Dogs cop fresh blow as Ciraldo makes halves call
One week after shifting Burton to centre to deal with State of Origin outs, Ciraldo moved him back to five-eighth on Tuesday for the team to face North Queensland.
The Bulldogs coach then stuck with Sexton in the No.7 jersey, Galvin going back to the bench in a role he has filled in two of four games for Canterbury.
Galvin's game was met with heavy scrutiny last week with Canterbury guilty of being impatient in attack during their 22-18 capitulation to Brisbane.
The mid-season recruit has come on in the halves in both games he has played off the bench with Sexton moving to hooker and Reed Mahoney taken from the field.
But pressure is growing on the Bulldogs to come up with a settled spine, with the club dropping from first to third and nine rounds left in the season.
Mahoney will join North Queensland next year after being granted a release from the final season of his contract, while Sexton is bound for Catalans in the English Super League.
Ciraldo's selection came as winger Marcelo Montoya was ruled out for up to six weeks with a neck injury, leaving Enari Tuala to play in his spot.
Elsewhere, Sam Walker is poised to make his NRL comeback from a ruptured ACL in the Sydney Roosters' halves, after a broken hand denied him that chance last month.
Coach Trent Robinson has named Hugo Savala to start alongside him at No.6, with Sandon Smith squeezed out of the 17 altogether.
Victor Radley will also return from a concussion for the Roosters against St George Illawarra, who have Luciano Leilua (quad) and Hamish Stewart (concussion) back.
Brisbane have moved playmaker Ben Hunt to hooker on his return from a hamstring injury, leaving Ezra Mam and Adam Reynolds in the halves.
They will face a Gold Coast side on Sunday night that has David Fifita back for the first time since round eight, while Jayden Campbell returns from concussion.
The Warriors have also landed on a crucial halves call, opting to make Tanah Boyd the new No.7 and leaving Te Maire Martin on the bench after Luke Metcalf's season-ending knee injury.
Taine Tuaupiki will also wear the Warriors' No.1 jersey against Wests Tigers on Sunday, with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (knee) sidelined.
There is better news for Melbourne at fullback with Ryan Papenhuyzen (calf) back in their team to face Newcastle on Sunday.
Craig Bellamy has ruled out winger Xavier Coates backing up from State of Origin III, while his other representatives remain on an extended bench.
The Knights have handed their No.1 jersey to Fletcher Hunt after Kalyn Ponga's season-ending foot injury, while fit-again winger Greg Marzhew is back.
Penrith will give themselves until later in the week to decide whether their Origin quintet back up against a Parramatta side that has mid-season recruit Tallyn Da Silva starting at hooker.
And Sean O'Sullivan will come into the Dolphins halves to face the reasonably settled Cronulla on Friday night, with Kodi Nikorima out for six weeks with a hamstring injury.
Canterbury have moved Lachlan Galvin back to the bench with coach Cameron Ciraldo reverting to Toby Sexton and Matt Burton as the club's first-choice halves.
One week after shifting Burton to centre to deal with State of Origin outs, Ciraldo moved him back to five-eighth on Tuesday for the team to face North Queensland.
The Bulldogs coach then stuck with Sexton in the No.7 jersey, Galvin going back to the bench in a role he has filled in two of four games for Canterbury.
Galvin's game was met with heavy scrutiny last week with Canterbury guilty of being impatient in attack during their 22-18 capitulation to Brisbane.
The mid-season recruit has come on in the halves in both games he has played off the bench with Sexton moving to hooker and Reed Mahoney taken from the field.
But pressure is growing on the Bulldogs to come up with a settled spine, with the club dropping from first to third and nine rounds left in the season.
Mahoney will join North Queensland next year after being granted a release from the final season of his contract, while Sexton is bound for Catalans in the English Super League.
Ciraldo's selection came as winger Marcelo Montoya was ruled out for up to six weeks with a neck injury, leaving Enari Tuala to play in his spot.
