Knights star Bradman Best is set to knock back the Tigers and re-sign with his club on a deal reportedly worth $2 million over three years.
Best was being courted by Tigers coach Benji Marshall on the back of a breakout season that saw him make his NSW debut.
The 22-year-old centre scored 13 tries in 25 appearances for Newcastle this year, while also crossing for a double in Origin III.
The Tigers were ready to make Best one of the highest-paid centres in the game on a deal worth around $800,000 per season.
But the young gun is set to stay put, determined to build on the Knights 2023 season that saw them charge into the finals on a 10-game winning run.
Best will put pen to paper on a new deal in Newcastle worth $700,000 per season that will keep him at the club until the end of 2027, according to News Corp.
“I want to stay here. The Tigers have shown some interest, they are keen, but I have to weigh everything up,” Best said.
“If it all works out as we plan, I’ll be staying at the Knights. We’ll see what happens but I’m really settled here.
“I love the club and I love the culture we have built. The boys here are all so connected and we are a close bunch, so to walk away from that would be really hard.
“The lifestyle here is second-to-none. We’re in talks now and my manager is sorting things out.”
LUAI LINKED TO TIGERS
NSW star Bradman Best has posted a cryptic message on social media about Jarome Luai that suggests Panthers free agent could be heading to the Wests Tigers.
Luai posted a video about his appearance at the opening of Foot Locker Liverpool on Monday, to which Best replied with an emoji of a Tiger and wide eyes.
The comment came one day after Luai reportedly met with Tigers coach Benji Marshall about joining the club in 2025.
Knights centre Best, who has also been linked with a big-money move to the Tigers, and Luai are both managed by ‘Black Money Enterprises’.
Marshall told The Daily Telegraph in his first interview since starting his role as the Tigers head coach role that he was interested in signing Luai.
“The amount of money he is going to command is going to be quite big,” Marshall said earlier this month.
“He has earned that. But whenever a marquee player comes up you do have to have a look at them and whether you can afford them.
“The positive thing for us is we have signed three really good young halves too – Jayden Sullivan, Latu Fainu and also Lachie Galvin who no one has really talked about.”
DOGS LEAD HUNT FOR TRACEY
The Bulldogs are reportedly leading the race to sign Sharks wantaway Connor Tracey as they continue their rebuild under Phil Gould.
The Sharks have reportedly given the outside back permission to explore his options on the open market, according to The Daily Telegraph.
Shane Flanagan and the Dragons were in the running for Tracey’s signature but now the Bulldogs have reportedly come in hot to acquire his services.
Should Bulldogs powerbrokers be able to convince Cronulla bosses to allow him to depart they reportedly would likely be seeking some form on compensation.
Tracey played in the centres and at fullback last season, closing the year in strong form filling in for the injured Will Kennedy.
The news comes amid news the Sharks also granted Matt Moylan and immediate release to join Leigh Leopards in the Super League.
BULLDOGS’ SIGNING BLOW
Former Sydney Roosters prop Sio Siua Taukeiaho will not be joining the Bulldogs ahead of the 2024 season after he failed a medical test.
The 31-year-old was reportedly offered a two-year deal to join Cameron Ciraldo’s squad but hadn’t yet been granted a release from Super Leaguer club Catalans Dragons.
Now according to The Daily Telegraph, the Dragons were prepared to grant his release if he passed a medical test with the Bulldogs.
However, a foot issue reportedly saw him fail the test and the Bulldogs have now walked away from the potential move.
Taukeiaho’s injury will reportedly require surgery which would have seen him miss the early stages of the 2024 NRL season.
Bulldogs supremo Phil Gould will now have to look elsewhere for middle recruits as the club’s rebuild continues.
JENNINGS’ NRL RETURN
The NRL has cleared Michael Jennings for a return to the Roosters three years after his career went off the rails.
Jennings hasn’t played in the NRL since 2020 when he was suspended on the day of the Eels’ elimination final against Rabbitohs after failing a drug test.
The veteran centre’s contract was ended by mutual consent in 2021 and Jennings accepted a three-year ban for doping.
The 35-year-old was also sued by his ex-wife in a high-profile court case.
Jennings scored 154 tries in 298 NRL games in stints at the Panthers, Roosters and Eels between 2007 and 2020 and the Tricolours have now offered him a career lifeline.
The centre is reportedly set to sign a train-and-trial deal after the NRL decided to clear Jennings for a return, according to The Daily Telegraph.
“The NRL continues to liaise with the Roosters regarding the conditional registration of the player to a train and trial contract,” an NRL spokesman said.
“The player will be provisionally registered subject to his acceptance of the specific conditions to be imposed on his registration.”
Jennings played 18 games for New South Wales and seven Tests for Australia between 2009 and 2016.
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