With 2021 NRL season is over and November 1 approaching, clubs are now placing their attention toward the off-season in order to form their rosters for the new year and beyond.
Knights tipped to give green light for veteranโs exit
Newcastle are believed to be leaning toward permitting halfbackย Mitchell Pearceย to depart the club forย Super Leagueย side Catalans in the coming days.
Shocks reports emerged on Friday that Pearce had been tabled a stunning three-year deal from the Dragons worth close to $1.8 million, with a release needed from the Knights for the 32-year-old to head abroad.
Pearce is understood to be set to request a release from the Hunter club in order to land the move toย France, replacing the recently retiredย James Maloney.
READ MORE: Shock Super League move on the cards for Pearce
Potential player exchange could preserve Hodgsonโs Leichhardt link-up
Josh Hodgson's proposed shift to the West Tigers has come to a steady halt after teammateย Tom Starlingย was charged by police following an alleged physical altercation.
While some doubt has now been cast over Hodgson's proposed move,ย The Australian's Brent Read believes that a simple player swap may be opted for as an alternative.
Read believes that a simple swap with Hodgson andย Jacob Liddleย should be taken into strong consideration.
FULL STORY: Liddle, Hodgson switch touted as answer to Englishman's future
Rabbitohs lock in star on long-term extension
Theย South Sydney Rabbitohsย have confirmed star wingerย Alex Johnstonย will remain with the club until at least the end of 2025.
The re-signing completes quite the story for the La Perouse junior, who was almost let go byย Wayne Bennettย and the Rabbitohs before signing an 11th-hour contract the last time he was up for renewal.
At just 26 years of age, Johnston has already made 166 NRL appearances, scoring a staggering 136 tries. He is well on track to break records during his career, with this contract to take him through until 30, when he could be expected to sign a final contract.
Dolphins set to miss out on key target
Melbourne playmakerย Harry Grantย is set to remain in purple for the 2023 season, ruling out any move for theย Queenslandย rake to venture back to his home state forย the Dolphins' inaugural campaign.
Grant is tipped to be among a plethora of star names onย the Dolphins' hit-list ahead of their opening season in the NRL, with local talent a priority forย Wayne Bennett's expansion planning.
The 23-year-old has been closely linked to departing Victoria at the conclusion of his current contract, however, according to reporter Brent Read, the Storm and Grant are nearing an agreement on triggering an option in his contract for a further 12 months.
READ MORE: Grant yet to sign bumper option for 2023
Elliott on the verge of new deal
Former Canterbury forwardย Adam Elliottย is set to sign a one-year with the Raiders, with the Green Machine looking to throw the discarded Bulldogs a career lifeline for the 2022 season.
The 27-year-old has gained reported interest from the Tigers following his departure from Cantebury, however a move to the nation's capital looks all but confirmed.
According toย The Canberra Times'ย David Polkinghorne, Elliott is set to sign with the Raiders for the next 12 months, with an agreement potentially arising as early as this week.
FULL STORY: Raiders and Elliott set to announce partnership
OFFICIAL: Warriors release veteran winger ahead of move to Super League
Theย New Zealand Warriorsย have granted star winger David Fusitu'a a release as he pursues an opportunity with theย Leeds Rhinosย in the Englishย Super League.
The two clubs have both now confirmed the news.
The move completes the dismantling of the former Warriors' back three, withย Roger Tuivasa-Sheckย having moved to rugby union, andย Ken Maumaloย a mid-season swap to theย Wests Tigers.
READ MORE: Warriors flyer sets sails for Englandย
Eels set to sign back up hooker following Lussick departure
Mitch Rein's NRL career is set to continue with theย Parramatta Eelsย extending the veteran hooker a lifeline.
The match between Rein and the Eels seems virtually perfect, with Rein getting to extend his career at the top level, and the Eels getting a veteran hooker who will be able to play second fiddle toย Reed Mahoney.
READ MORE: Hooker set to continue Rein at Parramatta
Roosters take punt on Silktails back
Theย Sydney Roostersย are set to bring Kaiviti Silktails outside back Vuate Karawalevu into their squad for the 2022 NRL season.
The Fijian will bring with him one of the best stories in rugby league, having played in the Ron Massey Cup for the Silktails in 2020 and 2021.
The push to have the Pacific Islands included in Australian and New Zealand activities with tin the sport has been gathering momentum over the past handful of years, with theย Papua New Guineaย Hunters in theย Queenslandย Cup, and a long-term plan for the Silktails to eventually enter theย New Southย Walesย Cup.
READ MORE: Chooks swop on Fijian prospect
Rabbitohs lock in versatile forward on new contract
Theย South Sydney Rabbitohsย have added to their depth for the 2022 season, locking in versatile forwardย Siliva Havili.