Elsewhere, Sam Walker is poised to make his NRL comeback from a ruptured ACL in the Sydney Roosters' halves, after a broken hand denied him that chance last month.
Coach Trent Robinson has named Hugo Savala to start alongside him at No.6, with Sandon Smith squeezed out of the 17 altogether.
Victor Radley will also return from a concussion for the Roosters against St George Illawarra, who have Luciano Leilua (quad) and Hamish Stewart (concussion) back.
Brisbane have moved playmaker Ben Hunt to hooker on his return from a hamstring injury, leaving Ezra Mam and Adam Reynolds in the halves.
They will face a Gold Coast side on Sunday night that has David Fifita back for the first time since round eight, while Jayden Campbell returns from concussion.
The Warriors have also landed on a crucial halves call, opting to make Tanah Boyd the new No.7 and leaving Te Maire Martin on the bench after Luke Metcalf's season-ending knee injury.
Taine Tuaupiki will also wear the Warriors' No.1 jersey against Wests Tigers on Sunday, with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (knee) sidelined.
There is better news for Melbourne at fullback with Ryan Papenhuyzen (calf) back in their team to face Newcastle on Sunday.
Craig Bellamy has ruled out winger Xavier Coates backing up from State of Origin III, while his other representatives remain on an extended bench.
The Knights have handed their No.1 jersey to Fletcher Hunt after Kalyn Ponga's season-ending foot injury, while fit-again winger Greg Marzhew is back.
Penrith will give themselves until later in the week to decide whether their Origin quintet back up against a Parramatta side that has mid-season recruit Tallyn Da Silva starting at hooker.
And Sean O'Sullivan will come into the Dolphins halves to face the reasonably settled Cronulla on Friday night, with Kodi Nikorima out for six weeks with a hamstring injury.
Canterbury have moved Lachlan Galvin back to the bench with coach Cameron Ciraldo reverting to Toby Sexton and Matt Burton as the club's first-choice halves.
One week after shifting Burton to centre to deal with State of Origin outs, Ciraldo moved him back to five-eighth on Tuesday for the team to face North Queensland.
The Bulldogs coach then stuck with Sexton in the No.7 jersey, Galvin going back to the bench in a role he has filled in two of four games for Canterbury.
Galvin's game was met with heavy scrutiny last week with Canterbury guilty of being impatient in attack during their 22-18 capitulation to Brisbane.
The mid-season recruit has come on in the halves in both games he has played off the bench with Sexton moving to hooker and Reed Mahoney taken from the field.
But pressure is growing on the Bulldogs to come up with a settled spine, with the club dropping from first to third and nine rounds left in the season.
Mahoney will join North Queensland next year after being granted a release from the final season of his contract, while Sexton is bound for Catalans in the English Super League.
Ciraldo's selection came as winger Marcelo Montoya was ruled out for up to six weeks with a neck injury, leaving Enari Tuala to play in his spot.
Elsewhere, Sam Walker is poised to make his NRL comeback from a ruptured ACL in the Sydney Roosters' halves, after a broken hand denied him that chance last month.
Coach Trent Robinson has named Hugo Savala to start alongside him at No.6, with Sandon Smith squeezed out of the 17 altogether.
Victor Radley will also return from a concussion for the Roosters against St George Illawarra, who have Luciano Leilua (quad) and Hamish Stewart (concussion) back.
Brisbane have moved playmaker Ben Hunt to hooker on his return from a hamstring injury, leaving Ezra Mam and Adam Reynolds in the halves.
They will face a Gold Coast side on Sunday night that has David Fifita back for the first time since round eight, while Jayden Campbell returns from concussion.
The Warriors have also landed on a crucial halves call, opting to make Tanah Boyd the new No.7 and leaving Te Maire Martin on the bench after Luke Metcalf's season-ending knee injury.
Taine Tuaupiki will also wear the Warriors' No.1 jersey against Wests Tigers on Sunday, with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (knee) sidelined.
