History could be repeating at the Wests Tigers with high-profile NRL player agent Isaac Moses expanding his client base at the club.
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Moses was at the centre of negotiations in 2017 when the Tigers lost stars James Tedesco, Aaron Woods and Mitchell Moses in the same year.
Moses was deregistered by the NRL for 18 months between 2021 and 2022, but he’s since returned to his as the game’s most powerful player agent.
Tigers young gun Jahream Bula is on the cusp of signing with Moses, who already has rising star Lachlan Galvin on his books, according to The SMH.
Moses is already fighting with the Tigers over the future of another of his client’s, John Bateman, who looks set to join Wayne Bennett’s Rabbitohs.
Bula is in the market for a new agent because his former manager, Liam Ayoub, has joined the Bulldogs’ staff as a recruiter.
The 22-year-old fullback is signed at the Tigers until the end of 2027 on a contract worth up to $900,000 per season.
Bula is considered the future of the club but Moses may push to renegotiate his deal to ensure the controversial agent earns his commission.
Bateman and Tigers coach Benji Marshall had a falling out earlier this year over perceived unfair treatment and the Englishman was released to Warrington in July on a loan deal.
Marshall wants him gone but Bateman, who is still in England, has two years to run on his contract worth $650,000 per season.
The Tigers have reportedly offered to pay up to $350,000 per season of Bateman’s contract and the backrower is deep into talks with Souths.
It comes after the Tigers contacted the Rugby League Players’ Association last month about Bateman’s leave entitlements and to find out exactly when he is due back at training.
The RLPA crosschecked the collective bargaining agreement pertaining to loan deals and assessed that Bateman was required to show up to work on December 21.
That is the final day of pre-season before the two-week Christmas break and the Tigers played hardball by insisting the 31-year-old fly back from England and show up for one day of training.
But Moses was able to change the RLPA’s return date by providing evidence that his client made corporate appearances in the week after the Wolves’ final game, which in effect extended his annual leave.
COWBOYS’ THREE-WAY SHOOTOUT
A genuine three-way shootout is underway for North Queensland’s halfback spot, Cowboys coach Todd Payten says, ahead of a year in which his side should be a premiership contender.
With veteran No.7 Chad Townsend gone to the Roosters, the battle to partner Kangaroos star Tom Dearden in the halves comes down to Jake Clifford and two younger prospects.
“I’ve spoken openly about our halfback position being up for grabs,” Payten said on Triple M.
“It’s a three-way shootout between some highly talented kids in Tom Duffy, Jaxon Purdue and Jake Clifford.
“What has been done in the past is irrelevant. It’s about what we do at training. The three things you need to get right to earn that spot for Round 1 is talk well, kick well and tackle well and you can build your game off that.
“There is also a left centre spot up for grabs with Val going to the Dragons, with Zac Laybutt, Braidon Burns, Semi Valemei, Murray Taulagi, Tom Chester and Jaxson Paulo all able to play there.”
Payten also lauded the addition of Kane Lawton – who he coached at the Warriors – as a hooker addition alongside Reece Robson. The 29-year-old has arrived from Manly in fine fettle.
“This is a pretty big wrap, but he is a younger version of Jake Granville,” Payten said.
“He’s a really positive guy to have around the group. He is like the social glue of the group. He is always positive. He’s a tough kid. If he’s half as good for us as Jakey Granville was, we are in for a hell of a player.”
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DCE IMPRESSED BY POTENTIAL HALVES HEIR
Manly halfback Daly Cherry-Evans has been impressed by young gun Joey Walsh who looms as his long-term successor in the Sea Eagles No.7 jersey.
A star in both junior rugby union and rugby league, Walsh was a member of the CABE Junior Blues squad in 2022 alongside Panthers stars Jesse McLean and Blaize Talagi, Tigers forward Samuela Fainu and Raiders fullback Chevy Stewart.
The 18-year-old prodigy signed a three-year deal with the Sea Eagles in July after spending time in the Sydney Roosters pathways system.
Speaking with Zero Tackle, Cherry-Evans was full of praise for the young playmaker who joins the club’s top 30 roster in 2025.
“He’s electric, fantastic young player with all of the skills and abilities,” Cherry-Evans told Zero Tackle.
“I’ve only met him once, but he was a fantastic kid, and I reckon he’s just going to absorb everything that our club and the game has to offer.
“No doubt he’s going to be there one day playing for Manly for sure.”
Manly coach Anthony Seibold has no doubt Walsh can be a future halfback for the Sea Eagles when Cherry-Evans hangs up his boots.
“Joey is a Northern Beaches boy who went to St Augustine’s College, Brookvale. He was an elite schoolboy rugby player who captained the Australian U18 side at flyhalf,” Seibold said.
“He has played junior representative rugby league and is someone who we have been tracking for the last 18 months. We feel Joey can be an NRL player in the future.
“The transition from union to rugby league means there will be a lot of learning for him in his first year, but we feel like he can be an elite halfback.
“We’ve got some really good players that can mentor him and some really good coaches to help him grow.
“I’m really pleased that we have been able to give him this opportunity, being a local guy. We feel he can really progress his game over the next 12-24 months.”
BRONCOS UNLEASH OWN LATRELL AS WALSH BACK-UP
A Brisbane Broncos recruit is impressing at pre-season training as he stakes his claim for playing time in the top grade in 2025.
Latrell Siegwalt, who the Broncos swooped up from the Dolphins back in September to sign to a train-and-trial, has quickly turned heads at Red Hill.
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Siegwalt won last season’s Hostplus Cup (QLD Cup) rookie of the year after starring for the Dolphins’ reserve grade side.
The Dolphins made the Hostplus Cup grand final in 2024, with Siegwalt – who can play both fullback and five-eighth – a huge reason why.
The 23-year-old could end up being the perfect replacement for former Broncos utility Tristan Sailor, who featured heavily in 2024 when filling in for Reece Walsh.
Sailor has since departed the Broncos to take up a contract in the Super League.
Hailing from Wagga Wagga in country New South Wales, it’s been quite the rugby league ascension for Siegwalt, who has enjoyed a whirlwind 2024.
He was discovered by former Dolphins assistant Ben Te’o at the 2023 Koori Knockout.
Te’o offered Siegwalt a deal at the Dolphins, and he justified the coach’s interest with an excellent rookie season in the Hostplus Cup.
The Broncos obviously liked what they saw and plucked Siegwalt from under the Dolphins’ noses.
Te’o also made the move to the Broncos, signing on as an assistant on Michael Maguire’s new-look coaching staff.
Broncos head of recruitment Simon Scanlan is excited for what Siegwalt’s future holds.
“Latrell came up from Wagga Wagga and played for Redcliffe in the Queensland Cup,” he said.
“He has come into our club and is working really hard. Every pre-season is hard, they are all going to be difficult, but he is doing a great job so far.
“He is a natural footy player who runs the ball and has good vision and instincts.
“One of the main reasons we brought in Latrell was that he can play two key positions and play them well.
“Although he is a little bit older, he is at the start of his NRL journey. He will get every opportunity to work his way through our system at the Broncos.”
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