hip drop problem – Michmutters
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Transfer Whispers; Ben Hunt future; Gold Coast Titans bid; Martin Taupau, Manly, Sea Eagles, news, updates

Maroons star Ben Hunt is not short of suitors amid reports the Gold Coast Titans are ready to launch an audacious bid for his services.

news corp revealed that the Titans are considering a play to lure the Dragons captain north to from the 2023 season.

The Titans are believed to be one of six clubs trying to acquire Hunt’s services from at least the 2024 campaign.

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But considering he doesn’t come off contract with the Dragons until the end of next season, the Titans will have to wait until November 1st to submit an official offer.

It was reported last week that Hunt was set to sign a two-year contract extension with St George until the end of 2025.

“We have started the process to extend Ben, and we’re very hopeful we can keep him at the club long-term,” St George Illawarra chief executive Ryan Webb said.

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“He is an important person on the field and has a tremendous impact off it.”

Hunt, who was leading the Dally M race before the count behind closed doors, signed a

mammoth five-year deal worth more than $5 million with the Dragons in 2017.

The 32-year-old has proven himself to be one of the premier players in the competition since, after starring in State of Origin again this year.

The party was well and truly on in Queensland as Hunt ran away for a long-range, game-winning try in the Origin decider in Brisbane last month.

But considering his age, it’s believed that he could commit to a smaller deal.

If Hunt does sign with the Titans, he would potentially line-up in the halves alongside another key signing in Kieran Foran.

The New Zealand international has signed a two-year deal which is reportedly worth $400,000 per season.

Dragons captain Ben Hunt is reportedly eyeing a move to the Gold Coast Titans. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

Before entering contract negotiations, Hunt revealed that he was happy playing under the “right coach” in Anthony Griffin at the Dragons.

“It’s no secret I enjoy being coached by Hook (Anthony Griffin),” Hunt said.

“I know we’ve had some setbacks for the past two games, but we’ve got the right foundation in place – and we have the right coach.

“I’m loving my time at the club and enjoying myself. I know I’m also getting to the back end of my career and want to win (a premiership).

“My manager will meet with the club next week so we’ll see what happens. I still think I’ve got at least three years of footy in me. I’m contracted for next year, and I’d like another two after that.

“I’ve been lucky with injuries. I don’t see why I can’t go until at least the end of 2025.”

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RABBITOHS SET TO LAUNCH BID FOR MANLY ENFORCER

The South Sydney Rabbitohs have reportedly entered the race to secure Sea Eagles’ prop Martin Taupau’s signature for the dawn of the 2023 season.

According to Zero Tackle, the club believe that Taupau would be a suitable replacement for departing prop Mark Nicholls, who will join the Dolphins for their inaugural season.

The Bunnies are reportedly set to table the 32-year-old a two-year contract which will see him at South Sydney until the end of the 2024 season.

The Eels were close to locking in Taupau for the rest of the season, however the Sea Eagles chose to wart the move in a last ditch attempt at securing a spot in the top eight come finals time.

If Taupau is to link up with the Rabbitohs for the 2023 season he would he would add to the club’s depth in the forwards joining the likes of Thomas Burgess, Liam Knight, Tevita Tatola, Davvy Moale and Daniel Suluka-Fifita.

With the Manly prop now in the latter stages of his career, a two-year deal with South Sydney could very well be his last in the NRL.

While the Dolphins have expressed an interest in Taupau, the experienced prop ideally wants to play for a club based in Sydney.

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Peter V’landys vs Dominic Perrottet, Stadium funding, Leichhardt Oval, Tigers, Knights, Sharks, Panthers

The NRL are holding the NSW government to ransom over an $800 million promise by taking the Grand Final to Queensland as the Sydney stadium wars potentially head to the courtroom.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported the NRL will consider all options after NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet refused to commit funding to rebuild suburban stadiums after a handshake agreement, with flood reconstruction his main priority.

“I find it appalling that they’re using human tragedy of the floods to renege on an agreement,” V’landys, told the Herald.

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Perrottet’s decision sparked an angry confrontation with V’landys in Parliament, with the NRL now resorting to tactics that could lead to a legal battle over the future of Stadium Australia at Sydney Olympic Park.

A 2018 agreement reached by the then premier Gladys Berejiklian, stipulated the NRL grand final would stay in Sydney until 2042 as long as Accor Stadium at Olympic Park was reconfigured into a 70,000-seat rectangular stadium, which would cost taxpayers $800 million.

However, the pandemic caused the government to backflip on the plan and relocate between $250 to $350 million to upgrading suburban grounds in Cronulla, Manly, Leichhardt and Newcastle.