There is better news for Melbourne at fullback with Ryan Papenhuyzen (calf) back in their team to face Newcastle on Sunday.
Craig Bellamy has ruled out winger Xavier Coates backing up from State of Origin III, while his other representatives remain on an extended bench.
The Knights have handed their No.1 jersey to Fletcher Hunt after Kalyn Ponga's season-ending foot injury, while fit-again winger Greg Marzhew is back.
Penrith will give themselves until later in the week to decide whether their Origin quintet back up against a Parramatta side that has mid-season recruit Tallyn Da Silva starting at hooker.
And Sean O'Sullivan will come into the Dolphins halves to face the reasonably settled Cronulla on Friday night, with Kodi Nikorima out for six weeks with a hamstring injury.
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7NEWS
28 minutes ago
- 7NEWS
Much-loved AFL champion Callan Ward lays bare brutal details of final Bulldogs act
Beloved AFL great Callan Ward has shared the grim details of his final days at the Western Bulldogs before his shock move to the GWS Giants. Ward, 35, left the Bulldogs at the end of 2011 to join the GWS Giants in their inaugural season in the AFL. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Callan Ward on his final day at the Bulldogs. Ward — who retired this year after suffering a shattering ACL injury in Round 12 — recalled his last game with the Bulldogs on Channel 7's Unfiltered. 'It's an unbelievably emotional game. The fans are absolutely with you until they're not. Fremantle, last game as a Dog, the boos ... OK, not a Dog anymore,' said gun interviewer Hamish McLachlan. 'I've never been booed in my life to start with, and I felt like I had a good rapport with a lot of the Dogs members and fans, and I'd always got on well with them,' Ward said on Unfiltered. 'I hadn't announced by then that I was leaving, but I think everybody knew that I was leaving, especially the Dogs people. 'It wasn't an enjoyable experience. I feel sorry for the guys that actually get booed every week. My mum hated it. I didn't play that well that day, but I think the umpires noticed Because I got two Brownlow votes that game.' Then a meeting was called a couple of days later which blindsided Ward and his teammates. 'So we obviously played, didn't play in the finals (that year), so we had a big Saturday and a big Sunday, and everyone got a text message on the Monday morning, mad Monday, morning at 7am or something,' Ward revealed. 'They said everybody is expected at the club at 8am. So nobody knew what it was. Everyone's just like, we have to get there, because it's obviously serious. 'We all got there, you know, rolling into the meeting room, and James Fantasia (the club's former football who resigned in 2013) is like, 'Wardy, up. Explain to the boys what's going on.' And the whole club was there, like, all the playing group, the whole club, and I'm panicking. I'm like, can hardly breathe. 'And I get up there and I have to tell them that I'm going to the Giants for five years. So I did not even know where to start ... I stumbled my way through, like a minute chat or whatever it was, and said, 'I'm leaving ... I'm going for five years. I've taken the Giants offer. I've loved playing here. Thanks, boys,' whatever it was. 'Then, when I sat down in my seat, because everyone had had their own seats, I sat down in the second row in my seat, and James Fantasia goes, 'What are you doing? Get out of here.' 'So I had to get up .... That was my last time in a Bulldogs meeting. I met the boys at the pub at 10am.' McLachlan said it was a 'very final' departure. 'Looking back, it was actually more funny than anything else. Like, even when James said 'get out', I heard a lot of laughs from the playing group. So it's more like humorous than anything else.' Ward said he made the decision to join the Giants after they offered him a 'life-changing' offer. 'You didn't even know there was a new team coming into the competition,' McLachlan said. 'Yeah, speaking about being naive ... (My manager) just turned up to my house, and he had a sheet of paper with all these names on it, and there were three names circled, and it was myself, Dale Thomas and Dayne Beams, I'm pretty sure, was the third one. 'He said there's a new team coming into the competition ... they didn't have a name back then. And he said, these are the players they're interested in and I was like, 'Why would they be interested in me?'. 'Like, I was a fourth year. I wasn't. I was playing OK, but I wasn't a gun. I was still learning how to play AFL football and how to be a professional footballer. And I was so young, so I was so surprised by that and, as you said, I didn't even know there was a new team coming into the competition.' The Giants offer was incredible and Ward informed the Dogs about it, but they didn't change their offer. The Giants also wanted Ward to be captain, but Ward's initial response to that was 'no way'. 'I think they saw leadership qualities in me for some reason ....,' he said. 