Eels raid ramps up as trio of roster moves leads Green Machine’s latest rebirth

The Raiders have tabled a new offer to highly rated Eels playmaker Ethan Sanders as part of long-term future planning that will eventually lead to the same for coach Ricky Stuart.

Canberra’s regeneration is in full swing after farewelling million-dollar marquee stalwart Jack Wighton last season, with his 19-year-old replacement Ethan Strange inking an upgraded three-year extension this week that ties him down until the end of 2028.

The Raiders recently took up the option in veteran Josh Papalii’s contract for 2025 as well given his impressive start to the season and the prospect of him celebrating his 300th game later in the year.

Stuart’s own remarkable milestone also looms, with next Sunday’s clash against his old club Cronulla to be his 500th outing as an NRL coach.

Now in his 11th season at the club where he won three premierships as a player, Stuart is contracted until the end of 2025 after stints at the Roosters (130 games), Sharks (91) and Eels (24) before returning to the Raiders in 2014.

Canberra’s latest evolution under Stuart’s watch has seen the likes of Strange, Matt Timoko (resigned with options until the end of 2028) and recent debutant Chevy Stewart (mutual option for 2027) flourish in a rise to third on the ladder ahead of Saturday’s clash with Brisbane.

There is no rush on Stuart’s future given his standing at the club but attention is expected to turn that way after the Raiders’ round 10 bye.

More immediately, Canberra have renewed their pursuit of uncapped Parramatta halfback Sanders.

Rated one of the most promising halves in the game, Sanders has been in the Raiders’ sights since last season given Dylan Brown and Mitchell Moses are locked in as the Eels’ long-term scrumbase pairing.

Talks with Canberra were scuppered by the NRL’s rule change that prevented developing players from negotiating with rival clubs until either playing five NSW/Queensland Cup or NRL games, or a round six deadline had passed.

Sanders, who is on a development deal base salary of $80,000, officially became fair game this week for the Raiders to renew their interest, with what is believed to be either a two or three-year deal tabled.

Veteran halfback Jamal Fogarty is in career-best form after turning 30 over the summer, to the point Stuart has spoken of making him a ‘Raider for life’ beyond his playing days.

Canberra has a club option in Fogarty’s deal for 2026, but is quietly confident of landing 19-year-old Sanders as a potential successor to partner Strange.

Storm open Papenhuyzen contract talks ahead of upcoming free agency

The Storm are preparing to open contract talks with Ryan Papenhuyzen within weeks, adamant the Melbourne ace and young gun Sua Fa’alogo can both play in the same team.

In a bid to ward off rivals from swooping on Papenhuyzen on November 1, Storm chairman Matt Tripp, who shares a close relationship with the fullback, is set to escalate negotiations with the 25-year-old.

Papenhuyzen has had a torrid two years with serious injuries but is considered part of the Storm’s long-term plans despite Melbourne handing Samoan sensation Fa’alogo a bumper deal until the end of 2028.

Fa’alogo, whose preferred position is fullback, has only played one NRL game but is considered a superstar-in-the-making after shining for Samoa in last year’s Pacific Championships.

His deal makes him the longest-contracted player at the Storm, beyond the likes of Papenhuyzen, Harry Grant, Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes.

But the Storm want Papenhuyzen to remain a one-club player and intend to stitch up a new deal before he becomes a free agent.

Melbourne Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen.

“He’s been a great servant of the club, and it’s fantastic to see him back on the park,” Tripp said. “We see him as a key part of our future, and we will begin those talks within the next couple of weeks.”

Papenhuyzen, the 2020 Clive Churchill Medal winner, will head up a hot class of free agents later this year if the Storm can’t agree to terms. But Melbourne’s intent to kick-off talks suggests they don’t want to give any other team a sniff of luring one of the NRL’s excitement machines.

Roosters hooker Brandon Smith has also flagged he wants to extend his stay at the Tricolours by activating an option in his deal for 2025.

The New Zealand international is technically a free agent currently with a player option in his favour for next season.

Asked if he would take up the option, Smith said: “I plan to. We’ll see what happens. Hopefully [it will be soon], but I haven’t even thought about it [too much] to be honest.”

GPS numbers are in and Matt Lodge is ready for NRL return

Matt Lodge’s impressive GPS results at training are why Anthony Seibiold feels comfortable catapulting him straight into Manly’s starting side despite no game time this year due to major knee surgery in the second half of 2023.

Lodge is confident he will cope with the opening physical exchanges against the Titans on Saturday evening as the Sea Eagles overcome the loss of props Tof Sipley (knee) and Josh Aloiai (suspension).

