Storm hand out major extension, Panthers extend key spine member by StuffsEarth

Melbourne have announced a new deal for Nick Meaney, handing the versatile back an extra year to his contract in an attempt to stave off interest in his services.

Meaney initially joined as a depth option, but forced his way into contention for Craig Bellamy as a back-up to Ryan Papenhuyzen, covering at fullback for almost a year due to injury, then reinventing himself again as a centre this year.

“Making the move to Melbourne has been a great decision career-wise and just for life in general,” said the player.

“I really felt at home quickly both here at the club and living in Melbourne. I’ve made a home here with my family and I’m really happy to have my future sorted until the end of the 2026 season.”

Penrith have locked in a key member of their spine with a new contract for Premiership-winning hooker Mitch Kenny.

He has been extended until the end of the 2027 season, paving the way for him to continue his combination with Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo.

“I’m thrilled to commit to the Panthers because this place is home to me,” said the hooker.

“Ivan Cleary and everyone at the club have supported me from the beginning, and I’m excited to repay the faith to them.

“It’s great to have the opportunity to continue wearing the Panthers jersey and representing our community for another three seasons.”

Canberra have announced an extension for star centre Matt Timoko that will see the Kiwi international stay at the club until 2026 at least.

The 24-year-old would have been free to speak to other clubs from November 1 of this year, but will now remain in the capital for the foreseeable.

“This club has done a lot,” he said.

“The big thing I can see with this club is there is a clear pathway of where they want to get to and there’s a lot of emerging talent and I really believe that this club can do a lot of special things over the next couple of years, so I’m happy to be on board, be along with the journey and help some of the younger guys coming through too.” 

St George Illawarra have announced that star outside back Zac Lomax will depart the club at the end of the season, with several clubs now swirling to make the 24-year-old offers.

Lomax has been on the outer since new coach Shane Flanagan shifted him to the wing from his preferred centre role, and had asked for an immediate release from his deal, but instead agreed to stay until the end of this year.

“While Lomax will fulfill his contractual obligations with the Dragons for the 2024 season, his contracted years for 2025 and 2026 will be terminated with no financial contribution to be made by the club in these years, allowing him the freedom to explore opportunities with other clubs effective immediately,” said a statement from the club.

Dragons CEO Ryan Webb added that it gave security to both parties.

“By finalising this decision now, it provides both Zac and the club with clarity regarding the future, allowing us time to strategise for the upcoming seasons,” he said.

“This arrangement enables the Dragons to focus on refining our Top 30 roster and utilising additional cap space, while Zac can pursue his future endeavours with another club.”

The Dolphins have secured one of their brightest talents until 2028 with a new deal for 20-year-old half Isaiya Katoa.

The Tonga international had been one of the hottest properties on a sparse halves market, and with his former club Penrith looking for a Jarome Luai replacement, there had been plenty of chatter that a high profile return might have been on the cards.

Instead, the player will stay at Redcliffe for at least the next four seasons on a deal estimated to be worth $500,000 a year.

Brisbane are set to announce one of the biggest deals in their history with superstar fullback Reece Walsh to be given an upgrade that will see him become the best paid Bronco ever.

Walsh, who is currently injured after suffering a facial fracture in last week’s loss to Penrith, will land a mammoth $5.5m over five years, making him the first Brisbane player to top $1.1m in annual salary and tripling what he currently earns.

He was able to talk to rival clubs from November 1 of this year but after leaving Red Hill for the Warriors, then moving back last year, he had no interest in doing so and will ink his new deal imminently, according to the Courier-Mail.

He joins fellow half Ezra Mam in signing up long term at the Broncos, with the pair – both aged 21 – set to lead the club for the next five years at least.

Five-eighth Luke Metcalf has agreed to a new deal with the Warriors following a breakout 2023 season under Andrew Webster.

The Warriors announced on Monday that Metcalf will stay in Auckland until at least the end of the 2026 campaign.

The 25-year-old had struggled to make a breakthrough at previous clubs Manly and Cronulla, but contributed six tries in 12 NRL games en route to the Warriors reaching last year’s preliminary final.

“I always just wanted someone to show me a bit of love and back me as a player,” Metcalf said in a club statement.

“I have to put the hard work in myself but when ‘Webby’ had that chat with me and let me know, ‘Hey we want you here long term’, I knew in my heart extending here is what I wanted to do.