'Anytime I was invited into the leadership group with the Dogs, which was only once or twice with some of the young boys, I'd just not go. I just like avoid it all completely because I just didn't want to speak in front of the group. I didn't want to be seen or try and do any leadership stuff. I dunno, I just didn't want to do it.' Ward also revealed he had a stutter when he was a child and had a fear of public speaking. He said the Giants offer was 'five or six times' what he was on at the Bulldogs, but he was determined to stay in Melbourne because he was 'so comfortable'. 'I've got all my family in Melbourne. Yeah, my friends here. I love Melbourne. I love the Western Bulldogs anyway ... as the months progressed I was kind of speaking to a few people about it, like my family and friends, and I was thinking about it a little bit but at the same time, like, not really. 'And then they upped the offer a little bit, I think, by 100 grand a few months later. And then I think it was maybe 700 (thousand) a year and I'm thinking maybe I should ... 'Like, 700 compared to what the Dogs offered me, which was less than half that. And I was kind of like, it's a good opportunity. I can come out of my shell a bit in a new in a new state ... sounds like the club's awesome, they've got some really good draft picks. 'So at 700 a year, I was like, money is a big factor here. That is life changing for me. Would never dream of being on that much as an AFL footballer or doing anything in my life. And then, so in my head, I think at that stage, I was like, I'm gonna go. 'And then I got a text message a week later saying they've upped offer by 100 grand a year. So I was like, I was going (anyway). I didn't tell them I was going, but I was gonna go for 700 so they upped it. So now I'm definitely going ....'
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
Cowboys bosses to put their football program under the microscope after Origin period destroys their season
The strife-torn Cowboys will put their football program under the microscope following concerns State of Origin burnout has destroyed their 2025 season. This masthead can reveal North Queensland bosses will investigate how the Cowboys manage the gruelling Origin period that has often derailed the Broncos' premiership ambitions. Cowboys football boss Micheal Luck has addressed concerns over player morale at the club and defended Todd Payten amid concerns the embattled coach could be sacked at season's end. The Cowboys have missed the playoffs for the third time in five seasons following last week's 32-12 loss to Cronulla and are in wooden spoon territory entering Sunday's away clash against the Eels in Sydney. 'No-one is satisfied here,' Luck said. 'We're under no illusions on where we need to improve to be consistent challengers for the competition.' ORIGIN DRAMA Semi-finalists last year, the Cowboys have been one of the disappointments of 2025. They have won just two of their past nine games and haven't saluted in back-to-back contests since their four-match winning streak in April. Currently 13th, the Cowboys (19) are three competition points ahead of equal last-placed Souths and the Titans, who square off on Sunday on the Gold Coast. North Queensland will hold a post-season review and Luck says the Origin period crushed a Cowboys squad that lost big guns Tom Dearden, Reuben Cotter, Jeremiah Nanai and Reece Robson to Maroons and NSW duty. 'There's no doubt we have underperformed to what expectations were at the start of the year,' he said. 'We've been inconsistent as a club. Even in 2023, (when the Cowboys finished 11th), our performances weren't great. 'Generally over the last four or five years, we've handled the Origin period really well. 'This year, for a couple of different reasons, we haven't. 'We went from being sixth or seventh when Origin came around. Now we've fallen back to 12th or 13th when the Origin period was over. 'That's an area we've really got to look at as a club moving forward _ around what our program content looks like, how we're training, how we're resting our Origin players and what they need to do when we get them back.' Dearden, Cotter, Nanai and Robson played all three Origin games this season. Winger Murray Taulagi also featured in the past three series. 'It's wonderful to have Origin players in your roster,' Luck said. 'But there's no doubt that it takes a fair gap out of any program for a couple of months, particularly when your two captains (Cotter and Dearden) are integral in the Origin program. 'Penrith and Melbourne face this every year and they know how to deal with the players that aren't involved. 'That's something we need to look at.' THE DEFENCE RESTS The Cowboys' defensive efforts this season have been appalling. When they reached the grand-final qualifier in 2022, Payten's troops were relentless without the ball, conceding an average of just 15 points per game. This year, the Cowboys have leaked almost double that at 29.7 per game. They have conceded 30 or more points in a game on a whopping 10 occasions. The nadir was a 58-point debacle against the Dolphins at home in round 15. 'A lack of continuity with our squad has made it difficult to be consistent in a defensive structure,' said Luck, who himself was a defensive ironman in his 226-game career with the Warriors and Cowboys. 