WELCOME to Market Watch, where you can find the latest news on player movements at your club.
From transfers, new deals, rumours and retirements, get all the good oil here:
CHERRY-EVANS BACKFLIP FIRMING
MANLY legend Cliff Lyons has urged Daly Cherry-Evans to stay at Brookvale, with the club on the verge of completing the ultimate U-turn.
A Cherry-Evans backflip is gaining momentum, with the Sea Eagles pulling out all the stops to convince the young Test star to reject a deal to join the Gold Coast next season.
The club has just over three weeks left to strike a deal with the halfback, with the Titans unable to register their big money four-year deal with the NRL until after round 13.
“Everyone is hopeful,” Lyons told foxsports.com.au of Cherry-Evans changing his mind.
“If he stays that makes things a bit easier.
“Losing your key playmakers at one time is daunting for any side.”
Having lost Anthony Watmough to Parramatta last year and Kieran Foran set to leave at the end of the season, the Sea Eagles look likely to get one of their own back.
Darcy Lussick is close to agreeing on a three-year deal which will see him return to the club he made his NRL debut with in 2011.
The Sea Eagles are also firming as favourite to secure the signature of Gold Coast skipper Nate Myles for next season, on a three-year deal worth close to $1.5 million.
Sea Eagles coach Geoff Toovey appeared on NRL360 on Wednesday night where he was quizzed on their tactic of targeting friends of Cherry-Evans.
When asked if the tactic works Toovey jokingly replied: “I’ll let you know in a couple of weeks.”
Should the club lose Cherry-Evans, it is being reported that Brisbane would be willing to release Holden Cup halfback Ashley Taylor to take up an NRL deal as he is stuck behind Ben Hunt and Anthony Milford in the pecking order.
According to Lyons, who wore the No.6 for NSW and Australia, young outside back Tom Trbojevic could be a possible replacement for Kieran Foran and play five-eighth for the Sea Eagles next season.
“We have young Trbojevic — I know he is a fullback but I’m sure he used to play half or five-eighth before,” Lyons offered.
“I’d be looking at him to move up to the halves at one stage even though he is only young, he has a bit of talent about him … There is a bit of potential there.
“If you can’t get a top liner you go for your juniors.”
Like Lyons, Cherry-Evans won a Clive Churchill Medal while playing for the Sea Eagles and Cliffy has urged the 26-year-old to remain with the club next season.
“We have class at Manly and we’re a top-line side,” Lyons said.
“He is going to be doing a lot of work up there (on the Gold Coast), going to new ground, at a new club, so it’s going to take him a couple of years to fit in there.
“Staying at Manly he won’t have to go through that change.”
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GREEN TO STAY A COWBOY
Last week we told you Cowboys coach Paul Green was close to a two-year contract extension. Since then rumours have swirled around that he and club officials have been butting heads but Green set the record straight on NRL360 on Wednesday night.
“There is no issues at all between myself and the club,” Green said.
“I’m happy to stay and the club want to keep me
“We’re just working through the process and I expect that will sort itself out sooner rather than later.”
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GIDLEY MAKES WAY FOR YOUNG GUNS
Newcastle skipper Kurt Gidley is set to leave the NRL at the end of the year, a decision which was influenced by the influx of young talent pushing for a spot in the Knights first-grade side.
Gidley announced on Tuesday he will leave at the end of the year to take upa one-year deal with Warrington. The contract also includes an option for a second season.
The 32-year-old said having the likes of speedster Jake Mamo off-contract it was important the club spend their money with a look to the future.
“I spoke to (CEO and brother) Matt (Gidley) before the season kicked off and I let him know that it was looking like it was going to be my last year,” Gidley said.
“There were plenty of young players coming off contracts, who have come through our juniors like Sione, Chanel and Pat (Mata’utia), as well as Dane (Gagai) who has been a great buy for the club.
“I really wanted to see those types of players re-sign and I would have been disappointed to see them go to another club.
“Then there is still Jake (Mamo) who hopefully can be re-signed as well. So that was a factor, I didn’t want to keep out some young talented players, who I love watch playing myself.”
Mamo has recently been linked with a move to Manly.
The Knights are hopeful of retaining the speedster who has been playing fullback in their NSW Cup side.
They are also keen on extending the deal of 23-year-old prop Pat Vaivai, who made his NRL debut last year.
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JOHNSON WEIGHS UP BIG MONEY
Australian winger Alex Johnston is weighing up an offer of around $400,000 a year to join the Roosters next season.
