With the Four Nations finished and the pre-season well and truly started, questions have already been raised about the players coming off-contract. With a mix of the game’s biggest
With a mix of the game’s biggest superstars along with the crème of the crop in terms of youngsters, 2017 will see one of the biggest player movement seasons in recent seasons.
So much talent is without a team for 2018, there’s enough to form two competitive teams of off-contract talent.
While Team One would put up quite a fight, Team Two carrying the likes of Thurston and Taumalolo would reign supreme. While Paul Gallen is tipped to end his career at the end of 2017, the likes of Jason Taumalolo and Anthony Milford are tipped to sign the biggest contracts of their careers, with both set to earn $1,000,000 contracts.
Kieran Foran’s situation will be intriguing, signing a one-year deal with the New Zealand Warriors. While Foran stated he signed with New Zealand to return home and help with his mental state, there are thoughts Foran may decide to return to Sydney for 2018, where his ex-partner and child remain to live. If Foran was to return to Sydney, it would leave the Warriors seeking another playmaker, with Anthony Milford and Mitchell Moses both potential targets.
Despite Ben Barba’s immediate release due to testing positive for recreational drugs and Paul Gallen’s assumed retirement, Cronulla still has a fight on their hands to retain their stars. Young stars Jack Bird and Valentine Holmes could be seduced by not only the money from other clubs but the chance to play more integral positions.
While Holmes is set to replace Barba at fullback, Jack Bird voiced his unhappiness about playing centre, citing the lack of ball as his main reason. The possibility to play fullback or in the halves could tempt Bird away from the Shire, with both Newcastle and junior club St George Illawarra poised to offer Bird a long-term position in their spine.
Fill-in captain Wade Graham is viewed as a must sign for Cronulla fans, with the Blues backrower poised to take over Cronulla’s captaincy in 2018.
Brisbane also has a big year ahead in terms of retention. Brisbane’s entire spine (Boyd, Milford, Hunt and McCullough) are all off-contract, while backline stars James Roberts, Jordan Kahu and Corey Oates also see their contracts expire. Potential 2017 captain, Darius Boyd, will be in need of re-signing, while international forwards Josh McGuire, Adam Blair and Alex Glenn also seek to remain at Red Hill.
As the rumour mill continues to churn, the whispers of Ben Hunt joining Parramatta are becoming louder and louder. Milford’s contract will be set for a massive upgrade, set to be rewarded for his strong form with a seven-figure contract. Whether the contract is Brisbane is yet to be seen, though the Broncos do have a history of retaining players for less.
As the rumour mill continues to churn, the whispers of Ben Hunt joining Parramatta are becoming louder and louder. Milford’s contract will be set for a massive upgrade, set to be rewarded for his strong form with a seven-figure contract. Whether the contract is Brisbane is yet to be seen, though the Broncos do have a history of retaining players for less.
South Sydney are one club who won’t have too many retention issues to worry about, announcing a string of re-signings over the off-season, prior to November 1. State of Origin stars Adam Reynolds and Greg Inglis have re-signed to 2021 and 2020 respectively, while the likes of Zane Musgrove, Hymel Hunt, Jack Gosiewski and Damien Cook have all put pen to paper since season’s end. The biggest re-signing the Rabbitohs have made however is the extension of premiership-winning coach Michael Maguire’s stay at the club, signing on to 2019.
Newcastle have been rather non-cholent with their attitude to retention, with club CEO Matt Gidley saying Newcastle “certainly won’t be in any hurry” to re-sign off-contract stars, stating “we’ve got a number of players off-contract next year so we’re hoping all those players off contract next year give a good account of themselves”.
Next season looms as a big season for both recruitment and retention for all clubs, with several past, present and future rep stars for sale. Whether many players jump ship will be a massive talking point, with players putting off negotiations until the salary cap for 2018 is announced. With that being a few months off, there’s no telling where each player will be come 2018.