Graham

Tigers coach Michael Maguire has settled on his coaching set up for 2022 after Ben Gardiner and Nathan Cayless were confirmed as his assistant coaches.

As for Joey Leilua who was less than complimentary to Madge on Twitter in the last few days: You reckon Joey will go for this?

What will Ricky Stuart be thinking? Letting Josh Hodgson go will free up $800,000 salary cap space. Tom Starling was there to fill Hodgson's boots, but Starling is again in trouble with the law. Maybe he will be wondering if he's going to be dealing with more off field Starling problems in the season ahead. Starling has been charged with an offence but hasn't yet been found guilty on a court of law.

Wests Tigers- speculation that they might be losing star forward Luciano Leilua on the open market after delayed negotiations over a contract upgrade and extension. The Daily Telegraph reported Leilua could elect to hit the open market on November 1 if his contract demands are not met. The 25-year-old is contracted until the end of 2022 on a deal worth $450,000 a season, but is seeking a contract upgrade to $700,000 for next year. If he is granted the upgrade Leilua would then negotiate a contract extension to remain at the club for a further four years until 2026. Leilua is coming off his best season in first grade and was one of the Tigers’ best players in 2021, with his stocks at an all-time high. Leilua’s contract talks have dragged on since August due to delays associated with conjecture around coach Michael Maguire future, former director of football Adam Hartigan’s departure, the club’s internal review and the appointment of Tim Sheens. Leilua is getting restless with no deal for an extension on the table with the deadline just over a week away.

Not sure if we’ve mentioned Jackson Hastings moving back to Oz and West’s Tigers?

Paul Momirovski signs three-year deal with Sydney Roosters (starting 2022)

Who would have thunk it?

I read this… ”There’s still a chance St George Illawarra forward Tariq Sims will play for the Dragons next season, despite being told to explore his options. The veteran has one year left to run on his deal, which is believed to be worth around $800,000, but the Dragons have refused to extend his contract beyond the end of the 2022 season. Sims has spoken to several clubs and has been linked with the Sydney Roosters, but no deal has been done yet.”

“The Gold Coast Titans have refreshed their brand as they look to capitalise on their exciting crop of young and dangerous players, unveiling a new logo to take them forward. "The re-designed logo brings in the Titans' core colours that were designed to reflect our Gold Coast home and modernises the iconic emblem," a club statement reads. "The contemporary logo brings a steely determination, reflective of the ambitions of the current group of Titans players, coaches and staff, as we strive to make our communities proud, inspire them with energy and unite them through success." So now you know.

Old logo

Seems there’s a trend to adjust/update club logos. Now Titans have changed their club logo:

The bloke just lost his way.

It seems strange that the system finds someone guilty of the offence, or even as here that the offender pleads guilty and whilst given a penalty, is not given a conviction. ... in other news, Yellow Wiggle Emma quits ...

I see Joey Leilua has fired a parting shot at Michael Maguire for an alleged untruth about a train-and-trial offer (or not) to him and a dig at Maguire for as Leilua saw it always blaming the players and never himself.

FIned for being disrespectful to a trophy? Maybe then although judged not to be the ones to brak up the trophy they were the ones to put the two figures into a child's stroller?

Tigers move to recruit Raiders’ hooker Josh Hodgson has been put on hold to allow new director of football Tim Sheens to look over the roster. The Tigers announced last week that football boss Adam Hartigan would leave the club effective immediately, while at the same time Sheens will begin his new role at Concord. One of Sheens’ responsibilities will be to oversee the Tigers’ salary cap situation, which has caused a delay in all current contract negotiations, including Hodgson’s. The Tigers are set to unveil their new-look football department in the coming days. The Canberra Times reported that Panthers hooker Api Koroisau is also of interest to the Tigers.

On 1st November, Cody Walker will be free to negotiate with rival clubs for 2023 and beyond, so it’s no surprise that the Rabbitohs are moving to lock him in on a new deal. The 31-year-old is earning around the $650,000 mark on a deal that expires next season. But he is in a good position for a pay rise after a great season in which he was named the Dally M Five-eighth of the year. By the way Rabbitohs put a clause in Wayne Bennett’s contract that prevents him from poaching any staff or players for a six-month period after the expiry of his contract on 1st Nov. By then, all of the Rabbitohs priority signings could well be locked in.

Dolphins: While a number of Storm players may be on the hit list, Craig Bellamy has promised to block any contracted Melbourne players from leaving early for the new franchise. Bennett, who is expected to sign a three-year deal with the Redcliffe-based club shortly, has spoken publicly about his desire to build a team with a “Queensland look”. Storm five-eighth Cameron Munster would be one target along with fellow Origin stars Christian Welch, Felise Kaufusi and Harry Grant. Brandon Smith has also been linked to the new franchise as he looks to make a big call on his future. Welch, Kaufusi and Smith are both off-contract at the end of 2022 while Grant has a mutual option for 2023.

Warriors' Reece Walsh has escaped conviction after being arrested on the Gold Coast and charged with one count of possessing a prohibited substance last month. The 19-year-old was arrested in Surfers Paradise on September 26 for disobeying a police officer’s order to move on. He was taken back to the station and found to be in possession of cocaine. Walsh attended Southport Court on Monday morning and according to News Corp has been placed on a good behaviour bond and fined $400, however no conviction was recorded.

Jason Ryles and Brett Morris have formally agreed to join the Sydney Roosters as members of the coaching staff. An official statement from the club states both players will be assistant coaches throughout the 2022 campaign and beyond. Ryles, most well-known for his time at the St George Illawarra Dragons during a career which also saw him play for the Roosters and Melbourne Storm, as well as a stint in France with the Catalans Dragons, has since been on Craig Bellamy's assistant coaching staff in Melbourne. He is widely regarded as the next man likely to be in line for a first-grade coaching gig following his apprenticeship, and Craig Fitzgibbon being snapped by the Cronulla Sharks for 2022 out of the Roosters' system. Ryles has signed a three-year deal to be on Trent Robinson's staff however, indicating he may have no intention of coaching at the top level yet. It's a major coup for the Roosters, but equally as impressive is their decision to sign Brett Morris on a two-year deal. Morris only retired from the club in the middle of this season following a career-ending injury.

Dolphins attracting criticism in some quartersfor dropping the Redcliffe part of their name.

The worst kept secret in rugby league is out with master coach Wayne Bennett to coach the Dolphins on a three-year deal from 2023. The Sydney Morning Herald reported outgoing Rabbitohs coach Bennett has agreed to terms with the NRL’s expansion franchise when they enter the competition in two years’ time. The 71-year-old has hired veteran agent Sam Ayoub to secure the deal which is for two seasons with the potential for a third in 2025.

Reagan Campbell-Gillard has informed the Eels he won’t be taking up the option in his contract for the 2023 season as he weighs up a move to the Dolphins.

Angus Crichton has reportedly agreed to a two-year extension with the Roosters, putting to bed any concern that he may switch to rugby union ahead of the 2023 World Cup.

South Sydney have signed Michael Chee Kam on a one-year deal for 2022.