The Roosters have the space in the salary cap following the departure of Tuivasa-Sheck to the Warriors, while winger Daniel Tupou has been given permission to talk to other clubs.
The club are expected to soon announce that Kiwi international Shaun Kenny-Dowall has re-signed on a two-year deal.
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HASTINGS HAS ATTITUDE
Last week we revealed that a former NRL star told us young Roosters gun Jackson Hastings was on the nose with the club due to some attitude problems.
This week the talented 19-year-old addressed the rumours and confirmed reports of a bad attitude are in fact true.
“It’s probably right, you know (the rumours regarding his attitude). In the past coming up through the grades I did honestly have a bad issue with my attitude,” Hastings told APN.
It is an area the son of Roosters legend Kevin “Horrie” Hastings admits he is working on.
“I just need to control my body language, and control what I say at what times,” he said.
“But I do understand why people think that (about a perceived attitude problem), yeah.
“It’s a work in progress.”
Hastings has recently been linked with Penrith, as the club looks for immediate halves cover with Peter Wallace battling a knee issue.
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DRAGONS SACK DANE
St George Illawarra terminated the contract of Dane Nielsen effective on Tuesday following breaches of his obligations under his NRL Contract.
Nielsen was involved in an incident in Cronulla in late March 22 and was stood down from all club activities.
Two months later, the club tore up his deal following a thorough investigation.
“Whilst Dane will no longer officially be a part of the Dragons, the club has offered to assist him with any necessary support from an education and welfare perspective,” Dragons CEO Peter Doust said.
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HOPPA AN EEL
There have been rumblings that Will Hopoate could be heading to Canberra or even back to Manly next season but the 22-year-old is set to announce a new three-year-deal with the Eels.
“No, he has agreed to terms with the Eels,” Hopoate’s manager Tyran Smith said of rumours he could leaves the Eels at the end of the year.
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LATEST RUMOURS
Veteran Wests Tigers winger Pat Richards is looking like he will re-sign with the club on a one-year deal.
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Roosters five-eighth James Maloney is edging closer to signing a new deal with the Tri-colours for another three seasons.
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If you have heard a rumour you want to share with us, tweet us: @FoxNRL, @Nath—Ryan or email <nathan.ryan@news.com.au>..
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OFF CONTRACT LIST FOR 2015
BRONCOS
Marmin Barba, Mitchell Dodds, Alex Glenn, Jon Green, Jordan Kahu, Todd Lowrie, Francis Molo, Jayden Nikorima, Kodi Nikorima, Joe Ofahengaue, David Stagg, Zach Strasser, Sam Thaiday, Daniel Vidot
New deal: Josh McGuire (2 years), Andrew McCullough (2 years)
RAIDERS
Jack Ahearn, Glen Buttriss, Mitchell Cornish, Mitchell Cronin, Jeremy Hawkins, Mark Nicholls, Kyle O’Donnell, Luke Page, Jordan Rapana, David Shillington, Bill Tupou
New deal: Jarrad Kennedy (2 years), Elliot Whitehead (joining from Catalans Dragons in 2016 — 2 year deal)
Leaving: Dane Tilse (Mid-season release — Hull KR)
BULLDOGS
Damien Cook, Trent Hodkinson, Jacob Loko, Pat O’Hanlon, Sam Perrett, Tyrone Phillips, Chase Stanley, Corey Thompson
New deal: Sam Kasiano (3 years)
SHARKS
Tinirau Arona, Blake Ayshford, Paul Gallen, Nathan Gardner, Michael Gordon, Chris Heighington, Saulala Houma, Ricky Leutele, Pat Politoni, Matt Prior, Jeff Robson, Junior Roqica, Sami Sauiluma, Kyle Stanley, Sam Tagataese, Anthony Tupou
NRL SuperCoach: Winners & Losers
NRL SuperCoach: Winners & Losers
TITANS
Caleb Binge, Davin Crampton, Jamie Dowling, Kalifa Faifai Loa, Beau Falloon, Jamal Fogarty, Christian Hazard, Mark Ioane, Nate Myles, Eddy Pettybourne, Ben Ridge, James Roberts, Brad Tighe, Agnatius Paasi
New deal: Kane Elgey (2 years)
Leaving: Aidan Sezer (Raiders — 3 year deal)
SEA EAGLES
Tyson Andrews, Cheyse Blair, Michael Chee-Kam, James Hasson, Justin Horo, Jack Littlejohn, Dunamis Lui, Willie Mason, Siosaia Vave, David Williams
New deal: Steve Matai (2 years), Matt Ballin (2 years), Clinton Gutherson (2 years), Jake and Tom Trbojevic (contract extension until end of 2017)
Leaving: Daly Chery-Evans (Titans — 4 years), Kieran Foran (Eels — 4 years)
STORM
Nelson Asofa-Solomon, Dean Britt, Matt Duffie, Mahe Fonua, Hymel Hunt, Felise Kaufusi, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, Kurt Mann, Shaun Nona, Travis Robinson, Billy Slater, Dayne Weston
New deal: Jordan McLean (signed until end of 2017)
WARRIORS
Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Glen Fisiiahi, Nathan Friend, Ben Henry, Sebastine Ikahihifo, Ngani Laumape, Mason Lino, Suaia Matagi, Api Pewhairangi, Dominique Peyroux, Chad Townsend, Albert Vete, Jonathan Wright
New deal: Ben Matulino (2 years), Konrad Hurrell (3 years), Manu Vatuvei (3 years)
Leaving: Sam Tomkins (Super League — Wigan), Sam Rapira (Super League — TBC).
