On the hunt for a dummy-half for some time, the Canterbury Bulldogs have finally landed their man as yet another spine shake-up looms.

Despite meeting and having held talks with Gold Coast Titans hooker Sam Verrills, the Bulldogs have instead opted to sign Freddy Lussick from the Penrith Panthers, per Code Sports.

Watch every game of every round of the Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.

In what will be Lussick’s fifth NRL club, it is understood that he has agreed to join the Bulldogs on a two-year contract for the 2027 and 2028 seasons.

Previously with the Roosters, Dragons and Warriors before making the move to Penrith in the off-season, he will not move to the club before the June 30 deadline, as he is currently the main back-up to Mitch Kenny at the Panthers.

In ten matches this season, he has controlled the ruck with 234 running metres, four tries, 23 dummy-half runs, one try assist and four line-breaks.

His pending arrival could see back-up hooker Jake Turpin moved on as he remains without a contract for next season at the Belmore-based side.

Meanwhile, Lipoi Hopoi, Kurt Mann, Samuel Hughes, Marcelo Montoya and Sean O’Sullivan also remain without deals for next season.

It could also mean that Bailey Hayward could permanently be shifted to lock after having struggled in the No.9 jersey since taking over from Reed Mahoney who joined the North Queensland Cowboys at the end of last year.

Freddy Lussick.Source: Supplied

TWO CLUBS EYE STORM BACK-ROWER

The St George Illawarra Dragons have set their sights on a new player as they continue to rebuild and reshape their roster for the 2027 season and beyond.

Already signing Connor Watson, Keaon Koloamatangi, Luke Metcalf, Phillip Sami and Scott Drinkwater, Wide World of Sports reports that they have now set their sights on Shawn Blore from the Melbourne Storm.

Aiming to return to Sydney after a three-year stint at the Storm, Blore runs off-contract at the end of this season and his future at his current club has continually been thrown into doubt.

However, the Dragons face stiff competition with the Wests Tigers, who are also understood to be keeping a close eye on his services.

Surprisingly, the 25-year-old was previously at the Tigers for whom he made 33 appearances across four seasons between 2020 and 2023.

On around $450,000 a season at the moment, Blore could very well earn a pay rise as rivals try to lure the back-rower away from a team that has made back-to-back grand finals.

Shawn Blore.Source: Getty Images