Moves, Rumours,Judiciary, Injuries ...

[The Rocket]

4 hours ago, Graham said:

Jack de Belin’s trial is in progress, and this coming week Jarryd Hayne’s trial  (two sexual assault charges) gets underway (Monday)

 

4 hours ago, DoubleD said:

Has Xerri received his punishment yet?

 

4 hours ago, DoubleD said:

Plenty to keep us entertained in the off season then

Graham and DoubleD you have both summed up our off-seasons entertainment perfectly. 

It` de Belin, then it`s Hayne with the Xerri on top.

Edited November 21, 2020 by The Rocket

[Graham]

1 hour ago, The Rocket said:

 

 

Graham and DoubleD you have both summed up our off-seasons entertainment perfectly. 

It` de Belin, then it`s Hayne with the Xerri on top.

And so it continues...

Quote

Former NRL star and current Titans assistant coach Michael Gordon has been stood down by the club after he was charged over alleged drug offences. 

“Developing story, Gold Coast Titans assistant coach and veteran NRL player Michael Gordon has been charged over drugs offences as part of major operation on Gold Coast,” Michell Bishop tweeted.

“Titans have stood him down pending investigation.”

 

[Graham]

The Bulldogs have reportedly entered the race for veteran Benji Marshall should a move for Matt Burton fall through.

Burton is tipped to join the Bulldogs on a two-year deal worth $800,000 from 2022 unless he is released early from his contract from the Panthers.

Apparently the Bulldogs have discussed Marshall as a stop-gap option for 2021 to add experience to their young halves stocks.

Mashall has previously been linked to a move to the Sharks as a replacement for Shaun Johnson who will miss most of next season as he recovers from an Achilles injury.

Edited November 22, 2020 by Graham

[Graham]

 

Manly Sea Eagles player Keith Titmuss has passed away after falling ill following training on Monday morning.

Titmuss, 20, was taken to a Northern Beaches hospital and passed away shortly after.

Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler expressed his grief after hearing of the news.

“We are all devastated by this news,’’ Hasler said.

[Graham]

I see now that Josh Addo-Carr’s ambition now is to sign for Bulldogs for 2022.

So for ambition, should that read ‘money before common sense’?

[Graham]

Manly Sea Eagles have announced the signing of former Dragons winger Jason Saab on a three-year deal.

Manly confirmed the signing on Friday, not long after the Dragons confirmed Saab’s release.

Saab, 20, requested a release from St George Illawarra mid-season. It was rejected by the Dragons with the club wanting to hold onto the towering winger.

However, the club has now agreed to let Saab walk from the final two years of his contract.

[Graham]

Roosters are in negotiations to sign James Tedesco for a further three years. No doubt eye watering figures will be discussed.

[DavidM]

19 hours ago, Graham said:

Manly Sea Eagles have announced the signing of former Dragons winger Jason Saab on a three-year deal.

Manly confirmed the signing on Friday, not long after the Dragons confirmed Saab’s release.

Saab, 20, requested a release from St George Illawarra mid-season. It was rejected by the Dragons with the club wanting to hold onto the towering winger.

However, the club has now agreed to let Saab walk from the final two years of his contract.

He grumbled and moaned until he got released . Is Manly any nearer his home ? If he was that good he’d have played more in an average Dragons side 

[Graham]

Wests Tigers have continued their roster rebuild with the signing of versatile forward Joe Ofahengauie.

The 25-year-old heads to Concord on a three-year deal after Brisbane confirmed they were releasing him from the final two seasons of his contract.

[Graham]

South Sydney Rabbitohs are mourning the passing of two former players over the past weekend, Life Member John ‘Mick’ Falla and Wally Hourn.

[Graham]

New Zealand Warriors boss Cameron George is set to meet with the NRL to decide a location for two separated groups of Warriors players to train as Nathan Brown plans to introduce his seven recruits to their new teammates ahead of 2021.

Brown recently completed his fortnight of isolation and quarantine in Auckland and is training the Warriors’ New Zealand-based players locally while assistants Justin Morgan and Craig Hodges take charge of the other half of players currently situated in Kiama, New South Wales.

George is set to meet with league officials on Monday before calling all Warriors players and collectively via Zoom to plan the club’s pre-season.

The Warriors look likely to return to Tamworth ahead of trials against Melbourne and Gold Coast, with George stating the club would prefer to be at the comfort of their own home playing in Auckland.

“It is all subject to the borders, naturally, and at this point in time they are shut so our plan in the event that there is no change is to go to Australia and join up with our Australian-based group,” George told NRL.com.

“The Australian-based players are in Kiama but due to the size of our group and the time of the year there is no chance of getting on the coast anywhere so we would be looking at Tamworth as a possible location if that is what we are going to do.”

[Graham]

Brisbane prop Matt Lodge is set to sign with the New Zealand Warriors on a BIG contract despite newly appointed Broncos coach Kevin Walters stating the 25-year-old was in his plans for 2021.

[Graham]

The NRL has formed an innovations committee made up of CEO Andrew Abdo, ARLC chair Peter V’landys, head of football Graham Annesley, Stom coach Craig Bellamy, Raiders coach Ricky Stuart, referee Matt Cecchin and players Luke Keary and Damien Cook. The committee will be chaired by commission member Wayne Pearce.

Along with reviewing the success of this year’s changes, the team will also put forward and discuss a number of new ideas which could be introduced in 2021.

[Graham]

The NRL has today provisionally suspended Penrith Panthers player Brent Naden under the NRL’s Anti-Doping Policy.