KNIGHTS
James Elias, David Fa’alogo, Jaelen Feeney, Marvin Filipo, Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Jake Mamo, Clint Newton, Chad Redman, Korbin Sims, Jeremy Smith, Kade Snowden
New deal: Tyler Randall (2 years), Chanel Mata’utia, Pat Mata’utia, Sione Mata’utia (3 years), Dane Gagai (2 years)
Leaving: Beau Scott (Eels — 3 years), Kurt Gidley (Super League — Warrington)
COWBOYS
John Asiata, Scott Bolton, Glenn Hall, Ben Hannant, Cameron King, Ethan Lowe, Robert Lui, Hezron Murgha, Zac Santo, Ben Spina, Ray Thompson
New deal: Jason Taumalolo (2 years — end of 2017), Michael Morgan (3 years).
EELS
Daniel Alvaro, Beau Champion, Will Hopoate, Luke Kelly, Darcy Lussick, Ryan Morgan, Pauli Pauli, Kaysa Pritchard, Reece Robinson, Chris Sandow, Peni Terepo, Joseph Ualesi, Adam Quinlan
New deal: John Folau (2 years), Brad Takairangi (2 years), Bureta Faraimo (1 year), Danny Wicks (1 year).
NRL SuperCoach: Buy, hold, sell
NRL SuperCoach: Buy, hold, sell
PANTHERS
Sam Anderson, Lewis Brown, Adam Docker, Isaac John, Jeremy Latimore, Sika Manu, Ben Murdoch-Masila, David Simmons, Will Smith, Shaun Spence
New deal: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (1 year), Tyrone Peachy (until end of 2017), Waqa Blake (until end of 2017).
Leaving: Brent Kite (Retiring), Nigel Plum (Retiring).
RABBITOHS
Kirisome Auva’a, Bryson Goodwin, Aaron Gray, Chris Grevsmuhl, Alex Johnston, Ben Lowe, Sione Masima, Cameron McInnes, Daryl Millard, Joel Reddy, Kyle Turner
New deal: Adam Reynolds (2 years), Luke Keary (1 year), David Tyrrell (2 years) and Thomas Burgess (1 year), Darren Nicholls (2 years)
DRAGONS
Leeson Ah Mau, Mike Cooper, Ben Creagh, Shannon Crook, Craig Garvey, Yaw Kiti Glymin, Nathan Green, Beau Henry, Heath L’Estrange, Jake Marketo, Peter Mata’utia, Will Matthews, Eto Nabuli, Jason Nightingale, George Rose, Shannon Wakeman, Justin Hunt
Leaving: Trent Merrin (Penrith — 3 years), Kris Keating (released), Dane Nielsen (released)
ROOSTERS
Blake Ferguson, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Samisoni Langi, James Maloney, Matt McIlwrick, Lagi Setu, Jack Siejka, Nathan Stapleton, Daniel Tupou, Willie Manu
New deal: Aidan Guerra (2 years), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (2 years), Dylan Napa (2 years), Siua Taukeiaho (2 years)
Leaving: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Warriors — 3 years)
TIGERS
Jack Buchanan, Dene Halatau, Kyle Lovett, Joel Luani, Keith Lulia, Tim Moltzen, Pat Richards, Kurtis Rowe, Brenden Santi, Ava Seumanufagai, John Sila
New deal: Matt Lodge (2 years), Kevin Naiqama (2 years), Tim Simona (2 years)
Leaving: Shannon McDonnell (Released — to join Super League club St Helens)
Originally published as Why DCE may stay with Sea Eagles</nathan.ryan@news.com.au>