Leichhardt Oval will have to wait for redevelopment.Source: Supplied

While the plans to develop suburban grounds is not in writing and therefore not rubber-stamped, V’landys is adamant the original Sydney Olympic Park agreement still stands.

The Herald reported that V’landys and the NRL will now hold the government to their original Olympic Park agreement, which is in writing, despite their preference being to develop suburban grounds.

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Andrew Abdo the Chief Executive Officer of the National Rugby League and Peter V’landys the Chairman.Source: Getty Images

“When you consider the billions of dollars they spent in the recent budget, the amount they need to honor our agreement is insignificant,” V’landy’s said.

“We will press that they honor the original agreement, which will cost the NSW taxpayer more due to the way they have handled this.”

The NRL are exploring its legal options and have one of the country’s most respected barristers, Alan Sullivan QC on the case.

Perrottet released a statement saying the government were committed to upgrading suburban stadiums over a period of time, given the natural disasters and pandemic that remain a more pressing priority.

“The government has just received the Floods Inquiry Report, which will likely require a significant cost to the taxpayer, and I note right now there are still 1,366 people without a home in NSW due to flooding,” Perrottet said.

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NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet.Source: News Corp Australia

“It should come as no surprise that my top priority is therefore supporting those devastated by the major floods across NSW.”

The development has forced the NRL to consider taking the Grand Final to Queensland in response to the NSW government failing to honor their agreement.

“Everything is now back on the table,” V’landys said.

“It will be a board decision, not mine.”

Sports Minister Stuart Ayres labeled plans to take the Grand Final to Queensland “an extraordinary move”.

“We’ve got to make sure that we make investments that are in the best interests of the people of NSW,” Ayres said.

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“It just might mean that we have to wait a little bit longer before we can spend additional money on those venues.”

The government will put on hold plans to develop Leichhardt and Newcastle stadiums, but are committed to a new venue at Penrith, which has angered Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis, who blasted the government for their change of policy on developing suburban stadiums.

“The government’s management of its stadiums policy from the outset has been amateurish and embarrassing,” Hagipantelis told the Herald.

“I assume if the state government is to backflip on its commitment to fund suburban stadiums, then the $300 million committed to the Penrith stadium can now be better utilized for schools and hospitals?

“It would be outrageous for Penrith to retain its stadium for the obvious political benefit of its local member.”

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Nelson Asofa-Solomona escapes charge, Melbourne Storm, Judiciary, match review committee

The NRL has been labeled embarrassing for their explanation as to why Storm star Nelson Asofa-Solomona escaped sanction for cracking Wayde Egan’s teeth with his elbow.

Asofa-Solomona was not even charged by the match review committee, despite being placed on report and penalized on the field for slamming his elbow and forearm onto the face of Egan as he fell to the ground in a tackle.

“There were a lot of incidents over the weekend with the Nelson Asofa-Solomona one the most contentious by a long way,” Braith Anasta said on NRL 360.

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“What I struggle to come to terms with is I saw a head clash (Dale Finucane on Stephen Crichton) last week get two weeks and I see this and he gets nothing.”

Paul Kent blasted the NRL’s feeble explanation by disputing all three assertions they made around Asofa-Solomona’s actions.

“Let me just bring up some things,” Kent said.

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“They said, there is a separation out there. If I am going to punch you in the face right now, there is going to be separation at some point between my fist and your face before it gets there, but there will be eventual contact. That’s the first thing.

“Second, there was not enough force to warrant a charge. I have cracked his teeth. Two teeth. So not enough force to warrant a charge?

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Nelson Asofa-Solomona was placed on report and penalized but escaped a charge.Source: Supplied

“Third, there was possible contact to the neck and chin area. Again, I cracked his teeth.

“What part of head contact do they not understand there. If you have got cracked teeth from a tackle, how do you say there is not enough force and possible contact to the neck or chin area?”

Paul Crawley labeled Luke Patten and Graham Annesley’s explanation as the dumbest thing ever to come out of NRL HQ in a stunning take-down.

“That’s the dumbest explanation that I have ever heard come out of the NRL from Luke Patten,” Crawley said.

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Nelson Asofa-Solomona escaped sanction for his tackle on Wayde Egan.Source: FOX SPORTS

“For Graham Annesley, a bloke that has been around the game for as long as he has to stand there and allow that to be said and expect that everyone is just going to suck that up and accept it.

“Like seriously it is so embarrassing. They have got to be better.

“That was a shocking tackle. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves got a $3000 fine for his tackle on Zac Fulton. It wasn’t as bad as this.

“This gets off. This doesn’t even get to fine. This gets nothing.

“And this is on the back of Asofa-Solomona having two separate charges last week. Two ends. The week before in Round 18 another one. Earlier in the season another one.

“That’s four ends this year and this one gets nothing.”

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