'This year, we've had six halves pairings, so that's six different variations of who's defending in that three spot. 'We've had injuries to the outside backs and middle forwards filling in at edge back row. 'Another thing that's contributed to the lack of positive results are the injuries and the absences of some of our more influential players. 'We've had guys that have spent long periods of time on the sideline that, to the casual viewer, mightn't seem all that important, but within a team dynamic, they are. 'By that, I'm talking guys like Jason Taumalolo, Murray Taulagi and Jordan McLean, who have a huge presence in the dressing room. 'That all impacts on your defensive structures. 'That's what we've learned around roster construction moving forward, having players with the character, ability and influence to fill the void and pick up the slack when our big boys aren't there.' THE COACH Payten is off-contract at the end of 2026. The Cowboys do not have a history of adopting knee-jerk reactions by sacking coaches and Payten hopes to survive an end-of-season review to return for a sixth campaign next season. Luck wouldn't be drawn on Payten's future but concedes the coach is confronting the toughest period of his career. 'There's pressure on every head coach in the comp,' he said. 'Looking at some of the commentary around Ivan Cleary early in the year when the Panthers started a bit slow, I couldn't believe some of the stuff I was reading from a coach that has been consistently excellent for a long period of time. 'They had just won four competitions in a row and people are starting to question him. So that comes with the territory. 'I'll say this, and Todd will probably agree ... it's probably been his toughest year of his tenure, with the absence of a lot of senior players and influential players for a long period of time, particularly when the going was tough.' 'But Toddy's been resolute in his attitude towards coaching this team and making this club a better place.' THE WHITE KNIGHT Cowboys champion Thurston was such a competitive force that he virtually willed North Queensland to their first premiership in 2015. Now, a decade later, Luck believes the Cowboys possess a similarly single-minded competitor in Dearden. The Broncos reject has saved his career in Townsville and Luck says Dearden, buoyed by his incredible rise to the Queensland No.7 jumper this season, is a title-winning force. 'Absolutely, yes,' Luck said. 'I think he proved that in Origin this year. 'There were some question marks on the decision that Billy (Slater) made in Origin by replacing Daly (Cherry-Evans) after that first game, but Tommy answered those unequivocally with the performances he put up. 'Even last weekend against the Dragons, that game was in the balance when it shouldn't have been and he more or less won the game on his own at the back end of it. 'Tommy's stamping his mark as the team's director and he's certainly the leader on the field. 'He's a player that can win you games and I don't see him moving away from the No.7 jumper now. 'I have no doubt that he deserves to win a premiership at some point in his career and I'd to think he does it here.' THE CHAMPION The Cowboys have copped brickbats for handing Jason Taumalolo a 10-year contract, which expires in 2027. The 32-year-old has played just six matches this year - his worst seasonal output in 14 years - but Luck remains confident the 281-game Dally M champion will not retire early. 'Along with the other 'JT' (Thurston), Jase will go down as one of the best Cowboys players to ever wear the jersey,' he said. 'I have no doubt he can see out his deal and get to the end of the 2027 season if he manages himself right and our performance staff manage him right. 'It's like any player as they get older and is involved in 40 or 50 car crashes every weekend, they have to be managed a little differently. 'With the older guys you have to know when to pull the hand brake and when they are red lining and ease up a bit. It will be the same with Jase over the next few years. 'The players love him. The influence he has had on this club over a long period of time is immense and continues to be and will be long after he leaves. 'He is still the chief in our dressing room. What he says goes.' TEAM MORALE Luck says he would be disappointed if Cowboys players weren't hurting about their below-par season. 'When the team performs below expectation, there comes pressure and there comes noise around that,' he said. 'It's a group that are rock solid and we get that a bit organically because of where we're situated (in Townsville) and how much time we spend together on planes and buses and all the travel we do. 'But is there tension that comes with being half-a-dozen spots on the ladder below where you ideally want to be? Of course there is. But I think that's a good thing. 'No-one's happy about being where we are and everyone's pushing each other to get better and to improve performances and be where should be, which is well entrenched in the top six teams in the competition.'
