The Canterbury Bulldogs landed a former Dragons forward after he was one of 12 players farewelled by the club at the end of last season.
Yet to play in first grade, Corey Ackers has signed with the Belmore-based club after failing to find his footing in recent years and struggling with multiple injuries.
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A member of the Dragons’ Under-19s SG Ball Cup team, which won the premiership in 2024, Ackers was expected to have a bright future at the Red V but found himself overtaken in the pecking order by several other forwards such as Loko Pasifiki Tonga and Jacob Halangahu.
Primarily playing in either the front-row or in the back-row, the Arncliffe Scots, Brighton Seagulls and Kingsgrove Colts junior will look to make his mark in the lower levels at the Bulldogs as he tries to get his playing career back on track.
QUARTET OF JUNIORS DEPART PARRAMATTA
As the Parramatta Eels continue their rebuild under Jason Ryles, four impressive juniors have decided to depart the club for new opportunities.
Already losing Dom Farrugia, Ethan Sanders, Matt Arthur and Mathew Hunter over the past couple of seasons, the Eels have now lost their reigning Jersey Flegg Players’ Player and Jersey Flegg Coaches Award winners.
A member of the Eels’ spine that won the Under-19s SG Ball Cup in 2023, Joshua Lynn has decided to depart for the Sunshine Coast Falcons and will be joined there by back-rower Brock Parker, who featured in 53 NSW Cup matches for the club.
Able to play in the centres or in the back-row, Domenico De Stradis has also left the club after a standout campaign in 2025 and will link up with the Redcliffe Dolphins – the QLD Cup feeder club of the Dolphins.
Centre William Lewis has exited Parramatta to sign with the Burleigh Bears.
‘Only question is where Sharpe fits in’ | 06:14
TITANS LOCK UP HOOKER PRODIGY
The Gold Coast Titans have retained one of rugby league’s most promising dummy-halves on a new contract until the end of the 2030 season.
Already locked in until 2028, the Titans have decided to extend Jai Bilish for a further two more seasons as he prepares to join the club’s NRL program after his finishes his final year of schooling this year at Palm Beach Currumbin.
A naturally gifted player who has been with the club since the age of 15, Bilish will move to the club’s Top 30 roster in 2028.
“Jai has been part of our Future Titans system since he could join at 15 and is a great example of what strong pathways and long-term development can produce,” Titans’ pathways manager Matt Keating said.
“He’s taken every opportunity presented to him for both his club and school with our long-standing partnership with Palm Beach Currumbin, applied himself at each level and consistently shown a willingness to learn and improve, both on and off the field.
“Our Future Titans program is all about identifying local talent early, supporting their growth and giving them a clear line of sight to the NRL here on the Gold Coast.
“Seeing Jai further commit to the club until 2030 reinforces the belief in our pathways system and sends a strong message to our young players that there is a genuine future for them here at the Titans.”
WARRIORS SECURE YOUNG GUN ON THREE-YEAR DEAL
The Warriors have secured one of New Zealand’s most exciting young prospects on a three-year contract.
A member of last year’s New Zealand Maori team, Aizaya Wanakore-Chase, has secured his future with the club until at least the end of the 2028 season and spend this year in the club’s pathways academy before being promoted to the U17s Harold Matthews Cup program in 2027.
An exciting talent who plays a number of different roles, the youngster who primarily plays in the centres or on the wing has already achieved several honours throughout his young career to date despite being only 14 years of age.
This includes being named the U13 Cooks Islands captain, winning the U13s Pacific Youth Cup MVP in 2024, being named the Aotearoa NZ Maori Rugby League U14s MVP and securing the U14s ARL Region of Origin MVP in 2024.
“He’s an amazing young talent. He’s only 14 but is so explosive. He’s got great balance, phenomenal footwork and strength in the tackle,” his manager Ngahina Capper of Tairanga Ake told foxsports.com.au.
“He comes from a kura kaupapa background which means he’s been raised in a Maori school. He’s really kind of grounded in his culture and he’s just a great young kid.
“He’s real aggressive in everything he does. There is similarities in terms of his balance and his strength in his hips that reminds you of a Matt Utai or Brian To’o type of player. He definitely has those similarities in terms of how he kind of carries himself on the field.
