Panthers flyer Brian To’o is set to trigger a bidding war after revealing he will test the open market.
The Blues Origin star is off contract at the end of the 2023 season and is free to negotiate with rival clubs from November 1.
He is one of a host of Panthers stars who will field offers from rivals, a list which includes Stephen Crichton, Liam Martin and Spencer Leniu.
The 24-year-old told the Daily Telegraph he was entering uncharted territory.
haven’t had to think about it before or be in a situation where I’ve had to test the market,” To’o told The Daily Telegraph.
“Whatever happens, I’m sure myself, my team, my family will decide from there.”
“I’m trying not to think about it too much, I know November 1 is coming but I’m leaving it up to my manager to deal with it until the season is over and when it’s time to talk about it, I’ll start looking into it.
“I think it might have to wait until after everything, the World Cup, the wedding. It’s exciting but I want to focus on the task at hand before anything else.”
The Panthers are keen to keep the premiership star and have shopped around Charlie Staines in a bid to free up salary cap space.
DOGS MONSTER BID TO KEEP BURTON
The Bulldogs have reportedly tabled a big offer in their bid to keep Matt Burton at the club as rival clubs and codes circle.
The 22-year-old is contracted until the end of next season, and has a player option for 2024, but is one of the game’s in-demand stars, while also being on Rugby Australia’s poaching hit-list.
Channel 9’s Danny Weidler reported on 100% FootyCanterbury had offered Burton a four-year deal worth more than $3 million, with the NSW Origin star keen to stay at the club and work under incoming coach Cameron Ciraldo long-term.
Bulldogs boss Phil Gould would not comment on the claim because of “commercial confidentiality” but Paul Gallen suggested the figure, if true, could represent a bargain.
“You’ve done all right there,” Gallen said to Gould. “That’s less than a million bucks a year“
DRAGONS FRONTRUNNERS AS HUNT CALL LOOMS
A decision from Ben Hunt on his future is likely imminent with the Dragons “in the box seat” to keep him.
The 32-year-old is off-contract at the end of next season and can sign with rival clubs from November 1. The Queensland star said earlier this month he wants to make a call sooner rather than later and Paul Crawley revealed on NRL 360 he would hold key talks this weekend.
“The PM’s (XIII) game is up in Brisbane and he will probably catch up with his manager Col Davis up there and they’ll have a conversation,” Crawley said.
“I understand it the Dragons are probably in the box seat, the Titans are another club that has been mentioned and the Bulldogs he might have had a meeting with them too.”
BENJI WANTS MOSES AT TIGERS
Incoming Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall is reportedly keen on signing Eels halfback Mitchell Moses, but not everybody at the club is sold.
Moses made his NRL debut at the Tigers in 2014 and made 67 appearances for the club before a mid-season move to the Eels in 2017.
Marshall wants him back but several players and officials are against the idea because Moses wasn’t a good fit at the club the first time around, according to WWO’s The Mole.
Moses is off contract at the end of next season which means he can start negotiating with rival clubs for 2024 from November 1.
The Eels are one win away from their first grand final since 2009 as Moses looks to end the club’s premiership drought.
They haven’t won the title since 1986 and if they can beat the Cowboys in Townsville on Friday night they’ll face the Panthers or Rabbitohs in the decider.
Moses has a bonus in his contract which will see his salary jump from $900,000 to $1 million if Parramatta win this year’s grand final.
DRAGONS CIRCLING TIGERS PROP
The Dragons are reportedly interested in securing Tigers prop Zane Musgrove for the 2023 season.
Despite the fact that Musgrove isn’t off contract until the end of 2024, the Tigers could potentially release him if they strike a deal with St George.
The Dragons are currently lacking big bodies up front, losing Daniel Alvaro mid-year to Toulouse along with Tariq Sims (Melbourne) and Josh McGuire (Warrington) at the end of 2022.
The Red V have only locked in Tigers hooker Jacob Liddle for 2023, it looks like Musgrove will be next on their list.