The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Toohey's News: Two halves told they're free to leave the Knights; veteran re-signs
Experienced Newcastle halves Jack Cogger and Tyson Gamble have been told they are free to leave at the end of the season if they can secure a longer-term deal at a rival club as the Knights prepare to announce the re-signing of veteran forward Tyson Frizell. We're told Frizell and Knights officials reached a mutual agreement on a new 12-month contract earlier this week, effectively bringing to an end protracted negotiations that dragged on for well over a month. In a carbon copy of the new deal Dane Gagai signed last week, the Knights gave up some ground on their initial offer to the 33-year-old to get him over the line after originally opting not to take up the option in his existing contract. But while doubt over Frizell has been put to bed, the future of a number of his contracted teammates is not cut and dried. Cogger and Gamble both have a year to run on their current deals and are well within their rights to stay and fight for a top-grade spot next season. But with Dylan Brown's arrival, it's understood their agents have been encouraged to find them longer-term contracts elsewhere as neither are expected to feature in Newcastle's plans post 2026. Gamble has been linked with a rumoured move to the English Super League but at this stage, that appears unlikely. Another contracted player said to be on the outer less than 12 months after he switched codes is rugby recruit Taj Annan. The former Queensland Reds winger is yet to play NRL and appears to be struggling to adapt to the physicality of rugby league. He seems almost certain to be squeezed out at the end of the season with a year to run on his deal. The player shake-up comes as Knights head of recruitment Peter O'Sullivan looks to create some space in a crowded roster. As it stands with Frizell staying and the signing of former Penrith and Wests Tigers outside back Asu Kepaoa late last week, the club's top 30 roster is full. Something has to give with the club in negotiations to sign Trey Mooney after meeting with the Canberra Raiders prop in Newcastle on Tuesday. They also want another top-grade hooker. The Knights are playing a waiting game for the hooker with their preferred option believed to be currently contracted to a rival club. Jake Arthur's footy smarts and superior kicking game is behind his elevation to the top grade for his Knights' NRL debut against Penrith on Friday night at the expense of Tyson Gamble and Jackson Hastings. His NSW Cup stats are impressive. In 14 games this season, Arthur has 25 try assists and forced seven line dropouts. His long kicking game is also a strength. Arthur is a free agent at the end of the season and his future at the Knights may hinge on whether the club can offload either Gamble or Cogger. He has attracted interest from Hull in the English Super League. Young centre Kyle McCarthy may be signed for next year with an option in his favour for 2027 but the dogs are barking he is no certainty to remain at the Knights. We're hearing there are at least a couple of rival clubs who are sniffing around the 21-year-old and may be prepared to offer him even more security than he has in Newcastle. At the same time, it's believed there are those at the Knights who are yet to be convinced about his long-term prospects as an NRL centre after his six appearances in the top grade. Given top 30 spots are at a premium, the word is he could be another player let go if a better offer materialises elsewhere. Meanwhile, the Knights don't appear to be in any rush to lock down promising youngsters Wilson de Courcey or Connor Votano either. Both are contracted next season with De Courcey in the top 30 despite not having debuted yet while Votano is one of three players with development contracts in 2026. Both are certain to attract interest from rivals if their contracts aren't extended prior to November 1. One player the Knights have vowed to play the long game with is highly touted teenage centre Kingston Seve. Seve, who linked with the club last month, doesn't turn 17 until December but has already attracted plenty of media attention north of the border after Peter O'Sullivan signed him to the Dolphins as a 14-year-old. At the time, he had a host of NRL clubs chasing him. So highly does O'Sullivan