Matt Lodge is back for the first time in 261 days.

Lodge, 28, ruptured his ACL against the Sydney Roosters last August but said he could have returned a month ago. Scans also revealed he had been playing with “about a third of my ACL the past five years, so I finally got it fixed up”.

Seibold had no interest in giving Lodge some game time in NSW Cup, and said on Tuesday: “All the testing we’ve done with him has been elite. He’s been back [in] full training for about a month, and he’s been one of our best from a physical point of view.

“We’re down on troops, but I’ve got great confidence in Lodgey starting the game strongly.

“What gives me confidence is he’s done a month of scrimmage and arm wrestles and all the stuff teams do at training, which is the next best thing to playing games.”

Manly signed Lodge on a cut-price deal after he ruptured his ACL, despite knowing he would miss the start of the season.

After playing for four clubs in four seasons, Lodge wants to repay Manly and finally secure a contract extension.

“I’m only 28, even though it feels like I’m 40, I’ve got a few kids and want to settle down, and I’d love to play consistent footy and earn a deal,” Lodge said.

“I’m somehow in better nick now than before the injury.

“At the price, I wasn’t the largest risk [for Manly]. But ‘Seebs’ knows what I do off the field and at training – I’m back [from injury] early, I always said that would happen from day one, I’ve worked hard – and hopefully that deal pays off for him.”

Lodge is costing Manly about $200,000 this year, while another cut-price forward, Aaron Woods, who pockets $80,000 plus $3000 match payments, has been retained on the bench.

Speaking about Lodge’s return, Woods said: “Looking at his GPS, it’s the fastest Lodgey has moved in a while. He also looks like he’s trimmed down.”

Manly welcome the return of speedster Jason Saab, who suffered a hamstring injury in Las Vegas, as well as Reuben Garrick (concussion).

‘Perfectly suited for that [Origin] environment’: Why Edwards can topple Tedesco

Ask Ivan Cleary about why Dylan Edwards is ready to wear the NSW No.1 jersey, and he says: “He’d never let them down.”

“And I think he’s perfectly suited for that environment and these type of games when there is lots of ball in play,” Cleary, the Penrith coach, said on Monday.

Will this finally be the year Dylan Edwards plays State of Origin?

“ ‘Dyl’ is also so good defensively. If you watch him play NRL, he’d bring so much of that to Origin.”

NSW coach Michael Maguire will be in Melbourne on Tuesday to help promote the 2024 Origin series.

Arguably the biggest selection debate will be whether to stick with his skipper Tedesco or inject someone like three-time premiership winner Edwards.

Edwards made his Kangaroos debut last year but has had to bide his time behind Tedesco when it comes to taking on Queensland.

Penrith legend Greg Alexander said on SEN last week that Tedesco deserved to be retained for at least game one, but it would be a “close call”.

“If you’re going to pick it on form, Dylan Edwards couldn’t have started the season any better,” Alexander said.

“Dylan was outstanding against the Eels, Broncos and even last week in a beaten side [against Manly], he was very good.

“But James Tedesco has had a pretty good start too. He hasn’t been out of form.”

James Tedesco has enjoyed a solid start to the year before he was knocked out.

Edwards attended Maguire’s first camp at the start of the year and was invited to a meeting with all the NSW “spine candidates” last Tuesday, but decided to enjoy some time with family.

“Every kid grows up [and] wants to represent his state, and I’m no different,” he said on Monday, ahead of Saturday’s clash in Bathurst against Wests Tigers.

“Our style of footy here at Penrith, and the way we want to play, I try to play a high work rate style of footy, and that’s the type of footy you need to play in Origin.

“You never know until you’re thrown in there. But I just have to play well here. I know that’s a cliche.

“[Making it] in my position is tough because we’ve got Teddy, he’s the NSW and Australian captain, and every time he plays Origin he plays really well.”

Edwards has the on-field chemistry with fellow Panthers Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, Brian To’o, Liam Martin and Jarome Luai. Api Koroisau, now at Wests Tigers, won the 2022 title with the Panthers.

But Edwards was just as quick to point out Cleary and Tedesco had forged a good understanding of each other’s games.

Tedesco suffered a concussion against the Bulldogs but is expected to return on Thursday against Melbourne.

Meanwhile, Cleary is no certainty to return this weekend as he nurses a hamstring injury.

It is his second hamstring injury in 12 months, and while he is expected back in the coming weeks, Maguire must be wondering what he can do should Cleary break down again in the next six weeks.

