Raiders Star Talks Future Ahead of Key Date; Dolphins Confirm English Move

Haas sidelined following ankle surgery | 00:25

Raiders halfback Jamal Fogarty is putting contract talks on hold for now as a young gun continues to apply pressure on the veteran.

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Fogarty is expected to be Canberra’s halfback for their Round 1 clash against the Warriors in Las Vegas but former Eel Ethan Sanders has put himself in the frame for some playing time this year on the back of a strong pre-season.

Sanders signed a three-year deal with the Raiders, leaving Parramatta to chase greater first grade opportunities given he was stuck behind Mitch Moses.

Fogarty has an option in his contract to keep him in the nation’s capital in 2026 but that has to be triggered by Round 6.

The 33-year-old is happy to “get through pre-season” before worrying about his future at the club.

“I just said to Sticky (coach Ricky Stuart), ‘I’m going to put in park, get through pre-season, play my style of footy and I don’t want to deal with it until I get a response from the club,” Fogarty told Code Sports.

“I want to play in the NRL as long as I can and I would like for that to be in Canberra, that’s up to the club. But hopefully, I get a nice green tick from them in round six.”

Fogarty led the Raiders to a 4-2 record last season before injuring his bicep in Round 7. He would miss three months of footy and Canberra struggled in his absence, losing six from nine to drop out of the eight.

In 2025, the Raiders bolstered their halves depth by signing Sanders.

Fogarty says the addition of Sanders has been “refreshing”, revealing that even he’s been learning from the player 14 years his junior.

“He’s got a really good football game in the way he talks and sees things. He’s been very educational in how he doesn’t get flustered or erratic when he’s fatigued or the team being erratic,” Fogarty said.

“He’s got a good running game and can pass the ball really nicely and he’s got a good kicking game. He’s got all the tools to be a great halfback.”

NRL 2024 RD23 Canberra Raiders v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles – Jamal Fogarty NRL PHOTOSSource: The Daily Telegraph

DOLPHINS CONFIRM MOVE FOR UK GUN, RULE OUT EELS STAR

Kristian Woolf and the Dolphins have reportedly held discussions with a Super League star regarding a potential switch to the NRL.

According to Code Sports, forward Morgan Knowles is reportedly plotting a move to Australia, having held talks with club officials.

The 28-year-old played under Woolf during his succesful run at St Helens, winning a trio of premierships between 2020 to 2022.

Woolf is hoping to use that relationship to lure the English weapon to the NRL and chief executive Terry Reader confirmed the club’s interest.

“Woolfy coached him and they won three premierships together at St Helens,” he said.

“He wants to test himself in the NRL. There is interest to talk to him but that’s where it is at the moment.

“We are always interested in good players, especially if they want to play for us. We’ll have a chat and see what happens.”

The moves comes amid a view gun five-eighth Dylan Brown won’t be willing to make a move to the NRL’s newest franchise.

The Dolphins were one of the clubs Brown’s management sounded out regarding a potential move, inviting suitors to “register your club’s interest in securing the services of Dylan Brown for season 2026 and beyond” on January 15.

The 17th franchise held conversations with Bronw’s manager Chris Orr, however Reader believes a deal won’t get done, with the five-eighth testing the market due to an exit clause for 2026 and beyond.

Raiders Star Talks Future Ahead of Key Date; Dolphins Confirm English Move

“Dylan Brown is contracted to Parramatta for seven years on a salary over $1 million and I can’t see him leaving Parramatta,” Reader said.

“We’ve had no formal chats with him.

“The way we’ve managed our salary cap, our biggest focus is re-signing the players we have. We’ve got a few players coming off-contract.

“When you look at the players in our spine, we’re very comfortable with who we’ve got and our priority is to re-sign those guys.”

PANTHERS POACH PRIZED YOUNG GUN

The Panthers have reportedly poached one of the country’s most prized forward prospects, with young gun Harry Armstrong joining the reigning premiers.

That is according to Code Sports, who are reporting the 20-year-old made the decision to move to Penrith after touring the club’s training facilities during their 2024 finals campaign.

Armstrong has been one of the Broncos most prized pathways products, having been a member of the club’s emerging squad having landed in Red Hill as a 17-year-old.

The former Queensland under 19s representative is a tough back rower and is towering in stature, standing at 190cm and weighing in at 94 kilograms.

Armstrong has reportedly signed a three-year deal, joining the Panthers with immediate effect.

The rising star got to watch on as the Panthers trained in an on-field session last year, which was enough to convince him he wanted to be apart of the club’s culture.

Armstrong will be gunning to make his first grade debut in 2025, with Liam Martin and fellow recruit Isaiah Papali’i likely starting in the back row in Las Vegas.

Scott Sorensen and Luke Garner are set to ply their trade off the bench, with Kangaroos representative Lindsay Smith stepping into the shoes left by departing prop James Fisher-Harris.

ROOSTERS’ MANU PLANNING

The Roosters are expected to keep a roster spot open for Joey Manu in case the star centre decides to return to the club after a stint in rugby union.

Manu is in the midst of his first season for Toyota Verblitz in the Japanese Rugby League One Competition, which ends in May.

That leaves time for Manu to sign with the Roosters for the rest of 2025 if he chooses to given the NRL deadline for teams to finalise their Top 30 list falling on the 30th of June.

According to Code Sports, Roosters coach Trent Robinson appears hopeful that Manu will return to the fold by leaving a roster spot free.

It’s unclear whether Manu wants to return to the Roosters in 2025, but is current deal with Toyota Verblitz is only for one season.

However, Manu does have a player option to extend for another season if he wishes.

Manu will be sorely missed by the Roosters this season, with the club set to unleash a new and inexperienced centre pairing.

Unproven rookie Rob Toia, oft-injured Billy Smith and former Wallaby and NRL one-gamer Mark Nawaqanitawase are the three players in contention for the centre spots left vacant by Manu and another rugby union convert in Joseph Suaalii, who will line up for the NSW Waratahs this season.

YOUNG DRAGON WANTS OUT

Days after the report that revealed star prop Francis Molo wants to exit the Dragons, another front rower reportedly wants out.

Young forward Corey Ackers has been given permission to leave the club according to The Daily Telegraph after the Dragons approached the 19-year-old to change his deal from an NRL developmental contract to a NSWRL pathways one.

The reasoning behind the Dragons’ decision to do that is due to an injury Ackers is recovring from which could see him miss nearly half of the 2025 season.

Ackers was set to play most of 2025 in the Dragons’ Jersey Flegg side with the potential to work his way to the NSW Cup side.

Ackers is one of several young props on the Dragons’ books but it appears he’s towards the bottom of the pecking order.

The Dragons have one spot left on theit top 30 list, and even before the Molo and Ackers developments, front row is a position of need.