Broncos Star to Defect to Samoa, Delivering Major Blow to Kangaroos
Reports on Thursday linked the NRL's best prop with a change in eligibility, with 25-year-old Haas set to begin preferencing his Samoan roots over the Kangaroos in future international fixtures.
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19 minutes ago
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Family connection severed as Storm linked with stunning move for NRL superstar
The NRL world is in a frenzy over the prospect of Tino Fa'asuamaleaui moving back to the Melbourne Storm, after Brandon Smith said he'd heard 'whispers' of the rumoured move on Wednesday. And Tino no longer has a family connection at the Gold Coast Titans after younger brother Iszac signed with Catalans Dragons in the UK Super League. Tino is under contract with the Titans until the end of 2033, but has a number of get-out clauses in his 10-year deal. One of the clauses means he's free to test the open market on November 1 this year ahead of potentially getting out of his contract in 2027. The Queensland Origin star's agent has stated they will test the open market to see what's out there, but flagged his client is happy on the Gold Coast with their family support network. The Dragons and Bulldogs are believed to be preparing offers, but Smith dropped a bombshell on Wednesday when he said he's heard rumours the Storm could be in play. Fa'asuamaleaui started his NRL career at the Melbourne Storm, playing 27 games for the club in 2019 and 2020 - including the Storm's victory in the 2020 grand final. He moved to the Titans in 2021, but hasn't managed to have much success on the Gold Coast. Smith was also at the Storm at the same time as Fa'asuamaleaui, and still has friends at the club. Speaking on the 'Bye Round' podcast with James Graham, the current Rabbitohs player said: 'I heard a little whisper.. I heard something about Melbourne. Nelson's (Asofa-Solomona) contract's coming up. That's all I'm saying, and he is on big money.' Via The Bye Round on YT — NRLCentral (@centralNRL) August 20, 2025 NRL world responds amid Tino Fa'asuamaleaui bombshell Asofa-Solomona is under contract until the end of 2027 on a deal worth $900,000 per year. The Storm could also have a lot of money freed up if Ryan Papenhuyen or Cameron Munster decide to leave, with both being linked to the Perth Bears in recent times. 'For Tino and what he is dealing with at the Titans, he obviously doesn't like this situation,' Graham said in response to Smith. 'If he goes to Perth, you have to assume they are a work in progress. If he goes to the Dragons, they aren't screaming finals, although they are improving and they are achieving enough results. 'They aren't that far away, and maybe Tino could be that person, but I think they need some more creativity in their halves. But if Tino maybe just thinks I want to win, then it's less about the money and more about the destination (Melbourne).' Fa'asuamaleaui is on $1.2 million per season at the Titans, and the Bears are believed to be willing to offer $1.5m over five years. But if the Kangaroos and Maroons star is desperate to win, he could take less money to rejoin the Storm. As Bryan Fletcher pointed out on SEN radio on Wednesday afternoon, Tino has a strong bond with Craig Bellamy and revealed he couldn't face sitting down to tell him he's signed with the Titans because he knew he'd get convinced to stay. "Maybe money's not the issue," Fletcher said. "I just remember when he said he couldn't face Bellamy to tell him he was signing with the Titans. He'd probably only get half (the money at the Storm)." Co-host Joel Caine suggested he wouldn't be testing the open market if he wasn't planning to leave, saying "he's not a Gold Coast Titan. His brother has signed elsewhere so that's even more reason to leave." RELATED: Panthers continue poaching raids with signing of Wests Tigers player Knights' pursuit of Roosters player throws Ponga's future in more doubt Tino Fa'asuamaleaui's brother Iszac signs with Catalans On Wednesday, Tino's brother Iszac signed a two-year deal with Catalans in France, who also recently lured unwanted Bulldog Toby Sexton and Wests Tigers centre Solomona Faataape. Iszac came through the Titans' development pathways and has played 25 matches over three seasons, including 11 off the bench this year. The 23-year-old told the Catalans club website he was looking forward to improving his game under new coach, former England international Joel Tomkins. "It's a great opportunity for me to improve my game, gain experience, and be a part of what Joel Tomkins is building within the playing group," Iszac said. "I'm also looking forward to living in such a beautiful part of the world in the south of France and experiencing it all with my family." Meanwhile, Tino has reportedly decided to remain loyal to the Kangaroos amid rumours he's considering an international switch to Samoa. Tino will reportedly make himself available for the Ashes series in England this year before deciding on a switch to Samoa next season. with AAP
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Panthers continue poaching raids as NRL champs sign outside back from Tigers
For years the Penrith Panthers have had to contend with rival NRL clubs raiding their junior ranks. It even got to the point where Ivan Cleary called for the Panthers to be compensated by the NRL for producing so much young talent that ends up at different clubs. But the four-time premiers are starting to get some of their own back, signing a number of talented youngsters from rival clubs in recent weeks. On the back of signing playmakers Keahn Skipps from the Raiders and Haami Loza from the Knights, the Panthers have also poached a rising outside back from the Wests Tigers' system. This week, teenager Thomas Goodfield agreed to join the Panthers in another huge recruitment coup for the defending champs. Goodfield has been playing for the Western Suburbs Magpies in the Harold Matthews Cup competition (Under-17s), and will play for the Panthers next year in the Under-19s SG Ball Cup. Goodfield plays on the wing or in the centres and is one of the most highly-rated youngsters in the Tigers' pathways system. His move to the Panthers will come as a massive blow to Tigers coach Benji Marshall and the organisation. "My dad, who was a diehard Parra fan, got me into playing footy, and it'd be mad and good for my family (to one day play in the NRL)," Goodfield told earlier this year. "I've played this sport all the way up