“I can’t wait to re-pay the faith they’ve shown in me. I grew up idolising Shaun Johnson and now he’s my teammate … We’re building something pretty special here.”

The Warriors have also extended hooker Freddy Lussick‘s deal until the end of 2026.

The Panthers have moved to extend one of their most promising local juniors with a three-year deal for centre Izack Tago.

The 21-year-old already has two premierships with Penrith and will now be signed up until the end of the 2028 season, locking him in as a key part of the club’s future.

“I’m extremely happy to re-sign with the club. Even though I was already signed here for a couple of years, it’s great to lock in my future at my home club for another few years,” he said.

“Most of the team are Panthers juniors and we’ve all got a special relationship, so for me to stay here for as long as I can is something I’m excited about.”

Canterbury have added to their forward stocks with the signing of veteran Zane Tetevano and fellow prop Daniel Suluka-Fifita, who has been released by the Rabbitohs while Max King has re-signed until the end of 2027.

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NRL Transfer Centre

Team by team, here’s how each club’s roster is shaping up. PO denotes player option, CO club option and MO mutual option.

Brisbane Broncos

2024 recruits

Fletcher Baker (Roosters), Jaiyden Hunt (Dragons), Kurt Capewell (Warriors)

2024 departures

Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins), Keenan Palasia (Titans), Tom Flegler (Dolphins), Logan Bayliss-Brow (unsigned), Kurt Capewell (Warriors)

Canberra Raiders

2024 recruits

Simi Sasagi (Knights), Kaeo Weekes (Sea Eagles), Morgan Smithies (Wigan), Zac Hosking (Panthers)

2024 departures

Jarrod Croker (retired), Clay Webb (unsigned), Jack Wighton (Rabbitohs), Matt Frawley (Leeds), Harley Smith-Shields (Titans)

Canterbury Bulldogs

2024 recruits

Stephen Crichton (Panthers), Blake Taaffe (Rabbitohs), Bronson Xerri (drugs ban), Stephen Crichton (Panthers), Jaeman Salmon (Panthers), Josh Curran (Warriors), Drew Hutchison (Roosters), Kurt Mann (Knights), Jake Turpin (Roosters), Poasa Faamausili (Dolphins), Connor Tracey (Sharks), Zane Tetevano (Leeds), Daniel Suluka-Fifita (Rabbitohs)

2024 departures

Jake Averillo (Dolphins), Raymond Faitala-Mariner (Dragons), Tevita Pangai jnr (retired), Kyle Flanagan (Dragons), Paul Alamoti (Panthers), Luke Thompson (Wigan), Corey Waddell (Sea Eagles), Braidon Burns (unsigned), Declan Casey (unsigned)

Cronulla Sharks

2024 recruits

Nil

2024 departures

Wade Graham (retired), Jensen Taumoepeau (unsigned), Matt Moylan (Leigh), Connor Tracey (Bulldogs)

The Dolphins

2024 recruits

Herbie Farnworth (Broncos), Tom Flegler (Broncos), Oryn Keely (Knights), Jake Averillo (Bulldogs)

2024 departures

Brenko Lee (retired), Herman Ese’ese (Hull FC), Poasa Faamausili (Bulldogs), JJ Collins (unsigned)

Gold Coast Titans

2024 recruits

Keenan Palasia (Broncos), Harley Smith-Shields (Raiders)

2024 departures

Kruise Leeming (Wigan), Joe Vuna (unsigned).

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

2024 recruits

Corey Waddell (Bulldogs), Luke Brooks (Wests Tigers), Tommy Talau (Wests Tigers), Jaxson Paulo (Roosters), Aitasi James (Wests Tigers)

2024 departures

Kelma Tuilagi (Eels), Morgan Harper (Eels), Kaeo Weekes (Raiders), Sean Keppie (Rabbitohs), Morgan Boyle (unsigned), Latu Fainu, Samuela Fainu (Tigers) , Christian Tuipulotu (Dragons), Zac Fulton (Bradford)

Melbourne Storm

2024 recruits

Shawn Blore (Tigers)

2024 departures

George Jennings (unsigned), Jordan Grant (unsigned), Tom Eisenhuth (unsigned), Tariq Sims (Catalans), Jayden Nikorima (Catalans), Justin Olam (Tigers)