Havili has inked a two-year deal with incoming coachย Jason Demetriou's team, meaning he will remain at Redfern until at least the end of 2023.
The versatile forward can play both lock forward and hooker, and has been in theย Canberra Raidersย system since 2018, following stints with theย New Zealand Warriorsย andย St George Illawarra Dragons.
READ MORE: Havili finds new home for 2022
Discarded Cowboy finds new home for 2022
Formerย Northย Queenslandย Cowboys' propย Peter Holaย has secured a release from the Townsville-based club to take up a contract with theย Canberra Raidersย for 2022.
It had previously been rumoured Hola's contract could be a multi-year contract in the nation's capital, and that's the way it has played out, with Hola signing on for 2022 and 2023 with an option for 2024, meaning he could play at least three seasons for the Raiders if things go according to plan.
FULL STORY: Cowboys trade Queensland for the captial
Ex-Warriorโs new destination revealed following early release
Theย New Zealand Warriorsย have granted a release toย Jamayne Taunoa-Brown, who has signed with theย Northย Queensland Cowboys on the same day.
The prop was off-contract with the relocated outfit at the end of 2022, and in a statement, the Warriors mentioned they were unable to offer the 24-year-old a contract beyond the end of next season, with Taunoa-Brown locking up a long-term deal elsewhere.
The deal has since been revealed to be a two-year contract, with Taunoa-Brown to be located in Townsville until at least the end of the 2023 season.
READ MORE: Cowboys secure released Warrior
Penrith centre reportedly selects club after mass interest
Theย Penrith Panthersย are set to grant centreย Paul Momirovskiย a release in the coming days.
It was first reported earlier this week that Momirovski was looking to move from the Panthers, with interest from as many as four other clubs.
The news comes as he reportedlyย has agreed to a three-year contract with the Sydney Roostersย according toย The Sydney Morning Herald, the club he started his NRL career at back in 2008.
Drawn out negotiations put Tigers at risk of losing star
Wests Tigers' star second-rowerย Luciano Leiluaย is at risk of being lost to the struggling club with drawn-out contract negotiations still unable to reach a conclusion.
Leilua has turned into one of the best signings in the NRL over the past few years, having originally played for theย St George Illawarra Dragons, but never excelling at the Red V.
But now, according to reports fromย The Daily Telegraph, Leilua could elect to hit the open market in a week's time if a deal isn't done.
Raid on England continues: Another Hodgson to join NRL
Theย Newcastle Knightsย are slowly turning themselves into a home forย Canberra Raidersย hookerย Josh Hodgson's family members, with Jeylan Hodgson the latest to sign with the club.
The nephew of Josh, Jeylan is also noted as a talented hooker out of theย Castleford Tigersย system and will join older brother Bailey down under in 2022.
Now, according toย Serious About Rugby Leagueย Jaylen will join the Knights to continue his development. It's unclear how long the contract is for, or exactly what point he will fly toย Australiaย given the global pandemic and continuing situation surroundingย Australia's borders.
Broncos facing uphill battle to retain young gun
Theย Brisbane Broncosย are reportedly set to face an uphill battle as they look to retain the services ofย Selwyn Cobbo.
It may come as little surprise that the NRL's newest expansion club,ย the Dolphins, are the club who have been linked to Cobbo for 2023 or possibly 2024.
The 19-year-old isn't off-contract until the end of the 2023 season at the Broncos, however, the club will come under major pressure if they can't find more first-grade time for the boom youngster next year.
FULL STORY: Cobbo on Dolphins' radar
Star wants answers over contract speculation as bombshell dropped
Penrith Panthers' starย Apisai Koroisauย and his management want answers from the club.
That's the line of manager Giancarlo Lombardo, who will reportedly meet with the Panthers in the coming days to get answers surrounding recent rumours regarding Koroisau's future at the club.
A two-time premiership winner, Koroisau has beenย heavily linked with the Wests Tigersย in recent days, although that must be taken with a grain of salt given how often the Tigers are linked with players.
Turpinโs future clouded as Broncos begin pursuit of star hooker
The Brisbane Broncosย are reportedly weighing up making a play forย Parramatta Eels' hookerย Reed Mahoney.
The news may come as a surprise to Broncos' fans, given the club appeared to be setting themselves up to turnย Jake Turpinย into their long-term number nine.
So highly-regarded is Turpin at Red Hill that he was part ofย Kevin Walters' leadership team throughout the 2021 campaign, however, he is off-contract at the end of 2022 as Mahoney is and may be pushed out the door if the men from Red Hill can secure Mahoney.
However, Mahoney was on the cusp of a State of Origin debut in 2021 before injury struck and has rapidly turned himself into one of the best dummy halves in the game.
The Rorters now have 12 centres for 2022, well done.