THE Tigers’ re-signing plans, Sydney clubs circle Ben Hunt and the Rabbitohs’ NFL visit.

Catch all this and more in The Mail, James Hooper’s new weekly column.

TIGER TALKS

THE Wests Tigers have rolled out $3.5 million reasons to lock down the signatures of captain Aaron Woods, fullback James Tedesco, five-eighth Mitchell Moses and halfback Luke Brooks for 2018.

Round 19

The catch is — it won’t be all about the money for the four best mates who are Wests Tigers local juniors.

With rival clubs circling since last November, the players are guaranteed to get good money wherever they go.

James Tedesco and Luke Brooks during Wests Tigers training. Source: News Corp Australia

The biggest telling factor will be Wests Tigers performances over the opening couple of months and who is coaching the club beyond this season.

The Wests Tigers “big four” aren’t the only gun players’ off-contract at the club, with local junior winger David Nofoaluma also a free agent.

Still at Wests Tigers, Jamal Idris looks set to start the season in the centres after dropping 10kgs since joining the club. Idris is currently weighing in at 115kg.

FROM BIG COIN TO UNDER PRESSURE

Bulldogs coach Des Hasler. Source: Getty Images

IT’S a tough school at the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs.

Despite making two grand finals and the last five straight finals series since joining the club, Des Hasler will start this season as one of the most under-pressure coaches.

We’ve heard CEO Raelene Castle had actually agreed to terms on a new contract with Hasler last August, prior to the Bulldogs bowing out of September football in straight sets.

The deal would most likely have made Hasler the best-paid coach in the game.

Instead, he will start the season fighting to save his job.

Ben Ikin, Nathan Ryan and Ben Glover are back with a two-part off-season special, where they break down each team’s rosters ahead of season 2017.

You can also subscribe via iTunes or for Android users, listen on the iPP Podcast Player app.

ENGLAND FORCED TO PAY

NO one likes setting fire to money, especially if you’re not flush with cash.

The England Rugby League has been forced to outlay close to $1 million to cover the cost of a cancelled 10-day pre-World Cup camp in Dubai this month.

England coach Wayne Bennett was behind the idea before a backlash from UK Super League clubs torpedoed the trip.

Unfortunately, the ERL was left to foot the very hefty bill.

INJURED PLAYMAKER

Chad Townsend, Valentine Holmes and Jack Bird after the grand final. Source: News Corp Australia

PREMIERS Cronulla have suffered a pre-season setback with halfback Chad Townsend sustaining a broken thumb.

Townsend has been spotted around the Shire with a cast on, with the injury expected to take four weeks to heal. Still at the Sharks, look for the club to announce the signature of hooker James Segeyaro shortly.

In terms of the fullback position left vacant by Ben Barba, both Valentine Holmes and Jack Bird have spent time training there over the summer.

While Bird has made a full recovery from the elbow injury he sustained in last year’s grand final, expect Holmes to be the Cronulla’s no.1 for the NRL season-opener against the Brisbane Broncos on March 2. Bird is tipped to remain in the centres.

HUNT A WANTED MAN

ALL the buzz about Ben Hunt over the last 48 hours has centred around how St George Illawarra and Penrith are set to make major plays to lure the Brisbane half. But don’t discount the Brisbane Broncos too early.

Hunt and Anthony Milford still remain on top of the priority list at Red Hill, with the Broncos no.7 part of the club’s system from the age of 12.

Hunt was one of the last players’ signed into the Broncos system by champion scout Cyril Connell before he died.

He was also one of the youngest. So too was Josh McGuire, who is also off contract.

We hear McGuire has put his hand up to fill the no.13 jumper made famous by retired champion Corey Parker.

WATCH YOUR BACK

THE coup to try and oust ARLC chairman John Grant before Christmas continues to simmer. During the tense standoff when Grant was fighting to save his job, NRL head office became completely divided.

Plenty of influential figures at League Central were throwing their weight behind Grant being speared, something the chairman has since become acutely aware of.

BLUES CAMP

Blues coach Laurie Daley congratulates Blake Ferguson on a good game. Source: Getty Images

THE NSW Blues look set to return to Sydney for game II of this year’s State of Origin series, with a NSWRL board meeting next Wednesday expected to rubber-stamp Manly as the destination where Laurie Daley’s team will set-up their base camp.

SOUTHS GO GLOBAL

TALK about roommates from opposite ends of the spectrum. South Sydney coach Michael Maguire and general manager of football Shane Richardson both toured the US and UK at the end of last year.

The duo visited NFL headquarters in New York, the New York Giants and the Atlanta Falcons. They covered a variety of topics including leadership, culture, player welfare and domestic violence — and even shared a room for part of the trip.

Whereas most rugby league roommates are generally hand-picked to ensure optimum team harmony, the combination of Madge and Richo is entirely unique.

Maguire is a fitness fanatic who is up at 5am most mornings training, while Richardson is known to enjoy a cold drink on a hot day.

Download the new FOX SPORTS App to get the latest news and scores from your NRL team.