Mitchell Moses would normally be the back-up No. 7 but is overcoming a foot injury, while Brisbane’s Adam Reynolds has had a disrupted start to the year because of hamstring and knee issues.

Fellow Panther Luai picked up a knee injury against Manly but expected to start against his future club.

‘He’s on another planet’: Stuart fires back at Hasler over ref criticism

Ricky Stuart says Des Hasler is “on another planet” after the Gold Coast coach blasted the refereeing in his side’s golden-point loss to Canberra.

Raiders halfback Jamal Fogarty spared his team’s blushes, slotting a 90th-minute field goal after conceding two tries in the last four minutes of normal time to squander a 10-point advantage.

But Hasler criticised referee Kasey Badger and said her performance was “pretty poor” after his team conceded five penalties to three, and gave away eight set restarts to the Raiders’ one.

He also questioned probably the game’s most decisive play, suggesting Canberra’s teenage debutant Chevy Stewart was offside when he blocked Titan Kieran Foran’s close-range field-goal attempt.

Stuart fired back and accused the Titans of “cheating” by wrestling his players for extended periods while they attempted to play the ball, suggesting they could have received “another 10 or 12” set restarts.

“If he’s critical of the six-agains and the penalties, he’s on another planet,” Stuart said. “He coached well … but the way they cheated when they were standing there with their hand on the ball … the way they cheated on the ground.

“I feel sorry for Kasey the way they were in her face all night. She had to withstand a lot of pressure.

“I’m going to be making sure I ring [referees boss] Jared [Maxwell] to find out who’s right or wrong here, because I thought Kasey, under pressure, she did a really good job.”

Ricky Stuart was unimpressed by Des Hasler’s comments on Sunday.

Hasler, who joked he’d be fined $25,000 for his rant, viewed replays of Stewart’s charge-down before his press conference and said he was about a metre offside.

“Did they review it? They didn’t review it. So why not?” he queried. “So from that point of view, it was heartbreaking.

“The refereeing performance was pretty poor … 10 six-agains to one, some of those are warranted … some of them just leave us battling field position the whole time.

“Possession ends up 60-40, sure, some of that’s our own fault but it’s difficult.”

Des Hasler was unhappy with the refereeing in Sunday night’s match.

Stuart, who began his retort saying “f— me”, could be fined for his language after previously being hit with a financial sanction for swearing in a press conference. AAP

Dragons ready to blow Panthers out of the water for Turuva signing

The Dragons have tabled Sunia Turuva a three-year deal with the option to vie for the club’s fullback jersey as the Panthers prepare an 11th-hour bid to keep the premiership winner.

Having already nabbed back-rower Luciano Leilua, St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan is eyeing arguably his most significant scalp since joining the club with the Dragons leading the chase for the Dally M Rookie of the Year.

St George Illawarra has spoken to Turuva about the potential to take over the No.1 jersey – putting the pressure on off-contract fullback Tyrell Sloan – if he takes up an offer to join the Dragons until the end of 2027.

The Knights have also expressed an interest in luring Turuva away from the three-time premiers, but there will be no chance of him playing fullback in Newcastle given Kalyn Ponga’s presence.

Turuva’s management will meet with the Panthers this week to gauge their position, but it’s highly unlikely Penrith will be able to get near the financial terms on offer from rivals such as the Dragons.

The Panthers want a decision on Turuva’s future imminently after re-signing centres Izack Tago and Taylan May on big-money deals.

The club has long believed that having the future of off-contract players sorted early has helped their title credentials, with high-profile stars Api Koroisau, Viliame Kikau, Stephen Crichton and Jarome Luai all signing elsewhere before a ball was kicked in their final seasons at Penrith.

“We’re endeavouring to meet with his management this week,” Panthers rugby league chief executive Matt Cameron said of Turuva.

“We love ‘Tito’, he’s a huge part of our club and we want to keep him at the Panthers. We know there’s external interest, but we haven’t given up retaining him.”

The Panthers have the McLean brothers – Jesse and Casey – banging on the door for NRL inclusion in coming years and understand they might be priced out of the Turuva sweepstakes.

The race for one of the hottest free agents left on the market comes at the same time the Dragons prepare for a future without Zac Lomax, closing in on a deal to keep back-rower Jaydn Su’A in the Red V.

The Dragons have offered a three-year extension to Su’A, who has been one of Flanagan’s best players in the opening weeks of the season.

Talks between St George Illawarra and Su’A’s management have been ongoing since early this year, but both parties agreed to put them on hold until after the first month of the season.