The mandatory Provisional Suspension Notice asserts that Mr Naden returned a positive A-sample for metabolites of cocaine following a test conducted by Sport Integrity Australia after the Grand Final match on 25 October 2020.  Cocaine is prohibited In-Competition by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the NRL’s Anti-Doping Policy.

 

[DoubleD]

7 hours ago, Graham said:

The NRL has today provisionally suspended Penrith Panthers player Brent Naden under the NRL’s Anti-Doping Policy.

The mandatory Provisional Suspension Notice asserts that Mr Naden returned a positive A-sample for metabolites of cocaine following a test conducted by Sport Integrity Australia after the Grand Final match on 25 October 2020.  Cocaine is prohibited In-Competition by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the NRL’s Anti-Doping Policy.

 

Off season scandal warming up now

[Farmduck]

17 hours ago, Graham said:

New Zealand Warriors boss Cameron George is set to meet with the NRL to decide a location for two separated groups of Warriors players to train as Nathan Brown plans to introduce his seven recruits to their new teammates ahead of 2021.

Brown recently completed his fortnight of isolation and quarantine in Auckland and is training the Warriors’ New Zealand-based players locally while assistants Justin Morgan and Craig Hodges take charge of the other half of players currently situated in Kiama, New South Wales.

George is set to meet with league officials on Monday before calling all Warriors players and collectively via Zoom to plan the club’s pre-season.

The Warriors look likely to return to Tamworth ahead of trials against Melbourne and Gold Coast, with George stating the club would prefer to be at the comfort of their own home playing in Auckland.

“It is all subject to the borders, naturally, and at this point in time they are shut so our plan in the event that there is no change is to go to Australia and join up with our Australian-based group,” George told NRL.com.

“The Australian-based players are in Kiama but due to the size of our group and the time of the year there is no chance of getting on the coast anywhere so we would be looking at Tamworth as a possible location if that is what we are going to do.”

I can't see this being a problem. NSW hasn't had a locally-transmitted case for 25 days. All cases are among returning travellers who are already in quarantine. As of today there are only 4 current cases in NSW. Nationally there has only been 1 Covid death in the last month.

Edited December 2, 2020 by Farmduck

[Graham]

4 hours ago, Farmduck said:

I can't see this being a problem. NSW hasn't had a locally-transmitted case for 25 days. All cases are among returning travellers who are already in quarantine. As of today there are only 4 current cases in NSW. Nationally there has only been 1 Covid death in the last month.

That is such good news.

[Graham]

Benji Marshall has knocked back the monster Super League deal offered to him by Hull FC.

The 35-year-old was reportedly offered a one-year deal worth $700,000, which would have made him the highest paid player in the Super League.

Reports are that Marshall has declined the offer due to his desire to stay in Sydney.

Maybe to Doggies?

Edited December 3, 2020 by Graham

[Graham]

Albert Hopoate is on the hunt for a new club after he was released by Manly and it’s looking like the Raiders is an option.

[Graham]

 Wests Tigers are set to re-sign promising forward Alex Seyfarth for 2021, according to NRL.com.

The 21-year-old made his NRL debut in Round 3 and went on to play another three games.

[Graham]

Gus:

Phil Gould admits he does not understand why Panthers centre Brent Naden allegedly played in the grand final with cocaine in his system.

However, he did reveal that from his time in Naden’s life he has come to know the 24-year old’s struggles with mental health and is adamant there is “nothing malicious” about his actions.

[Graham]

Storm premiership winner Josh Addo-Carr has reportedly received a big offer to link with the Canterbury Bulldogs on a four-year deal in a move that will upset Wests Tigers.

JAC has committed to remain at the Storm for the final year of his contract in 2021, before moving home to Sydney, but Danny Weidler revealed the shock new development:

“Bulldogs table a four year deal for Josh Addo-Carr. Above $2 million,” Weidler tweeted.

[Graham]

Quote

Cameron Smith could be on the verge of a move to AFL club Hawthorn in an off-field leadership role.

The Storm skipper is widely expected to retire before the 2021 season to allow the Melbourne Storm to move onto the next phase, with the Herald Sun reporting that he could be set to move codes as a whole.

Smith has been contacted by the Hawthorn Football Club in a bid to lure the Storm skipper into a specialised role to mentor the AFL side’s young leaders.

Smith would follow fellow Melbourne greats Billy Slater (St Kilda) and Copper Cronk (GWS Giants) in moving to an AFL club post retirement.

The 37-year-old has a close connection to Hawthorn as well, being good mates with Hawthorn star Shaun Burgoyne.

Smith is still yet to announce a decision on whether he will retire or play-on in 2021.

I'd rather see Cameron retire and take up a role within Storm - on the  coaching staff, motivating the players, and guiding his replacement(s).

I don't want him going elsewhere, especially not doing a Coops!

Edited December 4, 2020 by Graham

[Graham]

Mitchell Pearce is set to remain a Knights player after coach Adam O’Brien looked to put any reports of a potential exit to rest.

Pearce has been linked to a return to Bondi as his future with Newcastle remained clouded following a disappointing 2020 campaign.

However, O’Brien has revealed plans to extend the playmakers contract past the 2021 season, potentially having the former Origin star retire with the Knights.

Pearce has recently opened up a new pilates studio in Newcastle and is set to tie the knot with his partner next month, with O’Brien stating the club have looked to give their veteran some time away from football for the off-season.

[DavidM]

The lesser spotted Kevin Locke is eyeing an NRL return via the feeder system