rate his potential, he has brought him to Newcastle on a four-year-deal. MORE NEWCASTLE SPORT Experienced Newcastle halves Jack Cogger and Tyson Gamble have been told they are free to leave at the end of the season if they can secure a longer-term deal at a rival club as the Knights prepare to announce the re-signing of veteran forward Tyson Frizell. We're told Frizell and Knights officials reached a mutual agreement on a new 12-month contract earlier this week, effectively bringing to an end protracted negotiations that dragged on for well over a month. In a carbon copy of the new deal Dane Gagai signed last week, the Knights gave up some ground on their initial offer to the 33-year-old to get him over the line after originally opting not to take up the option in his existing contract. But while doubt over Frizell has been put to bed, the future of a number of his contracted teammates is not cut and dried. Cogger and Gamble both have a year to run on their current deals and are well within their rights to stay and fight for a top-grade spot next season. But with Dylan Brown's arrival, it's understood their agents have been encouraged to find them longer-term contracts elsewhere as neither are expected to feature in Newcastle's plans post 2026. Gamble has been linked with a rumoured move to the English Super League but at this stage, that appears unlikely. Another contracted player said to be on the outer less than 12 months after he switched codes is rugby recruit Taj Annan. The former Queensland Reds winger is yet to play NRL and appears to be struggling to adapt to the physicality of rugby league. He seems almost certain to be squeezed out at the end of the season with a year to run on his deal. The player shake-up comes as Knights head of recruitment Peter O'Sullivan looks to create some space in a crowded roster. As it stands with Frizell staying and the signing of former Penrith and Wests Tigers outside back Asu Kepaoa late last week, the club's top 30 roster is full. Something has to give with the club in negotiations to sign Trey Mooney after meeting with the Canberra Raiders prop in Newcastle on Tuesday. They also want another top-grade hooker. The Knights are playing a waiting game for the hooker with their preferred option believed to be currently contracted to a rival club. Jake Arthur's footy smarts and superior kicking game is behind his elevation to the top grade for his Knights' NRL debut against Penrith on Friday night at the expense of Tyson Gamble and Jackson Hastings. His NSW Cup stats are impressive. In 14 games this season, Arthur has 25 try assists and forced seven line dropouts. His long kicking game is also a strength. Arthur is a free agent at the end of the season and his future at the Knights may hinge on whether the club can offload either Gamble or Cogger. He has attracted interest from Hull in the English Super League. Young centre Kyle McCarthy may be signed for next year with an option in his favour for 2027 but the dogs are barking he is no certainty to remain at the Knights. We're hearing there are at least a couple of rival clubs who are sniffing around the 21-year-old and may be prepared to offer him even more security than he has in Newcastle. At the same time, it's believed there are those at the Knights who are yet to be convinced about his long-term prospects as an NRL centre after his six appearances in the top grade. Given top 30 spots are at a premium, the word is he could be another player let go if a better offer materialises elsewhere. Meanwhile, the Knights don't appear to be in any rush to lock down promising youngsters Wilson de Courcey or Connor Votano either. Both are contracted next season with De Courcey in the top 30 despite not having debuted yet while Votano is one of three players with development contracts in 2026. Both are certain to attract interest from rivals if their contracts aren't extended prior to November 1. One player the Knights have vowed to play the long game with is highly touted teenage centre Kingston Seve. Seve, who linked with the club last month, doesn't turn 17 until December but has already attracted plenty of media attention north of the border after Peter O'Sullivan signed him to the Dolphins as a 14-year-old. At the time, he had a host of NRL clubs chasing him. So highly does O'Sullivan rate his potential, he has brought him to Newcastle