The Storm are reportedly eyeing Eels five-eighth Dylan Brown if Cameron Munster leaves, while Luke Brooks’ management has met with the Newcastle Knights.
Read on for all the latest NRL transfer Whispers.
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STORM EYE EELS STAR AS POTENTIAL MUNSTER REPLACEMENT
The Storm have their sights set on Eels playmaker Dylan Brown should Cameron Munster opt to leave the club at the end of the 2023 season.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported the Storm will enter the Brown sweepstakes should Munster join the Dolphins or Tigers with his next contract call.
Like Munster, Brown is contracted for 2023, but is free to negotiate with NRL rivals from November 1, with the salary cap set to increase in 2023.
Brown has reportedly delayed his contract talks until after the World Cup, which could see his value rise even higher if he has a big tournament in the UK.
The Storm reportedly expect a call on Munster’s future for 2024 and beyond in the next fortnight.
Munster is weighing up a $1 million a season offer from the Storm, which is reportedly $300,000 less than the Dolphins are willing to offer.
Meanwhile, the Tigers have come into calculations late and would need to trump both the Storm and the Dolphins’ offer to land Munster.
Brown would be an ideal fit at the Storm alongside New Zealand scrumbase partner Jahrome Hughes.
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However, the Storm may also opt to use Munster’s money to improve their squad in other areas and develop promising young half Jonah Pezet.
The Eels have the money to retain Brown and halves partner Mitchell Moses, but it depends on what other clubs are willing to offer for their services.
Brown was asked by The Herald about the link to Melbourne in the build-up to the Eels’ crunch semi-final with the Raiders.
“Melbourne? There are no beaches there, mate,” Brown told The Herald.
“I have no clue what I want to do, to be honest. I don’t think about my contract until I’m asked. We’ll see.”
Brown was also linked to a move to the Raiders last season.
“I’ll have to message Ricky and ask him. It’s a bit cold down there,” Brown said.
The development comes as Tigers coach Tim Sheens confirmed the club’s interest in Munster.
“We will be competitive with the best price that he gets offered,” Sheens told News Corp.
“If he is interested in us, we will do our best to match or beat any offer.”
NRL 360 co-host Paul Kent said that the Tigers will have to throw everything at Munster if they want to get him to join the club after finishing this season with the wooden spoon.
“(The offer) is going to have to be more than anyone,” he said.
“Why would Munster go to the Tigers for the same money the Dolphins are offering or even the same money the Storm are offering?
“They’re going to have to give him Leichhardt Oval.”
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But The Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carayannis told NRL 360 that he fears the Tigers are playing a “dangerous game” with Adam Doueihi given their confirmed interest in Munster could not only fall flat, but also cost them arguably their best player.
“I think they’ve identified a couple of players, Adam Doueihi would be one and Matt Burton would be another that if Cam does leave, they’re the two that they pinpointed,” Carayannis told NRL 360.
“It’s an interesting one because the Tigers have put negotiations with Doueihi on hold. They’ve said ‘you’re going to the World Cup, we’ll see what happens post-World Cup.’
“But it’s a dangerous game they’re playing considering they’re publicly in for Cam Munster because if I’m Adam Doueihi I’m looking at this going ‘well, you don’t want me that diligently that you want Munster, so why do I want to stick around?’”
KNIGHTS MEET WITH BROOKS’ MANAGEMENT
The Newcastle Knights are still interested in luring Luke Brooks away from the Tigers after meeting with his management.
The Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carayannis revealed on NRL 360 that the Knights are not giving up on their prime No.7 target.
The development comes as the Tigers confirmed their interest in Cameron Munster, which has put the future of Tigers’ No.6 Adam Doueihi up in the air.
“Where does it leave Luke Brooks?” Braith Anasta asked on NRL 360.
“With a migraine,” Paul Kent said.
“Poor old Luke Brooks he is a weekly event in the news cycle.”
Carayannis revealed the Tigers are keen to keep Brooks, but that hasn’t stopped the Knights trying to lure the long-time Concord No.7.
“They are keen to keep Luke Brooks,” Carayannis said of the Tigers.
“Newcastle are still sniffing around with Luke Brooks’ management this week, so they are definitely keen to get that deal done.
“But it doesn’t mean the Tigers don’t want to keep him either.”
Kent and James Hooper noted that Sheens has been solid on keeping Brooks all the way along.
“Sheens has shown no inclination in letting Luke Brooks go,” Kent said.
“I admire the Knights because they just keep chipping away.
“He has been consistent and solid on that from the word go, Tim Sheens,” James Hooper added.