through the grades, but I'd just be over the moon about it if it does happen in the future. It would be so good (to play in the NRL)." Panthers continue signing spree of talented youngsters The signing of Goodfield continues a recruitment drive for the Panthers, who have also snared Skipps and Loza from Canberra and Newcastle respectively. Both are highly-rated halves and will gain valuable experience alongside Nathan Cleary in the Penrith system. The Panthers also thought they'd poached young back-rower Kayliss Fatialofa from the Warriors, but he backflipped during the cooling off period and decided to stay in New Zealand. It's believed the 20-year-old agreed to join Penrith before he had a change of heart. RELATED: Knights' pursuit of Roosters player throws Ponga's future in more doubt Broncos teammate could join Payne Haas and defect from Kangaroos Last month, the Panthers lost twin 16-year-olds Alexander and Cornelius Pupualii to the Dragons. Cornelius is a 193cm-tall centre weighing in at 100kg, who the Dragons view as a long-term member of their back-line. While Alexander is a 119kg second-rower, who has missed all junior footy this season due to an ACL injury. The Panthers have one of the best junior pathways systems in the NRL, which inevitably results in rival clubs poaching some of their best young talent. Speaking last year, coach Cleary called for the NRL to introduce a compensation system for when clubs have their junior ranks raided. "I think we should get dispensation, probably more in a development sense," Cleary said. "We develop a lot of players here that end up elsewhere, so I feel like we should get looked after more by the NRL in that space, apart from the salary cap and how it all works, it's hard to argue with. But I do think we should be compensated in some way for the amount of players we've developed and the status they've become throughout the league." Penrith could part ways with up to 10 players The Panthers continue to top up their junior ranks and have been moving on some of their fringe first-graders. Brad Schneider and Mavrik Geyer have signed with the Dolphins and Tigers respectively for 2026, while there's reports that Daine Laurie and Luke Sommerton have been told they can look elsewhere and won't be receiving a new contract. Asu Kepaoa has agreed to a deal with the Knights, while there's speculation that Preston Riki, Harry Hassett, Soni Luke, Austin Dias, Zac Lipowicz and Riley Price could all be looking for new clubs. I agree 10000% with everyone on your 'gone list'…Sommerton has also been told he can look elsewhere if he likes. Nit sure about the other three…I think thug might keep Lamont. — Peter Lang (@PeterVLang) August 18, 2025
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
Gone in 12 seconds - is Morley ultimate hard man?
Mention the rugby league Ashes, and it's hard not to think of Adrian Morley, a brutal hit and a red card after just 12 seconds. Whatever happens when Australia visit this October and November, the series is unlikely to start quite as explosively as that first Test in Wigan 22 years ago. One of the most feared forwards in the game, Morley poleaxed Australia prop Robbie Kearns straight from the kick-off with a high tackle. The Great Britain forward, who played his club rugby in the NRL for Sydney Roosters at the time, was dismissed by referee Steve Ganson with the words: "Adrian. Adrian. It's a real bad one. It's across the chin. You're off mate." Morley's former Great Britain team-mate Jon Wilkin said: "He said that when he got sent off, he was back in the dressing room before the mascot had taken his head off. "The mascot took his head off and said 'What are you doing back in here?'" Wilkin, Jamie Peacock and Brian Noble have recalled the extraordinary incident for a new weekly BBC podcast which has its first episode released on Thursday - Rugby League Top 10. In the first episode, presenter Mark Chapman sets them the task of ranking the sport's hard men. Former Great Britain captain Peacock, who played alongside Morley in that 2003 series, said: "His brother got to the game late. He got to his seat about 20 minutes in, and said 'I think I'm going to put some money on. Has our Adrian scored?' And someone replied 'Well, you can ask him, he's sat there'." Each week Peacock, Noble and Wilkin will discuss, debate and argue over lists of the best players, games, finals and iconic moments in rugby league. But as Chapman pointed out, the lists don't cover the entire history of rugby league, "because we'd be here for hours", and nor are they restricted to the Super League era. Instead, "the cut-off point for these lists is roughly 40 years ago". Morley, the first British player to win a Grand Final in both Super League and the NRL, is one of 10 hard men that the panel must rank - with the others, in alphabetical order, being: Stuart Fielden, Thomas Leuluai, Barrie McDermott, Terry Newton, Malcolm Reilly, Kelvin Skerrett, Gorden Tallis, Ruben Wiki and Paul Wood. Wane wants higher Super League intensity to prepare England for Ashes A bus and a buzz - Williams on spreading Ashes word Australia to tour England for first time since 2003 Former Wigan and Great Britain prop Skerrett makes the list, in part, for his infamous swing at Castleford's Andy Hay during the 1994 Regal Trophy final. The incident took place in front of a Headingley crowd that included chat show legend Michael Parkinson - and much later went viral thanks to the fury it inspired in a club video commentator. "I played with Kelvin and Kelvin could be violent," former Great Britain head coach Noble recalled. "He's probably responsible for one of the great commentary lines of all time from Mick Morgan: 'I can't spake.'" Leeds prop McDermott played with an arm guard and a glass eye - having lost his right eye as a teenager in an accident with an air rifle - and Peacock recalled the way he used to intimidate opponents. "He used to swap his glass eye before a game," Peacock said. "So he had a normal one – his civilian glass eye – and he swapped it for his more intimidating glass eye. "Its pupil was black and it also had a bit of bloodshot in there as well." The first episode of the Rugby League Top 10 podcast will be available this Thursday, 21 August - listen on BBC Sounds. England face Australia in the rugby league Ashes at Wembley on 25 October, Everton's new Hill Dickinson Stadium on 1 November and AMT Headingley on 8 November (all 14:30 kick-offs) - with all three matches televised live in the UK on the BBC.
