The Dragons have rejected young fullback Tyrell Sloan’s release request in a blow to the Dolphins’ rumoured bid to sign him.
Meanwhile, Andrew Johns has backed the Knights to get the best out of Luke Brooks.
Read on for all the latest NRL Transfer Whispers.
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DRAGONS DENY DISGRUNTLED YOUNG GUN RELEASE
The Dragons have reportedly denied young fullback Tyrell Sloan an early release from his contract after he put in a request to the club.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported the Dragons officially rejected Sloan’s request to be released from the remainder of his contract in a bid to join the Dolphins.
The 20-year-old is signed to the Dragons until the end of the 2024 season, but requested a release after playing just eight games in 2022 and rarely in his preferred fullback position.
Sloan burst onto the NRL scene in 2021 with six tries in his first five NRL games and was tipped for big things in 2022.
However, Sloan scored just one try in eight games this season with coach Anthony Griffin favouring Cody Ramsey and Moses Mbye in the No.1 role.
Sloan played limited minutes off the bench when he was recalled to first grade in Round 20 and 21 after a long period out of the team, before he was shifted to the wing for the final two games of the year.
His inability to crack first grade, despite the Dragons failing to play finals sparked rumours of a rift with coach Griffin.
Griffin also failed to give opportunities to fellow young gun Jayden Sullivan, who has been linked with a move to the Bulldogs.
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JOHNS BACKS KNIGHTS TO MAKE BROOKS A STAR
Knights assistant coach Andrew Johns believes the Knights can help Tigers halfback Luke Brooks reach his potential in rugby league.
The Knights are in desperate need of a halfback after failing to fill the void left by Mitchell Pearce’s departure having reportedly twice missed on luring Brooks to the Hunter last off-season.
Brooks is signed to the Tigers for 2023 on a deal worth north of $1 million and is reportedly in talks over an extension at a reduced price tag.
However, the Knights haven’t given up hope in luring their prime No.7 target to Newcastle either for 2023 or 2024 and beyond.
Speaking on Wide World of Sports’ Freddy and the Eighth, Johns believes the Knights need a circuit-breaker signing to build the club around and while Brooks is not that player yet, he backed Newcastle to get him up to that level.
“If you have a look at clubs over the years, Souths were struggling – they signed Sam (Burgess),” Johns said.
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“Manly was struggling – they signed Ben Kennedy back in the day. But you need that real top-line player.
“If you have a look at Souths, they brought in Sam Burgess and then they brought in Greg Inglis. Sometimes you need that player in your club to turn things around.”
Johns was challenged that Brooks is not in the class of Burgess or Inglis, but was adamant the Knights can get the best out of him.
“I think we can get him there,” Johns said.
“I think he hasn’t reached his potential. We’ve seen signs consistently and he’s at that stage of his career, he’s 27.
“I think strip it back and make it simpler. I think he’s at his best when he’s on the advantage line, getting the ball – not getting the ball off front rowers – he is getting the quality ball and going at the defence.”
Brooks has scored 42 tries in 189 games for the Tigers since his NRL debut in 2013.
