Cowboys coach Todd Payten is keen to move on from an underwhelming 2023 campaign, and has wasted no time in overhauling his roster, with nine players to move on.
Centre Peta Hiku and forward Riley Price have signed contracts with Super League teams and premiership winning prop James Tamou has retired after 307 NRL games in a 15-year career.
But six other players haven’t been offered new contracts.
These include 82-gamer Ben Hampton as well as 57-game NRL player Mitchell Dunn, Brendan Elliot, Jake Bourke, Taniela Sadrugu, and Gehamat Shibasaki.
The moves were announced by the Cowboys on Tuesday night, with the departing players to be farewelled at Wednesday’s club Presentation Night.
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DOLPHINS FAREWELL FIVE PLAYERS
The Dolphins have confirmed the departure of five players following the conclusion of their inaugural season in the NRL.
Oliver Gildart and Herman Ese’ese had already been announced with the duo taking up deals in the Super League with Hull FC.
The club has also farewelled off-contract players Poasa Faamausili and JJ Collins.
Faamausili has been linked with a move to the Bulldogs with Phil Gould aiming to strengthen the depth of his squad for next season.
The 27-year-old played just four games for the Dolphins this season, but could provide much needed depth to the Bulldogs forward stocks, which proved thin at times in 2023.
Centre Brenko Lee will also not be at Redcliffe in 2024 with NewsCorp reporting he had been released to take up a contract in England.
HASLER MAKES FIRST BIG SIGNING
Incoming Titans coach Des Hasler has reportedly added former Manly player Michael Mongahan to his Gold Coast coaching staff for 2024 beating the Cowboys to his services.
Hasler will replace sacked Justin Holbrook as Titans’ full-time coach in 2024 after interim coach Jim Lenihan took over for the remainder of the 2023 season.
Monaghan was also being chased by the Cowboys to work under head coach Todd Payten after Dean Young’s departure following a disappointing 2023 campaign that saw them miss the finals.
Monaghan joined the Knights in 2023 as coach of their NSW Cup side after eight years as an assistant NRL coach, a role he will resume at the Titans.
The 43-year-old coached the Knights to eight wins and 16 losses from 24 games for a win percentage of 33.33.
The former halfback and hooker played 293 top flight games in Australia and England for the Raiders, Sea Eagles and Warrington Wolves before transitioning into coaching.
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The news of Monaghan’s pending arrival comes after captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui confirmed that current interim coach Lenihan would also be remaining with the club.
“Yeah, it’s so good,” Fa’asuamaleaui said.
“We just spoke about it in there with everyone. Jim has played a big part in this year and it has been very tough on and off the field.
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“I give him credit and I’m so glad he is staying. He has obviously been through a lot of the tough times with us and I just can’t wait to get the good times where we can start winning and celebrate more.”
Hasler, who has coached 258 wins from 458 NRL games for Manly and the Bulldogs and won two premierships from five grand finals, will begin his time on the Gold Coast from November 1.
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