Newcastle Knights

2024 recruits

Kai Pearce-Paul (Wigan), Will Pryce (Huddersfield), Tom Jenkins (Panthers), Jack Cogger (Panthers), Jed Cartwright (Rabbitohs)

2024 departures

Dominic Young (Roosters), Lachlan Fitzgibbon (Warrington), Adam Clune (Huddersfield), Simi Sasagi (Raiders), Lachlan Miller (Leeds), Fa’amanu Brown (Hull FC), Oryn Keeley (Dolphins), Kurt Mann (Bulldogs), Dane Aukafolau (unsigned), Hymel Hunt (unsigned), Jack Johns (unsigned)

NZ Warriors

2024 recruits

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (All Blacks), Chanel Harris-Tavita (sabbatical), Kurt Capewell (Broncos)

2024 losses

Viliame Vailea (Cowboys), Bayley Sironen (Catalans), Brayden Wiliame (retired), Josh Curran (Bulldogs)

North Queensland Cowboys

2024 recruits

Jake Clifford (Super League), Viliami Vailea (Warriors)

2024 departures

James Tamou (retired), Peta Hiku (Hull KR), Mitch Dunn (unsigned), Ben Hampton (unsigned), Gehamat Shibasaki (unsigned), Jake Bourke (unsigned), Brendan Elliot (unsigned), Riley Price (Panthers)

Parramatta Eels

2024 gains

Kelma Tuilagi (Sea Eagles), Morgan Harper (Sea Eagles).

2024 departures

Josh Hodgson (retirement), Jack Murchie (Huddersfield), Andrew Davey (retirement), Waqa Blake (unsigned), Samuel Loizou (unsigned)

Penrith Panthers

2024 recruits

Daine Laurie (Wests Tigers), Brad Schneider (Hull KR), Paul Alamoti (Bulldogs)

2024 departures

Stephen Crichton (Bulldogs), Jack Cogger (Knights), Spencer Leniu (Roosters), Jaeman Salmon (Bulldogs), Tom Jenkins (Knights), Chris Smith (unsigned), Eddie Blacker (unsigned), Zac Hosking (Raiders)

St George Illawarra Dragons

2024 recruits

Hame Sele (Rabbitohs), Kyle Flanagan, Raymond Faitala-Mariner (Bulldogs), Corey Allan (Roosters), Christian Tuipulotu (Sea Eagles)

2024 departures

Jayden Sullivan (Wests Tigers), Zane Musgrove (Warrington Wolves), Billy Burns (unsigned), Tyrell Fuimaono (unsigned), Jaiyden Hunt (Broncos), Nick Lui-Toso (unsigned), Tautau Moga (unsigned), Junior Amone (deregistered), Paul Turner (Featherstone Rovers)

South Sydney Rabbitohs

2024 recruits

Jack Wighton (Raiders), Sean Keppie (Sea Eagles)

2024 departures

Blake Taaffe (Bulldogs), Hame Sele (Dragons), Jed Cartwright (Knights), Daniel Suluka-Fifita (Bulldogs)

2025 departures

Thomas Burgess (Huddersfield)

Sydney Roosters

2024 recruits

Dominic Young (Knights), Lewis Murphy (Wakefield Trinity), Spencer Leniu (Panthers), Michael Jennings (drugs ban)

2024 departures

Fletcher Baker (Broncos), Jake Turpin (Bulldogs), Corey Allan (unsigned), Nathan Brown (unsigned), Paul Momirovski (unsigned), Ben Thomas (unsigned), Jaxson Paulo (Sea Eagles), Matt Lodge (Sea Eagles), Paul Momirovski (Leeds Rhinos), Drew Hutchison (Bulldogs)

2025 departures

Joseph Suaalii (rugby), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Hull KR)

Wests Tigers

2024 recruits

Jayden Sullivan (Dragons), Aidan Sezer (Leeds), Latu Fainu, Samuela Fainu (Sea Eagles), Justin Olam (Storm)

2024 departures

Shawn Blore (Storm), Tuki Simpkins (unsigned), Brandon Wakeham (unsigned), Luke Brooks (Sea Eagles), Tommy Talau (Sea Eagles), Daine Laurie (Panthers), Aitasi James (Sea Eagles), Rua Ngatikaura (unsigned), David Nofoaluma (Salford)