The Dolphins are reportedly looking to seal a mid-year switch for a Dragons forward but appear even closer to announcing the signing of a gun Bulldogs outside back.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs are looking into offering a former Panthers player an NRL lifeline.
The Knights have responded to chatter two of their best players are on the move, while Cowboys coach Todd Payten has addressed rumours that Luke Brooks is headed to Townsville.
DOLPHINS SET TO SIGN DOGS BACK, EYEING DRAGONS FORWARD
The Dolphins are set to bolster their outside back stocks, reportedly on the verge of announcing the signing of Bulldogs centre Jake Averillo.
The NRL’s newest franchise has already landed standout Brisbane outside back Herbie Farnsworth to add some extra pace and flair to its backline next season.
Now it appears that Averillo, who is without a contract beyond this year, is set to join Farnsworth and the Dolphins in 2024.
“There’s a bit of movement at the Dogs because both of their centres Averillo and Alamoti have been on the open market,” The Daily Telegraph’s Brent Read said on Thursday on Triple M.
“Alamoti met with the Cowboys recently and Jake Averillo met with the Dolphins last week. He met them when they were in Sydney playing Manly. I was down at Manly, I walked past the Novotel and there’s Jake Averillo outside.
“It turns out he just met Wayne Bennett and it looks like Wayne’s got his man. I’d expect an announcement relatively soon. Averillo is Dolphins-bound. It’s a good pick-up for the Dolphins.”
Wendell Sailor branded it a great signing for the Dolphins, describing Averillo as a “strike weapon” for the Bulldogs, with the Bulldogs said to be “disappointed” to be losing him.
“They were just priced out of the market. I imagine they’ll now focus on Alamoti although his price is going up, so they have a fight on their hands,” Read said.
The Dolphins are also reportedly looking to seal a mid-year switch for Dragons forward Josh Kerr pending an immediate release from St George Illawarra.
Newscorp reported Kerr, who has already signed a deal with the Dolphins for 2024 and 2025, is being targeted for a mid-season switch.
Kerr has played in all 14 games for the Dragons this year despite signing a two-year deal with the Dolphins from next season.
The 27-year-old has scored five tries in 68 NRL games for the Dragons since his debut in 2019.
In limited minutes in 2023, Kerr is averaging 93 metres per game and has 18 offloads.
His footwork and ball playing were key reasons behind former Dragons coach Wayne Bennett signing him to add to the Dolphins’ middle rotation next season.
However, the Dolphins could use Kerr to help with their depth after a number of injuries and suspensions in the forwards during the Origin period.
BULLDOGS SET TO OFFER MAY AN NRL LIFELINE
While the Bulldogs may be on the verge of losing Averillo, it appears they could add a premiership-winning utility in Tyrone May.
That is according to The Sunday Telegraph, with May said to have told current team Catalans that he will be returning to Australia at the end of the season.
May, who left Penrith after being sacked by the club in 2021, is set to sign a multi-year contract with the Bulldogs provided it is approved by the NRL.
May had his contract ripped up by the Panthers after a social media post he made in the aftermath of the team’s grand final win over the Rabbitohs.
The former Panthers playmaker uploaded a series of photos to Instagram with lyrics from ‘Fair Trade’ by Drake as the caption.
“And the dirt that they threw on my name/turned to soil and I grew up out it/time for y’all to figure out what y’all gon’ do about it,” May wrote in the caption.
The first photo showed May attending Parramatta Local Court for his trial, with the post referencing his 2019 court case where he pleaded guilty to four charges of intentionally recording an intimate image without consent.
One of May’s victims sought damages for “psychological injury” caused by the fallout from the illegally filmed sex tape.
KNIGHTS REJECT DUO’S EXIT CHATTER... BUT FRIZELL WAIT CONTINUES
The Knights have rejected speculation they’re looking to release Daniel Saifiti (2026) and Bradman Best (2024).