on a four-year-deal. MORE NEWCASTLE SPORT Experienced Newcastle halves Jack Cogger and Tyson Gamble have been told they are free to leave at the end of the season if they can secure a longer-term deal at a rival club as the Knights prepare to announce the re-signing of veteran forward Tyson Frizell. We're told Frizell and Knights officials reached a mutual agreement on a new 12-month contract earlier this week, effectively bringing to an end protracted negotiations that dragged on for well over a month. In a carbon copy of the new deal Dane Gagai signed last week, the Knights gave up some ground on their initial offer to the 33-year-old to get him over the line after originally opting not to take up the option in his existing contract. But while doubt over Frizell has been put to bed, the future of a number of his contracted teammates is not cut and dried. Cogger and Gamble both have a year to run on their current deals and are well within their rights to stay and fight for a top-grade spot next season. But with Dylan Brown's arrival, it's understood their agents have been encouraged to find them longer-term contracts elsewhere as neither are expected to feature in Newcastle's plans post 2026. Gamble has been linked with a rumoured move to the English Super League but at this stage, that appears unlikely. Another contracted player said to be on the outer less than 12 months after he switched codes is rugby recruit Taj Annan. The former Queensland Reds winger is yet to play NRL and appears to be struggling to adapt to the physicality of rugby league. He seems almost certain to be squeezed out at the end of the season with a year to run on his deal. The player shake-up comes as Knights head of recruitment Peter O'Sullivan looks to create some space in a crowded roster. As it stands with Frizell staying and the signing of former Penrith and Wests Tigers outside back Asu Kepaoa late last week, the club's top 30 roster is full. Something has to give with the club in negotiations to sign Trey Mooney after meeting with the Canberra Raiders prop in Newcastle on Tuesday. They also want another top-grade hooker. The Knights are playing a waiting game for the hooker with their preferred option believed to be currently contracted to a rival club. Jake Arthur's footy smarts and superior kicking game is behind his elevation to the top grade for his Knights' NRL debut against Penrith on Friday night at the expense of Tyson Gamble and Jackson Hastings. His NSW Cup stats are impressive. In 14 games this season, Arthur has 25 try assists and forced seven line dropouts. His long kicking game is also a strength. Arthur is a free agent at the end of the season and his future at the Knights may hinge on whether the club can offload either Gamble or Cogger. He has attracted interest from Hull in the English Super League. Young centre Kyle McCarthy may be signed for next year with an option in his favour for 2027 but the dogs are barking he is no certainty to remain at the Knights. We're hearing there are at least a couple of rival clubs who are sniffing around the 21-year-old and may be prepared to offer him even more security than he has in Newcastle. At the same time, it's believed there are those at the Knights who are yet to be convinced about his long-term prospects as an NRL centre after his six appearances in the top grade. Given top 30 spots are at a premium, the word is he could be another player let go if a better offer materialises elsewhere. Meanwhile, the Knights don't appear to be in any rush to lock down promising youngsters Wilson de Courcey or Connor Votano either. Both are contracted next season with De Courcey in the top 30 despite not having debuted yet while Votano is one of three players with development contracts in 2026. Both are certain to attract interest from rivals if their contracts aren't extended prior to November 1. One player the Knights have vowed to play the long game with is highly touted teenage centre Kingston Seve. Seve, who linked with the club last month, doesn't turn 17 until December but has already attracted plenty of media attention north of the border after Peter O'Sullivan signed him to the Dolphins as a 14-year-old. At the time, he had a host of NRL clubs chasing him. So highly does O'Sullivan rate his potential, he has brought him to Newcastle on a four-year-deal. MORE NEWCASTLE SPORT
