The Brisbane Broncos have found their Tom Flegler replacement while South Sydney Rabbitohs have nabbed an Australian Schoolboys star from the Knights.
Brisbane have completed their Bondi ambush with Roosters giant Fletcher Baker formally agreeing terms with the Broncos.
The Broncos have secured Baker to a two-year contract for 2024-25, with the deal to be formalised after the towering prop’s clash against the Panthers at BlueBet Stadium on Friday night.
Broncos coach Kevin Walters was on the lookout for big boppers, with Queensland Origin prop Tom Flegler (Dolphins) and utility forward Keenan Palasia (Titans) to sever ties with Brisbane at season’s end.
That has freed up salary cap space for the Broncos to trump the Roosters in the battle for Baker, who recently toured Brisbane’s $27 million high-performance centre at Red Hill and was impressed with what he saw.
At 194cm and 107kg, Baker is a man mountain and will play a key support role for Brisbane’s No. 1 prop Payne Haas and grand-final bookend Corey Jensen.
Broncos legend Corey Parker lauded the signing of Baker and believes the rising Rooster will be a handy addition to Brisbane’s midfield rotation.
“Fletcher is a big, mobile, aggressive body with his best football ahead of him,” said former Broncos skipper Parker.
“He has proven he can play in the NRL.
“With the Broncos losing Keenan and Tommy (Flegler), he is a good replacement.”
The 23-year-old from the NSW town of Muswellbrook near Newcastle has played 37 games for the Roosters since his NRL debut in 2021.
The Bondi glamour club were keen to keep Baker, but the emerging prop was down the pecking order in a star-studded Roosters pack.
Baker is a genuine chance of starting at the Broncos compared to the competition he faces at the Roosters, who have star forwards Lindsay Collins, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Matt Lodge, Angus Crichton, Victor Radley, Nat Butcher and Egan Butcher and Brandon Smith on their books.
Former Queensland Origin lock Scott Sattler believes Baker will bring some size and hard-running aggression to Brisbane’s pack.
“He is exciting, big, raw and mobile,” Sattler said.
“He’s really impressive and a very astute signing for the Broncos.
“To lose Flegler and pick up someone with the potential of Baker is a positive step.
“If the Broncos are able to keep Haas long-term, they potentially have one of the most potent, youthful packs in the comp.”
Brisbane’s other middle forwards include Kobe Hetherington, Xavier Willison and hulking 19-year-old Ben Te Kura, while off-contract Manly import Martin Taupau is hoping to remain at Red Hill next season.
RABBITOHS SIGN LATRELL’S COUSIN
South Sydney have continued their recruitment drive after landing Australian schoolboys centre Ethan Ferguson from Newcastle.
Ferguson, a powerfully-built outside back, is related to Rabbitohs star Latrell Mitchell and comparisons have been made between the pair.
He has signed a two-year deal with the Rabbitohs for 2024-25.
LUAI’S CRYPTIC CLUE ON PANTHERS CAP SQUEEZE
Jarome Luai is poised to be one of the hottest prospects on the player market in November but the Penrith star isn’t planning on having contract negotiations drag out.
The Panthers are facing another salary cap squeeze with key spine men Luai and in-form fullback Dylan Edwards coming off contract at the same time.
Both players are expected to command around $1 million a year for season 2025 and beyond.
Luai gave a cryptic clue on his playing future on Wednesday, suggesting a new deal could be struck sooner rather than later.
“Hopefully I’ll let you know in a couple of months,” Luai said when asked about his future.
Losing star players on big-money deals to rivals has become all too familiar for the Panthers.
Star centre Stephen Crichton is off to Canterbury and Spencer Leniu is set to join the Sydney Roosters next season, having already lost hooker Api Koroisau and backrower Viliame Kikau.
But Luai believes the club can afford to keep both he and Edwards, who has become a cornerstone Penrith’s title campaign, at the foot of the mountains.
“I still have two more years to go, and it‘s early in the year. I’ve got to play well and hopefully they resign me. I reckon they can (fit us both under the cap),” Luai said.
“(Edwards) is one of our best players, consistently. He’s always up there, just look at his numbers and what he puts up. His vocalness and leadership is important to our team.”
Currently on a deal believed to be worth around $500,000 a season, Edwards is expected to earn a considerable upgrade.
While the 27-year old wants to remain at Penrith long term, Edwards concedes the salary cap squeeze could ultimately decide his future.
“I love this place. I know I’m valued here. I’m entrenched in the community. I wouldn’t like to (be anywhere else),” Edwards said.
“But rugby league is a funny game. You never really know. Ideally, if I had my way, I’d stay here for a while.”
The Panthers go into Friday night’s game against the Roosters having lost the favourite tag for the first time since winning the 2021 grand final.
South Sydney’s five-game winning streak having installed the Redfern club as the new title favourites with bookies.
But Luai has warned punters might lose their money betting against the back-to-back premiers.
“I think we would rather it this way. We love being the underdogs,” Luai said.
“Good on the Rabbitohs man, they deserve the (favouritism), they have been playing really well.
“We‘ll see how the season pans out and if people will lose their money.”
Friday night’s clash will shape as another Origin audition for Luai with the incumbent no. 6 facing pressure from reigning Dally M medallist Nicho Hynes to keep his place alongside teammate Nathan Cleary in the halves.
“Yeah, I‘m going to back myself every year and every day of the week,” Luai said.
“Obviously, I’m in control of whether I’m selected or not and that is based on my performances. What I’m most focused on is how I prepare for each game and if I play well, I’ll select myself.
“Any jersey with your name on your back hits different. It means a lot to me and my family.”
There is a growing push for the selection of Edwards in game one of the series. Blues captain James Tedesco is a lock at fullback but Daniel Tupou’s wing is up for grabs.
Bulldogs flyer Josh Addo-Carr, who return from injury this weekend is in contention but Luai believes Edwards deserves a call-up.
“If Dyl‘s called upon for that (wing) role, whatever is required of him, he’s going to do it at 100 per cent,” Luai said.
“We‘ve seen, the Panthers boys, what he can do every game but I think you guys (the media) seeing it now makes us really happy.
“He‘d kill it.”
“You look at the Origin arena, the blood, sweat and tears, you sort of get that feel that players do stuff they don‘t normally do.”
Edwards is yet to hear from Blues coach Brad Fittler but the Blues are light on outside back options with Tom Trbojevic and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii struggling for form at club level.
“If that was an option or that was what they needed me to do, I’d definitely put my hand up to do it,“ Edwards said.
“There’s some good outside backs there that play on the wing on a regular basis but if that was what needed to happen, I’d gladly put my hand up for it.”
Originally published as NRL Market Watch: Fletcher Baker to join Broncos, Ethan Ferguson to the Rabbitohs