Manly’s problems might be the answer to Wayne’s big headache at the Dolphins.
Meanwhile, the Wests Tigers are looking to the UK to solve their roster nightmare.
All that and more in the latest edition of NRL Transfer Whispers!
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DOLPHINS EYE TURBO BROTHERS
It’s clear not all is well in Manly.
It spells trouble for the Sea Eagles, and opportunity for Wayne Bennett and the Dolphins, who have already leapt into action.
With Des Hasler in limbo, questions over Daly Cherry-Evans’ captaincy, and disharmony in the player group, reports have surfaced, suggesting the Trbojevic brothers — Tom and Jake — could reconsider their futures.
“If I’m Manly, it’s Jake and Tommy who I’m getting into a room,” Braith Anasta said on NRL360 on Monday night. “They are the Manly Sea Eagles. They’re the heart and soul, and they’re who you build around.”
“Maybe not for long, Braith. They might be Dolphins soon,” Paul Kent responded.
While Tom shot down the rumours in an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, James Hooper reported the Dolphins have already made a call.
“Rival clubs don’t muck around,” Hooper said. “They read all the headlines over the course of the weekend, and of course it’s only natural the Dolphins are still building a roster, so they picked up the phone today and made an inquiry about the Turbo brothers.
“Who wouldn’t want to sign the Turbo brothers if they were available?”
Kent went one further, throwing out a wild rumour: “I got told today they met with Wayne Bennett in a coffee shop, but I don’t know if it’s true.
“I can’t verify that but I’ve had people see it. I rang the coffee shop and he won’t ring me back.”
With the Dolphins failing so far to land a marquee man, and Cameron Munster no sure thing, the Trbojevic brothers — or even just one — would represent a big win.
“They’ve got about $1.5m sitting there for a marquee man, and they’re trying to find a body to attach it to,” Kent said.
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TIGERS’ UK RAID
There’s plenty that needs to be done at the Wests Tigers. Including, of course, a roster makeover.
While there won’t be an issue getting players out the door, Tim Sheens and co. might have an issue convincing stars to join the wooden spooners next year.
“Other than the fact that Wests will pay you well above what you will get at any other club, why would you go there?” Paul Kent asked on NRL360.
And right now, it appears the Tigers’ approach is to look overseas.
According to James Hooper, the club is chasing John Bateman, who is currently in the Super League with the Wigan Warriors.
Paul Kent added that they’ve already been knocked back a number of times by Bateman, who is reportedly eyeing a return to the NRL.
“He [Bateman] was messaging me a minute ago … he said ‘mention me’,” Raiders captain Elliott Whitehead told News Corp at the NRL finals launch Monday.
“He definitely left before his time was over in the NRL,” Whitehead said.
“But he had his reasons at the time. I think if Covid wasn’t around he would not have left … but because of Covid, he didn’t get to see his daughter, it was hard for him.
“If people could come back and forth, I think it would have been a different story for both he and George Williams.”
Bateman or not, the Tigers are reportedly claiming they’ve already secured some help from the UK.
“They’re spruiking around town that they’ve already got a couple of backrowers and middle forwards from England — no-one can attach a name to them,” Kent said.
“I think that’s basically a hope for Tigers fans.”