However, Blues second-rower Tyson Frizell’s future remains clouded as he considers approaches from two rival clubs.
Speaking on Triple M, Read also revealed that Frizell’s relationship with soon-to-be Tigers coach Benji Marshall could weigh into the final decision on his future.
“I spoke to him about this yesterday,” Read said.
“I actually asked about Benji Marshall because the Tigers are one of the clubs that are knee-deep in for Tyson and Benji is the guy driving that.
“He’s a good mate with Tyson Frizell... Tyson said he’s got a great friendship with Benji but I’ve got a big decision to make because the Bulldogs are having a look at him as well, he’s in the middle of an Origin period.
“I think he’ll wait until after Origin or at least after this second game before he makes a decision. But certainly the lure of playing under Benji Marshall, given their friendship, is a pretty strong one.”
Frizell though has also just purchased property in Newcastle and has strong connection to the Knights, with Read declaring his “gut feel” is that the 31-year-old will stay put.
“He’s getting close, I think we’ll have a resolution on this one pretty soon but my gut feel is he’ll stay in Newcastle,” Read added.
“I wouldn’t put a line through either of the others just yet.”
As for Saifiti and Bradman, the duo have been linked with an exit amid chatter the club is facing salary cap pressure and the club’s director of football Peter Parr has responded.
“There’s never been a discussion had about releasing Daniel or Bradman,” Parr told the Newcastle Herald.
“I understand that with recruitment and retention, there are always rumours floating around in the world of rugby league. But we have no desire to release either player. It’s our intention that they both end up as long-term players for the Knights.
“I’ve reiterated that to both the players, and their agents, and I’ve never had a discussion about either player with another club.”
Parr said Newcastle are looking to re-sign Best before he hits the open market on November 1.
“That would be our preferred option ... we’ll let Bradman keep playing his footy for the moment, and see what eventuates down the track,” Parr said.
LODGE’S MEETING WITH RIVAL REVEALED
Matt Lodge is on the hunt for a new club after confirming he won’t be offered a new deal by the Roosters beyond this season.
The Roosters have extended veteran prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and signed Panthers young gun Spencer Leniu, leaving little room for Lodge.
But there could be space for the 28-year-old at the Bulldogs with News Corp reporting he met with coach Cameron Ciraldo last week.
The Bulldogs have not tabled an offer but according to the report, Ciraldo wanted to meet the star forward.
The club could have a spot to fill in the forward pack should English recruit Luke Thompson not be re-signed beyond this year.
Lodge has played 109 NRL games across stints with the Tigers, Broncos, Warriors and Roosters.
COWBOYS SHUT DOWN BROOKS RUMOURS
Cowboys coach Todd Payten has hosed down suggestions the club is interested in Luke Brooks to replace Chad Townsend.
Townsend has been linked to the Super League despite being contracted to the Cowboys until the end of 2024.
Meanwhile, Brooks knocked back the Wests Tigers’ extension to test his value on the open market — which fuelled the rumours that he could sign with the Cowboys.
But Payten told reporters on Thursday that the rumours were untrue.
“I will say this about Luke Brooks. I have got a high opinion of him as a player and I think the way that he has handled himself over the past several years, with the media scrutiny on top of him, shows great mental fortitude,” he said.
“His best footy is still in front of him. Wherever he ends up the club is going to be in good shape, but it’s just not going to be here.
“I approached Chad a number of weeks ago about whether he was homesick and he told me then that he is really settled.
“I gave him my backing as coach of this club that he is not going anywhere.”
Meanwhile, Townsend’s manager, Chris Orr, denied shopping the veteran halfback to Super League clubs.
“Chad is contracted to the Cowboys for another year and he is honouring his deal,” Orr told News Corp.
“I spoke to several English clubs about my off-contract list of players but Chad is not on that list as he’s contracted to the Cowboys.
“The Cowboys have been great to Chad, he’s been great for them, and he’s so happy in Townsville he recently bought a new house there, so there’s no reason for him to leave.”
