The Tigers are making moves in the forward pack with yet another player a chance of getting a tap on the shoulder.<\/p>\n
According to All Out Rugby League<\/a>, Royce Hunt may be given permission to look at other options despite being signed until the end of 2027.<\/p>\n Hunt joined the Tigers this season on a three-year deal but has fallen short of expectations, playing just 13 NRL games. <\/p>\n FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer ><\/a><\/p>\n DCE staying clear of questions on future | 04:53<\/p>\n The report about his potential early exit comes just days after it was revealed fellow Tiger Jack Bird was given permission to talk to rivals early<\/a>.<\/p>\n Bird has another season left on his contract but has reportedly been told he\u2019s free to leave at the end of this season if he can find a new deal elsewhere. <\/p>\n The Tigers are busy making moves to settle their roster for 2025 and beyond. They\u2019ve signed Kai Pearce-Paul, Mav Geyer and Jock Madden from the Knights, Panthers and Broncos respectively, while also extending Adam Doueihi and Starford To\u2019a. <\/p>\n RUGBY CLUBS EYE DOGS STAR<\/p>\n Viliame Kikau is bound to attract plenty of interest if he becomes a free agent on November 1 \u2014 an that interest will reportedly extend to another code too.<\/p>\n According to \u2018The Triple M Whisperer\u2019 \u2014 a segment on Triple M\u2019s breakfast show \u2014 a host of rugby union clubs are keeping an eye on him. <\/p>\n \u201cViliame Kikau is reportedly in the sights of seven overseas rugby union clubs,\u201d The Triple M Whisper said in a segment on Triple M Breakfast with Beau, Tarsh & Woodsy.<\/p>\n \u201cKikau is off-contract at the end of 2026 and the carrot of a Rugby World Cup in Australia representing Fiji might be big enough to persuade Kikau to make the code switch.\u201d<\/p>\n Kikau has been key to turning the fortunes around at Belmore \u2014 so much so he\u2019s stepped up to captain the team while Stephen Crichton was on Origin duties this year.<\/p>\n The 30-year-old is in his third season with the Bulldogs and has another to go. If the Dogs don\u2019t lock him down before November 1 he\u2019ll be able to attract offers for 2027 and beyond, <\/p>\n Eligibility “solution” & brutal truth | 03:23<\/p>\n TINO TO RETURN TO THE STORM?<\/p>\n Brandon Smith has revealed a shock \u201cwhisper\u201d regarding the future of Titans superstar Tino Fa\u2019asuamaleaui in a huge curveball surrounding his contract decision.<\/p>\n Smith, who is currently playing his trade for the Rabbitohs, was teammates with Fa\u2019asuamaleaui during the pair\u2019s time at the Storm.<\/p>\n And the Melbourne club are at the centre of the rumblings Smith has become aware of, which could see Fa\u2019asuamaleaui return to the club he began his NRL career at.<\/p>\n \u201cI heard a little whisper.. I heard something about Melbourne,\u201d Smith said on The Bye Round podcast.<\/p>\n \u201cNelson\u2019s (Asofa-Solomona) contract\u2019s coming up. That\u2019s all I\u2019m saying, and he is on big money.\u201d<\/p>\n Smith insinuated that the Storm could make a big decision regarding the future of Nelson Asofa-Solomona to clear space for Fa\u2019asuamaleaui\u2019s arrival.<\/p>\n However, the Kiwi international is currently contracted until the end of the 2027 season, while Fa\u2019asuamaleaui would be hoping to sign a contract for that same year.<\/p>\n The Titans gun is set to hit the open market on November 1 due to a get-out clause in his mammoth $1.2 million per-year deal which could see his depart following the 2026 season.<\/p>\n Tino Fa’asuamaleaui could be set to make a blockbuster switch.Source: Supplied<\/p>\n The Perth Bears, Bulldogs and Dragons are also reportedly interested in his services, while the Titans will reportedly do what they can to retain their captain.<\/p>\n \u201cFor Tino and what he is dealing with at the Titans, he obviously doesn\u2019t like this situation,\u201d James Graham said.