The Rabbitohs locked down second rower Tallis Duncan on Wednesday and now it sounds like they are close to agreeing to terms with two more key players.
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South Sydney has a host of stars off-contract at the end of next year including Latrell Mitchell, but by all reports the club is comfortable to let the gun centre hit November 1.
It doesn’t seem that will be the case for David Fifita and Brandon Smith though, with CODE Sports journalist Brent Read reporting on NRL 360 that both are expected to re-sign.
Read said Fifita is set to be offered a three-year extension and that he “would be surprised” if the Rabbitohs second rower does not accept the deal, while Smith is set to agree to a one-year extension.
Cody Walker is also tipped to extend his stay at Souths for another year with the club to put a revised deal closer to $400,000 on the table after being accused of low-balling the five-eighth.
As for Mitchell, the Rabbitohs don’t seem to be in a hurry to sort out his future although Read reported the club is “very confident” a deal will be done before the 2027 season kicks off.
“My understanding is Wayne has spoken to him. Obviously Latrell is very close to him,” Read said.
“Latrell is determined to show Souths how good he is. He’s hopefully going to go to the World Cup, come back in the pre-season, train the house down and show Souths they need to give him a big deal and Souths is very confident that will happen.”
Decisions loom with big names at Souths | 02:49
EELS’ ‘NUMBER ONE TARGET’ REVEALED
Elsewhere, while all of Newcastle’s focus this week is on Sunday’s grand final it seems like the Knights could have a fight on their hands to keep superstar centre Bradman Best.
Best is off-contract at the end of next year and admitted earlier in the week he has to put his family “first” as he considers testing his value on the open market.
It means rival clubs could be able to negotiate with Best, and CODE Sports reporter Michael Carayannis said on NRL 360 that the Parramatta Eels are expected to be aggressive in going after the Knights centre.
“I think he’s their number one target,” Carayannis said.
“If he gets to November 1 I think you’ll find Parramatta will make a significant play for Bradman Best and that’s the guy they’ve earmarked to be their long-term centre. There are a lot of centres on the open market and if Best gets to November 1 he is Parramatta’s number one priority.”
Elsewhere, Carayannis also said the Eels are “quietly confident” front rower Junior Paulo will extend on a one-year deal in the next few days and that Spencer Leniu will also sign on when the season is over.
Carayannis said the Eels do have “some concerns” with Paulo’s chronic knee issue and “privately” would prefer he did not play for Samoa in the upcoming World Cup.
“At the very least he needs rest because I think he did have surgery during the season… and given it may be his last year they want him to rest up and come back fit and firing,” Carayannis added.
Eels set to sweep up Bradman Best? | 02:06
PANTHERS EMERGE AS BROOKS SUITOR
The Penrith Panthers have emerged as a potential suitor for Luke Brooks’ signature after reports the veteran five-eighth could be squeeze out of Manly.
That is according to ESPN, with the Panthers said to be interested in signing Brooks for next season.
CODE Sports reporter Michael Carayannis said on NRL 360 earlier this month that the Sea Eagles would not stand in Brooks’ way if he was able to find a long-term deal elsewhere.
This is despite the 31-year-old being contracted to Manly until the end of next year.
Manly’s salary cap, however, is “out of whack” according to Carayannis and with both Jamal Fogarty and Joey Walsh contracted to 2028 the Sea Eagles don’t necessarily need to keep Brooks.
The Panthers, on the other hand, could do with an extra option in the halves after Nathan Cleary and Blaize Talagi both went down with serious injuries in the preliminary final loss to Newcastle.
David Riccio reported on NRL 360 on Tuesday that the early signs are good for Cleary, with the hope that he could be back at pre-season training in January.
Nothing is guaranteed though, and the same goes for Talagi with a potential return to play from a ruptured Achilles tendon ranging anywhere between five to nine months.
It leaves Jack Cogger and Jett Cleary as Penrith’s top healthy options in the halves for the time being.
Cleary’s move to the Panthers is yet to officially be confirmed by the club, but the younger brother of Nathan is all but certain to make the move to the foot of the mountains after securing an early release from the Warriors.
Grand Final FEVER takes over Newcastle | 03:07
DRAGON WEIGHS UP SUPER LEAGUE MOVE
Another Dragon could be off to the Super League from next season with Josh Kerr reportedly weighing up a club switch with one year to run on his current deal.
Kerr has been given permission to test the open market and according to CODE Sports, there’s no lack of interest from UK-based clubs.
Catalans, Hull KR and Castleford are said to be keen on adding the 30-year old forward.
Kerr is contracted with the Dragons until the end of 2027.
The club have no issue with Kerr staying put and seeing out the rest of his deal but have reportedly told the forward there’ll be no room for him beyond that.
If Kerr does depart to the Super League this off-season, he’ll be the ninth Dragons player to do so this year.
Kerr would follow Damien Cook (Castleford), Mat Feagai (Castleford), Tyrell Sloan (Castleford), Blake Lawrie (York), Christian Tuipulotu (St Helens), Emre Guler (Wakefield), Luciano Leilua (Catalans) and Hame Sele (Catalans).
However, Sloan’s future is up in the air, with the electric speedster wishing to stay at the Red V.
Crossland faces media after GF ban | 01:52
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The club are showing interest in retaining Sloan following his strong finish to the season but for that to happen, they’ll need to free up some salary cap, which Kerr’s departure would help achieve.
Sloan was more or less forced out of the Dragons and signed a two-year deal with Castleford, but he’s looking for an out following the departure of former Tigers coach Ryan Carr.
Sloan signed on with Castleford while Carr, a former Dragons assistant, was at the helm. But just weeks later, Carr left the club due to personal reasons.
Sloan was one of St. George’s best in the back half of the season.
He scored 10 tries over the past 11 games and recorded 14 line breaks in that span.