The Dragons are expected to increase their efforts in landing a big-name signing and securing retention targets with Lomax agreeing a four-year deal to join the Eels from next year. It has freed up $850,000 from the Dragons’ salary cap in 2025 and a further $875,000 the following year, with Lomax taking a reduced salary to join Brad Arthur’s Parramatta, who firmly believe they’re still in a premiership window.

Roosters’ own Forrest Gump just wants to keep running

For Connor Watson, football is like a box of chocolates – he never knows which position he’s going to get.

That’s the reality of a utility. Sometimes he’ll play at hooker, other times he’ll play lock. In Thursday’s victory over the Knights, his former club, Watson played five-eighth.

“I just roll with the punches,” Watson said. “First and foremost, the role that I play for the team is to be that utility.”

Watson just loves playing footy. A ruptured patella tendon in his knee suffered late in the 2023 pre-season meant a painstaking 558 days between NRL games and the fear that his days in the game were over.

But the Tricolours handed Watson a two-year extension to keep him at the Bondi club until the end of 2025.

With the club suffering a string of injuries this season – including a concussion for Luke Keary in round two, Sandon Smith sidelined with an elbow injury, and Sam Walker subject to the mandatory concussion stand down last week – Watson has had his fair share of game time in 2024.

“I’ve probably played more five-eighth than I have anywhere else this year, especially in first-grade, which has been a little bit weird because the whole pre-season I trained to be at nine, I’ve trained to be at 13, and little bits here and there just because you know you might have to be covering [someone],” he said.

“There are a lot of injuries, so you’ve got to be able to cover positions. So, wherever I have to play, I’m happy to do it.”

If you ask him where he prefers to play, it’s not a simple answer.

Terrell May will remain a Rooster.

“I like lock, I like the freedom of lock, defending in the middle is good too, I don’t mind that, but I enjoy playing hooker as well, I enjoy playing centre. I just love playing footy. I like the challenge, it’s different all the time, you never know what you’re going to get. I sound like Forrest Gump,” he laughs.

“I think as my career’s gone on, I’ve come to understand that I can impact the game in different ways and different positions. Just to be able to cover all those spots and help out the team any way I can is something that I really want to do.”

On reflection, Watson says Joey Manu is the real Forrest Gump of the team because he really does just keep running. On Thursday, Manu totalled an astonishing 347 run metres at fullback.

It’s also a title that could go to rising star Terrell May. May, who officially inked a two-year extension with the club on Sunday, has earned a reputation for his high workrate. Roosters enforcer Victor Radley said May was relentless, even when the rest of the team were exhausted.

“He’s a beast. He was so good last year, and he’s been awesome this year,” Radley said of May. “He just doesn’t stop playing … he’s just a work machine, works so hard, and [it’s] good to lock him up for a few years.”

The rising prop said he always planned to stay at Bondi.

“I love this club and I really didn’t want to leave,” May said.

“I just had the media saying I was leaving, but nah, 100 per cent I wanted to stay. The only thing that kept me from signing [sooner] was the brother situation.”

The ‘situation’ May is referring to is his desire to play alongside his two brothers at some point in his NRL career. But with younger brother Taylan signing a two-year extension at the Panthers, and older brother Tyrone playing for Hull KR in England’s super league, it won’t be happening any time soon, even if May remains open to it in the future.

Manly prop Josh Aloiai.

Sea Eagle clipped for Johnson challenge

Manly have had insult added to injury with Josh Aloiai facing suspension for his controversial challenge on Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson, which caused the NRL’s first draw of the season.

The NRL match review committee hit Aloiai with a one-match ban for making contact with Johnson’s legs as he tried an audacious last-minute two-point field goal to send the game to golden point.

The ensuing penalty gave Johnson an easy penalty goal attempt to send the match beyond the 80 minutes. Neither team were able to score in golden point.

The grade two dangerous contact charge will result in a two-match ban if Aloiai unsuccessfully challenges it at the judiciary, but an early guilty plea will see him miss the Sea Eagles’ clash with former coach Des Hasler and the Titans on the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Sharks winger Sione Katoa also faces a one-match ban after being issued a grade two careless high tackle charge for his contact on Rabbitohs captain Cameron Murray on Saturday night.

Murray failed to return to the game after half-time having failed his concussion test, leaving South Sydney down to one man on their bench following injuries to Junior Tatola and Tyrone Munro.

The Rabbitohs will give coach Jason Demetriou more time to turn around their struggling fortunes despite just one win from their opening six matches of the season.

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