<\/p>\n \u201cIf he goes to Perth, you have to assume they are a work in progress. If he goes to the Dragons, they aren\u2019t screaming finals, although they are improving and they are achieving enough results. <\/p>\n \u201cThey aren\u2019t that far away, and maybe Tino could be that person, but I think they need some more creativity in their halves.<\/p>\n \u201cBut if Tino maybe just thinks I want to win, then it\u2019s less about the money and more about the destination.\u201d<\/p>\n EXILED ROOSTERS\u2019 BIG MOVE<\/p>\n The race for Sandon Smith\u2019s signature is reportedly heating up, with one club reportedly in the box seat to secure the talented playmaker\u2019s services.<\/p>\n With Daly Cherry-Evans set to arrive at the Roosters, and the emergence of Hugo Savala, Smith is set to be squeezed out of the Roosters.<\/p>\n According to Smith\u2019s manager Gavin Orr, the Raiders, Dragons, Knights, Cowboys and Rabbitohs have all expressed their interest in his services.<\/p>\n \u201cCanberra, the Cowboys, Dragons, Souths and Newcastle have all asked me where things are at with Sandon,\u201d Orr said to WWOS.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWe can\u2019t talk at this stage but it seems likely he will move on.<\/p>\n \u201cHe has been man of the match in NSW Cup the past two weeks but the first grade is also playing well so he can\u2019t get a crack.\u201d<\/p>\n However, according to The Daily Telegraph\u2019s Phil Rothfield, the Knights are his likely destination.<\/p>\n \u201cThe mail I\u2019m getting out of Newcastle is that Sandon Smith, on Wednesday, is driving from Bondi Junction to Newcastle,\u201d Rothfield said on Triple M.<\/p>\n \u201cTo look at their high-performance centre and all their facilities with the view of joining Newcastle on a two or three-year deal as a utility player.\u201d<\/p>\n 350! Ben Hunt preps for milestone | 00:53<\/p>\n Meanwhile, The Australian\u2019s Brent Read touched on the conversations he\u2019d had with two other clubs.<\/p>\n \u201cHe spoke to Ricky last week, didn\u2019t go down to Canberra but caught up with Ricky,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd the Cowboys, I believe, have put an offer of a two or three-year deal maybe to Sandon Smith as well.\u201d<\/p>\n BRONCOS LAND REYNOLDS SUCCESOR<\/p>\n The Broncos have reportedly landed the signing of young gun Tom Duffy, who will reportedly sign a one-year contract in the coming days.<\/p>\n According to Code Sports, the 22-year-old knocked back Super League suitors to remain in the NRL, switching from North Queensland to Brisbane.<\/p>\n Broncos bosses reportedly are hoping veteran halfback Adam Reynolds can mentor Duffy in 2026 before he takes over in the No.7 jersey in 2027.<\/p>\n Ben Hunt is also expected to hang up the boots at the end of the 2026 season, opening up two spots in the club\u2019a halves and hooker ranks.<\/p>\n The Brisbane club also have young gun Coby Black in their squad, while Jock Madden will make a move back to the Tigers.<\/p>\n Duffy is the same age as five-eighth Ezra Mam, and with Black reportedly not ready for the rigours of the NRL, the former Cowboy could leapfrog the young gun in the pecking order.<\/p>\n The talented halfback was handed the reins at the Cowboys in Round 1 but struggled to cement his position, playing only six games this season.<\/p>\n North Queensland powerbrokers did reportedly table an offer to retain Duffy but could not meet his asking price.<\/p>\n ‘Screws them up in the head’ | 03:21<\/p>\n \u201cHe definitely has potential to be a starting half in the NRL,\u201d Cowboys football boss Michael Luck said.<\/p>\n \u201cTom is very smart and understands the game. He works hard and has a good kicking game and gets his body in front defensively, so he ticks a lot of boxes for any future club.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have salary-cap pressures like any club and you can\u2019t keep everyone. We wish Tom all the best for his future career.\u201d<\/p>\n RAIDERS DUO IN TALKS TO EXTEND<\/p>\n