Benji Marshall has ventured to Melbourne to finalise a player swap involving out of favour Storm centre Justin Olam and Tigers forward Shawn Blore.
The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio reported on SEN radio the swap deal is imminent with Marshall believing Olam is the missing piece for his 2024 backline.
“From a Wests Tigers point of view, I like this a lot,” Riccio said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
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“We all know the type of player Justin Olam. He’s all power and can be hugely damaging.
“He fell out of favour big time at the back end of last season for the Melbourne Storm.
“I don’t think Olam makes the (2024 Melbourne) team with the likes of Nick Meaney, Will Warbrick, Reimis Smith, Xavier Coates, Ryan Papenhuyzen now back into the fray and Grant Anderson who has shown plenty of promise.
“Olam is almost surplus to needs when you think about the depth of the outside backs at Melbourne.
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“Blore is a talented player who plays in the forwards and has had some injury problems but has found his feet.
“That would be the appetite for the Storm because if there was one area where they were found wanting last year, it was their forward pack. Blore would fill that void.”
Olam, 29, has scored 46 tries in 14 NRL games for the Storm since his debut in 2018 winning a premiership in 2020 and has scored seven tries in 14 Tests for Papua New Guinea.
23-year-old Blore has scored one try in 33 games for the Tigers since his debut in 2020.
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DRAGONS TARGET THREE STARS IN RECRUITMENT DRIVE
The Dragons and coach Shane Flanagan are set to go hard for three players in Tom Dearden, Connor Tracey and Helium Luki as they bid to turn around their struggling roster.
The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio reported on SEN radio the Dragons are finalising their plans to make a recruitment drive and go after some key personnel.
“I expect those meetings and negotiations to ramp up in the next four to six weeks,” Riccio said.
“It’s about allowing those players to enjoy their end of season breaks.
“Also to allow Dragons management to get their ducks in a row and figure out who they want to meet.
“That’s where it’s at and we’ll start to hear a bit more about the Dragons’ targets.”
Dearden, 22 has scored 24 tries in 80 NRL games for the Broncos and Cowboys and has played one Origin for Queensland.
27-year-old Tracey has scored 27 tries in 66 NRL games for the Rabbitohs and Sharks since debuting in 2019.
Luki, 22, has scored 10 tries in 38 games for the Cowboys since his debut in 2021.
