On the lookout for a new club for the 2027 NRL season, New Zealand Warriors front-rower Mitchell Barnett has attracted the interest of another suitor as he prepares to return to Australia.
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A two-time representative for the NSW Blues, Barnett who will depart the Warriors at the end of this season, is one of the most high-profile names on the open market after he was granted an early release due to personal reasons.
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Already linked to the Brisbane Broncos and Parramatta Eels, two sources revealed to foxsports.com.au that the St George Illawarra Dragons are expected to make a play for his services, making a three-way shootout to land Barnett.
This comes after the Dragons have already signed South Sydney Rabbitohs star Keaon Koloamatangi on a lucrative multi-year contract, which will begin at the start of the 2027 season.
It is understood that they have the funds in their salary cap to sign him, and they also have a plethora of young forwards who could be traded to the Warriors if a player swap is demanded from Barnett’s current team.
“I’ve had a preliminary chat with a few clubs and now we will take things forward and see what teams can afford,” Barnett’s manager Chris Orr told Code Sports earlier in the week.
“The Broncos are certainly one of those teams Mitch would be keen to talk to. I’ve already had several calls from a number of clubs including the Broncos and Eels.”
Which club will Barnett sign with?Source: Getty Images
FUTURE OF YOUNG KNIGHT IN LIMBO
The future of young Newcastle Knights forward Wil Sullivan is in the air after he suffered another concussion during pre-season training.
Arriving at the club in 2025 from the North Queensland Cowboys, the former Under-19s Queensland representative suffered five separate concussions in his first year at the Knights.
As a result of this, The Newcastle Herald reports that there are now concerns about him taking to the rugby league field again due to his health.
Sullivan is contracted until the end of 2028.
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Wil Sullivan joined the Knights from the Cowboys at the start of last year.Source: News Corp Australia