‘Only question is where Sharpe fits in’ | 06:14
U19s NSW FORWARD LEAVES TIGERS FOR PENRITH
A member of last year’s Under-19s NSW Blues and Under-18s Australian Schoolgirls squad, Ella Walker has decided to leave the Wests Tigers to join the Penrith Panthers.
One to watch in the coming seasons, Walker was earmarked to play a significant role in the future of the Tigers’ NRLW line-up and her departure surprised many at the club.
She will play in the women’s Under-19s Tarsha Gale Cup competition.
Walker’s departure comes as the Tigers have also farewelled two-time Under-19s NSW Blues representative Evie McGrath after she played nine NRLW matches for them over the last two seasons.
A consistent contributor on the field, McGrath remains unsigned at the moment heading into the 2026 season but is extremely likely to find a home sooner rather than later due to her ability to play at fullback, in the halves, and dummy-half.
“More Difficult if Fogarty stayed” | 01:12
Dual-code prodigy poised to shun union interest to remain at Penrith
Dual-code prodigy Charlie Xuereb is poised to shun interest from rival teams and rugby union to remain at the Penrith Panthers.
A member of the Under-16s Australian Wallabies squad, multiple sources have told foxsports.com.au that Xuereb (off-contract at the end of 2026) is poised to sign a multi-year contract extension to remain at the foot of the mountains.
This is a massive win for the Panthers, who recently lost young back-rower Heinz Lemoto to Japanese rugby union.
“I’m still seeing where both take me. Wherever I can get better and whatever system takes me, I’ll be grateful for,” he said at the back end of last year.
Idolising Greg Inglis and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Xureb who is seen as a middle forward, comes from the famed Patrician Brothers’ Blacktown and has helped lead them to back-to-back Peter Mulholland Cup titles.
“My mum and dad mean everything to me. They’re the reason why I’m where I am and I owe everything to them,” he added.
Storm swoop on young Roosters half
The Melbourne Storm have poached a young half from the Sydney Roosters after the loss of Jonah Pezet and the pending departure of Tyran Wishart to the Perth Bears.
Aiming to find long-term successors for Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes in the coming seasons, sources confirmed to foxsports.com.au that the club have recruited Josh Durkin from the Sydney Roosters.
The decision to sign Durkin comes after the playmaker had a strong campaign in 2025, which saw him with the Arthur Beetson Medal (Roosters’ Under-21s Best Player) and make two appearances in the NSW Cup reserve grade.
While it is understood the Roosters were keen to retain his services, he unfortunately sat behind Hugo Savala and Under-19s NSW Blues representatives Jake Elliott and Toby Rodwell.
Panthers extend cousin of Tongan international
The Penrith Panthers have extended the services of promising middle forward Tevita Havili for the next two seasons until the end of 2027.
The cousin of Tongan international and former Rabbitohs utility forward Siliva Havili, Tevita is one of the club’s hardest workers in their pathways system and has stepped up his performance throughout the pre-season.
“I’m really grateful to the Panthers for giving me this opportunity and backing me. It’s a club with a great pathway and I’m determined to repay their faith through hard work and consistency,” Havili told foxsports.com.au.
“Growing up and seeing players like Siliva progress through the reps system to the NRL motivates me, and I’ll be doing everything I can to follow that same path.”
Looking to follow in his cousin’s footsteps of eventually playing in the NRL one day, the Windsor Wolves junior is set to spend the next two seasons playing in the Under-19s SG Ball Cup competition.
“I’m pleased to have helped Tevita secure his future at the Panthers and it’s a deserved reward for his commitment and progression through the club,” his manager, Michael Redpath, said.
“He is another great player from an exceptionally talented family.”
Can the Broncos go back-to-back? | 04:53
Newcastle Knights sign young gun outside back
After finishing with the wooden spoon in the NRL last year, the Newcastle Knights have looked to the future, signing young, talented outside back Kai Saric.
Primarily used at fullback or on the wing, the Ballina Seagulls junior has speed to burn and is a powerful ballrunner with plenty of strength.
Saric arrives at the club after spending last season with the Northern Rivers Titans in the Under-18s Laurie Daley Cup competition and is expected to be a regular in the Knights Under-19s program in 2026.
“He was highly impressive in the Knights SG Ball trial against the Gold Coast Titans,” the social media page Newcastle Knights Juniors told foxsports.com.au.
“He has lightning fast speed, dangerous footwork and a strong footy IQ. (Soric) can play anywhere across the back five with ease.
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