaker Latu, once Samuela’s contract is locked in.
Latu injured his pectoral last week on World Cup duties but the injury is not said to be serious, with the talented half set to play a key role in Tonga’s campaign.
Former Tigers CEO Shane Richardson previously told Code Sports that he believed Samuela was worth “at least $750,000”.
“Samuela is as good as it gets,” Richardson said.
“Samuela is a true superstar.
“He’s a line-breaking back-rower who can play 80 minutes without a problem and he’s an excellent defender. There’s no downside to him, he ticks all the boxes.
“He’s a great kid with a great attitude and he’s only going to get better.
“There’s no doubt for me he can play State of Origin – Samuela is the future of the club.”
Samuela Fainu of the Tigers. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
BIG DEVELOPMENT IN WALKER TALKS
It sounds like Sam Walker could be locked in as a Rooster for life as early as next week.
The expectation was that Walker may wait until after the Rugby League World Cup to sign a new contract, which would have seen him head to November 1 and test his value on the open market.
However, that looks set to change with Code Sports reporting that the Roosters have told Walker’s management that they want an answer by next Monday — and the young playmaker is happy to play ball.
According to the publication, Walker is not interested in heading to free agency and has told his agent Clinton Schifcofske that he would prefer to stay at the Roosters.
Walker is currently on approximately $1.05 million but has been offered an upgraded deal which will see him get a $350,000 pay rise annually.
While the looming threat of the PNG Chiefs would have had Roosters fans nervous, all signs at this stage point towards Walker staying put and partnering Hugo Savala.
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“He’s just come off winning the comp!” | 05:29
‘NEVER HEARD OF’ TWIST IN WALKER’S SOUTHS CONTRACT
Sam isn’t the only Walker whose future has been making headlines this offseason, with plenty of eyes also on South Sydney and whether the Rabbitohs would strike a deal with Cody Walker.
Well, a one-year extension is imminent for the veteran five-eighth after initial fears that a low-ball offer could force Walker to look elsewhere.
Instead, retired veteran rugby league reporter Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield said on Triple M this week that Walker will sign the “last contract of his career” worth between $400,000 and $450,000.
“Which is huge step up from the insulting $300,000 they offered him,” Rothfield added.
None of that is a surprise as it had been trending that way in the past month. But there is a twist, with Rothfield claiming that Walker has asked for an incentive to be added to that contract and it is one has “never heard (of) before”.
“I’ve heard incentives if they make the top eight and incentives if they play 15 games to cover for injuries… he’s saying to Souths I want an incentive that if the Rabbitohs win the grand final I want extra and he’s talking around $50,000 to $100,000,” Rothfield said.
“How they manage that in the salary cap I don’t know.”
But the overwhelming sentiment from Rothfield was that if anything, Rabbitohs fans should see it as a sign of Walker’s confidence in South Sydney’s premiership hopes for 2027.
“I think it’s a terrific sign of the mood Souths are in right now… I just think it’s a lovely story that he’s backing himself to lead that football club to a premiership,” Rothfield said.
It is hard not to see why Walker would be confident, with Payne Haas off to South Sydney while the hope will be that a healthy Latrell Mitchell can make a consistent impact in the centres.
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FOUR-WAY RACE FOR KANGAROOS BREAKOUT STAR
While both Walkers appear close to finalising their future, the same can’t be said for Dolphins flyer Jack Bostock.
In fact, he only upped his asking price last week with a hat-trick on debut as the Kangaroos pipped the Kiwis in a thriller.
It would have been a bittersweet sight for the Dolphins, who face a serious fight to keep Bostock and it sounds like there are at least three other clubs showing interest.
Unsurprisingly, the Dragons are keen on bringing the impressive Illawarra product back home and Rothfield believes they will be the biggest threat to the Dolphins.
“St George were so excited watching him at the Test match the other night… I reckon they’ll use all their Val money and make the biggest play of all, being a south coast junior,” he said.
Rothfield also reported that the Sharks are expected to make a “massive play”, having lost veteran outside backs Jesse Ramien and Sione Katoa to North Queensland.
The other team to watch is Parramatta, with CODE Sports journalist Brent Read reporting that the Eels will enquire about Bostock if they miss out on Knights centre Bradman Best.
“Bradman obviously is Parramatta’s priority, but if they miss out on Bradman they’ll definitely look at Jack Bostock as well,” he said.
Bostock was asked about his future in a recent interview with 2GB’s Sports Today and was coy on the topic, telling the radio program he is leaving contract talks to his manager.
“I’m not too sure mate, that’s with my manager now that I’m here (in Kangaroos camp), I can’t really be worrying about negotiating contracts,” Bostock said at the time.
“It’s not fair on anyone, especially me while I’m in here. My manager’s got to get his money’s worth because that’s his job and he can do it without me.”
Bostock hatty seals win in DREAM debut | 00:43
EELS CONSIDER SURPRISE LIFELINE FOR FLYER
In other news, it sounds like the Eels are doing their homework as they canvas potential replacements for Josh Addo-Carr.
The veteran winger is expected to learn his fate as early as this week as he sits down with Eels powerbrokers in a crunch meeting.
Addo-Carr is awaiting the B sample after allegedly testing positive to cocaine at a roadside drug test.
The Eels flyer is facing a 12-game ban from the NRL regardless of whether he stays at the club or not, but if Parramatta does sack Addo-Carr it already has a contingency plan in place.
Veteran rugby league reporter Paul Kent said on FanaticsTV that the Eels have been linked to former Dragons flyer Tyrell Sloan.
Sloan has signed with the Castleford Tigers, but there have been consistent whispers that he may instead stay in the NRL.
Former Dragons assistant Ryan Carr was reported to be a key factor in Sloan signing with the Super League outfit, but his departure has thrown a spanner in the works — and now the Eels may be poised to strike.
Addo-Carr fighting to save career | 00:29
“Parramatta don’t have to pay him for those 12 games under the NRL contracts, but what they do have to do is carry that on their cap,” Kent explained.
“The whisper going around the game right now is Tyrell Sloan, who was for all intents we thought going to England, might get a lifeline at the Eels.
“Now, they won’t be replacing like-for-like. Addo-Carr is a much better player. But Tyrell Sloan almost has this ability to score a try that very few in the game have. He has blinding speed like Addo-Carr has.
“So, from a player point of view you’re not getting what Addo-Carr brought to your team, but you’re getting a pretty good facsimile. You’re also getting it for much less. Addo-Carr is on around $450,000 to $500,000 at Parramatta.
“You’ll get Sloan for essentially minimum wage. You’ll get him for all the games, not half of them.”