RA clear ex-Wallabies for NRL switch, Bulldogs sign Tupouniua for four years

Rugby Australia has executed deeds of release for former Wallabies Mark Nawaqanitawase and Carter Gordon, allowing the pair to switch to the NRL this year.

As the Roosters roster overhaul continued with the re-signing of Angus Crichton on a $1.65 million, two-year deal and Sitili Tupouniua agreed to terms on a four-year Bulldogs contract, the Tricolours are expected to be granted an NRL exemption for Nawaqanitawase to join the club after his Olympic campaign.

Nawaqanitawase’s release from his Rugby Australia contract has been formalised but will not come into effect until after July 27, the date of the men’s rugby sevens final in Paris.

The former Wallabies flyer will be announced in Australia’s Olympic sevens squad later this week, while the Roosters lodged paperwork for his eventual NRL registration on Monday.

Gordon, who signed with the Titans on an estimated $600,000, two-year deal, is free to make an NRL move immediately under the terms of RA’s release.

Gordon is unlikely to play NRL this year, but the Titans want to fast track his rugby league development as part of their top squad this year.

The Roosters are poised to land Mark Nawaqanitawase after his Olympic Sevens bid.

The Wallabies playmaker has had little experience in the 13-man game, but coach Des Hasler jumped at the chance to get the 23-year-old to Robina before next year.

Nawaqanitawase’s signing on a two-year contract offers reinforcements for a Roosters backline losing Joey Manu, Joseph Suaalii and Luke Keary next season, but coach Trent Robinson does not expect him to be NRL-ready in 2024.

Manu is the latest outside back to go down at Bondi. He requires surgery on a broken hand that will sideline him for a month. Manu joins Suaalii (suspended for this week’s clash against St George Illawarra), Junior Pauga (suspension), Billy Smith (ankle), Lewis Murphy (scaphoid) and Rob Toia (knee) in stands.

Veteran Michael Jennings and rookie Ethan King shape as Robinson’s options to replace Manu this Sunday against the Dragons.

Despite Nawaqanitawase being cleared to join the club, the 23-year-old’s signing has been made with an extended lead-in to 2025 in mind given he hasn’t played rugby league since his junior days.

“I haven’t got an NRL focus for him,” Robinson said. “I have a transition into rugby league focus and getting training if possible, and playing some reserve grade would be ideal. Then it’s up to him how he adapts. But the focus is definitely not NRL. It’s not next week.”

Meanwhile, Tupouniua has agreed to a long-term deal with the Bulldogs after his management agreed to a deal that will see the Roosters contribute part of his salary. Tupouniua still has three more years to run on his deal at the Roosters worth around $650,000.

The Bulldogs have decided to honour those years and have agreed to another season on top, keeping the 27-year-old at the club until the end of 2028.

Manly also opened discussions with Tupouniua but did not table a formal offer.

Roosters set to open Walker talks

The Roosters are also set to begin long-term extension talks to keep rising half Sam Walker off the open market.

Walker has been in career-best touch throughout the Roosters rise into the top four, a year after being dropped.

The 22-year-old has long been seen as the club’s long-term playmaker but is contracted until the end of 2025, putting him on the open market from November 1 this year.

Walker has consistently been linked with a return to his native Queensland, as the expected introduction of a Perth franchise in 2027 also puts his name up in lights as a potential marquee signing.

Walker has stressed repeatedly that his preference is to stay at the Roosters and guide the club’s next roster regeneration.

Formal negotiations between the club and his management have been flagged after the Roosters indicated a desire to tie down one of the game’s best young halves on a multi-year deal.

The Roosters have several recruitment and retention balls up in the air given the generational overhaul at the club, which will see Luke Keary and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves finish their careers this season as Joey Manu and Joseph Suaalii move to rugby union.

Despite Waerea-Hargreaves’ exit, the Roosters at this stage are not expected to pursue Wests Tigers prop Stefano Utoikamanu.

The Dragons and Raiders are both prepared to offer lucrative five-year deals, worth as much as $4.5 million a season, to secure Utoikamanu, while Melbourne are also interested but would need to move players to fit him into their salary cap.

Meanwhile, Queensland and Sharks assistant Josh Hannay has met with Eels powerbrokers for a second time as the NRL strugglers close in on the appointment of a new coach.

Having been tied up with State of Origin and club duties, Hannay pitched his case for a maiden NRL head coaching job on Sunday.

Parramatta are expected to finalise Brad Arthur’s permanent successor this week with Hannay, Melbourne Storm staffer Jason Ryles and Dragons assistant Dean Young remaining in the race.

The Eels are anchored at the bottom of the ladder after their 11th loss of the season against the Knights on Saturday.

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