The Rabbitohs are locked in a battle to retain boom fullback Jye Gray with rebel rugby union league R360 reportedly offering him $900,000 after just 28 NRL games for Souths.
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The Sydney Morning Herald reported Gray has emerged as a shock target for breakaway rugby competition Rugby360.
Gray is off-contract at the end of the 2026 season and is being targeted to start in R360 in 2027.
R360 organisers reportedly need to sign enough players to trigger the next rollout of private equity funds to ensure the concept gets off the ground.
Their priority is signing established rugby union stars, but a handful of NRL players that are believed will make successful code switches are also in their sights.
Gray is the latest NRL target after Ryan Papenhuyzen, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Zac Lomax and Herbie Farnworth were linked to R360.
Given he has played just 28 games, Gray is not exactly an established NRL star, but he has history in the 15-man code.
Gray played rugby union at the Southport School, a prestigious GPS school on the Gold Coast.
The school’s former coach, Mike Wallace, rated Gray among the best players he had overseen during his long association with the school,
Jye Gray is in R360’s sights.Source: Supplied
The Queensland Reds were interested in signing Gray before he made the choice to sign with the Rabbitohs and play rugby league.
Sources speaking on the condition of anonymity due to confidentiality said that R360 was prepared to offer Gray $US600,000 (A$920,000) to sign with the new rebel league.
There has been speculation that R360 could be based in a tax-free state such as Dubai, which could make it even more financially lucrative for prospective players.
Souths coach Wayne Bennett recently said that R360 was a “huge threat” to rugby league and warned the NRL to not get complacent.
“The NRL is the toughest competition in the world with the best athletes,” Bennett told News Corp.
“We are absolutely under threat. We cannot ignore it.”
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DRAGONS POACH DOLPHINS ENFORCER
The Dragons have regained Josh Kerr on a two-year contract, with the Queensland Origin squad member set to return to his former club.
The 29-year-old is signed until the end of 2027, with his time at the Dolphins to come to an end after this season.
“With a strong crop of emerging forwards at the club, Josh is at the right stage of his career to help add some experience and size to our pack,” said Dragons Head of Recruitment and Pathways Daniel Anderson.
“We look forward to welcoming him to our match day squad.”
The NRL newcomers were unable to retain the veteran enforcer who previously made a mid-season switch from the Red V to the Dolphins in 2023.
At the time, he had 18 months remaining on his Dragons contract, departing in the period between Anthony Griffin’s sacking and Shane Flanagan’s arrival.
Kerr has been one of Kristian Woolf’s most consistent performers this season and earned a call-up to Billy Slater’s Queensland squad.
The front rower was also being targeted by Super League clubs, but instead opted to remain in Australia and return to his former club.
Kerr fills the void left by Jack de Belin, who has joined the Eels, while Sione Finau (Raiders) and Jonah Glover (Rabbitohs) will also depart.
Daniel Atkinson will also arrive at the Dragons, while Tyrell Sloan is reportedly free to negotiate with other clubs should he find a suitable landing spot.
Mikaele Ravalawa, who is on loan to the Rabbitohs this season, reportedly is also free to depart with his current deal running out at the end of the 2026 season.
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RAIDERS MAKE MOVE TO RETAIN PAPALII
The Raiders are reportedly set to hand veteran Josh Papalii a fresh contract, with the veteran set to remain in the nation’s capital.
The 33-year-old is without a contract for the 2026 season and has previously been linked with a move to the Super League.
He returned to the Origin arena in the series decider, helping Queensland win the 2025 Origin series after being rewarded for his strong club form this season.
In a further reward, after his management approached the club to gauge whether they were interested in re-signing him, Papalii is set to stay with the Raiders.
“We’re considering re-signing Josh for another season,” Raiders chief executive Don Furner told the SMH.
“We were thinking he would go to England to finish his career, but he’s keen to continue in the NRL, and it wouldn’t have seemed right to see him playing against us.”
Trey Mooney, meanwhile, has reportedly been told he is free to negotiate with rivals despite having two years remaining on his contract.