‘Leaving’: Origin star set for Cowboys exit; Eels break silence on NAS rumours — Nov 1 LIVE

Cowboys’ flyer Murray Taulagi is reportedly set to leave the club after failing to reach an agreement over an extension with North Queensland.

The Maroons’ Origin star is off-contract in 2026 and has been free to negotiate with rivals since November 1.

The Daily Telegraph’s Brent Read revealed on X, formerly Twitter that Taulagi is set to leave the Cowboys.

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“Last I heard, he was leaving,” Read posted on X after being asked if the Cowboys were set to re-sign the star winger.

Taulagi has scored 61 tries in 108 games for the Cowboys since his NRL debut in 2019 and has also scored two tries in six Origins for Queensland and five tries in seven Tests for the Kangaroos and Samoa.

The 26-year-old scored 12 tries in 15 games for the Cowboys last season, but lost his place in the Maroons’ side after an injury interrupted campaign.

The Cowboys have overhauled their roster with Todd Payten fighting to keep his job next season, after missing the finals in three of his five seasons at the club.

The Roosters have lost Reece Robson (Roosters). Tom Duffy (Broncos), Jordan McLean (retired), Semi Valemei (Castleford), Jamal Shibasaki (released) and Emarly Bitungane (released).

Meanwhile, Reed Mahoney (Bulldogs) and Ethan King (Roosters) have joined the club, and Hugo Savala has been linked with a move North after Daly Cherry-Evans’ arrival at Bondi.

The Cowboys are looking for room in their salary cap to rebuild their roster into a premiership contender and Taulagi could be expendable, as the player and club struggled to come to terms on an extension.

As late as October this year, the Cowboys had yet to begin talks with Taulagi over an extension, as the November 1 deadline approached.

The Cowboys also have John Bateman, Jaxon Purdue, Zac Herdegen, Kai O’Donnell and Karl Lawton coming off-contract in 2026, with Purdue a priority re-signing amid interest from rival clubs including the Storm.

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EELS BREAK SILENCE ON NAS RUMOURS

The Eels have broken their silence over their rumoured pursuit of former Storm enforcer Nelson Asofa-Solomona.

Asofa-Solomona’s future in the NRL is cloudy following the shock announcement he and the Storm decided to mutually part ways with two years to run on his deal.

Rugby union is believed to be the favourite to snare the towering prop’s signature with the breakaway R360 and Japenese rugby both interested.

However, the Eels also emerged as a potential next destination for Asofa-Solomona, who played under Parramatta coach Jason Ryles when Ryles worked as an assistant at the Storm.

With Zac Lomax departing the Eels effective immediately, Parramatta have some extra room in the cap to throw at free agents.

Eels CEO Mark O’Neill didn’t rule out a play for Asofa-Solomona, but revealed to the SMH that the club hasn’t had a “conversation” with him.

“We have had no conversation with Nelson,‘” O’Neill said.

“He knows ‘Rylsey’, but I don’t even know if Nelson wants to play rugby league.

“We won’t be rushing into anything. We want to get it right.”

RAIDERS POACH ANOTHER BRONCOS YOUNG GUN

The Raiders have poached another young gun Saxon Innes from the Broncos after swooping in to lure halfback Coby Black to the nation’s capital.

Code Sports reported the Raiders have signed young fullback Innes as Ricky Stuart continues his Queensland shopping spree.

The young fullback is on a pre-season training deal with the Raiders ahead of the 2026 season.

Innes played two games in his rookie Queensland Cup season for the Burleigh Bears, but with his path to first grade blocked by Reece Walsh, he has made the switch to the Green Machine.

Innes is hopeful of a clearer path to first grade, but will have plenty of competition with Kaeo Weekes, Daine Laurie and Chevy Stewart competing for spots at the Raiders.

It comes after Black signed with the Raiders from 2027 after sensing the writing was on the wall, with Jonah Pezet joining the club to partner Ezra Mam in the halves in 2027.

The 19-year-old has scored seven tries and 22 goals for Souths Logan in the Queensland Cup and will link with the Raiders in 2027 to fight with Ethan Sanders for the No.7 jersey.

BEARS SET TO SIGN PNG STAR

The Perth Bears are reportedly set to sign Papua New Guinea star Judah Rimbu to their inaugural squad.

WWOS’ The Mole reported Rimbu has agreed to a train and trial deal with the Bears in 2027 and is tipped to earn a top 30 deal.

The 24-year-old is a versatile playmaker, who can cover hooker and halfback has scored 25 tries in 78 games for PNG Hunters in the Queensland Cup, while he has scored one try in six Tests for the Kumuls to date.

Rimbu scored one try in 10 games for Castleford Tigers in 2025, before returning to the PNG Hunters.

The talented rake is an international star and won the Petero Civoniceva Medal for the best player in the Queensland Cup for 2024.

Rimbu will play for the Easts Tigers in Brisbane next season, who are a feeder club for the Perth franchise as they prepare to join the NRL in 2027.

It is a big call for Rimbu, given he would have been a leading candidate to join the PNG Chiefs when they enter the NRL in 2028.