WELCOME to Market Watch, your home for the latest news on player movements at your club.

From transfers, new deals, rumours and retirements. Check it all out here!

NORMAN COMMANDS BIG MONEY

Anthony Watmough could hold the key to Parramatta re-signing Corey Norman.

Round 19

The Eels need to find another $600,000 over three years to ensure they don’t lose Norman as rival clubs begin to express their interest.

Kieran Foran and Corey Norman at Parramatta training. Pic Brett Costello Source: News Corp Australia

The five-eighth and his manager have rejected the club’s first offer worth $1.8 million which was produced last week.

The 25-year-old is asking for around $800,000 a season for his services, meaning the Eels are $200,000 short of where they need to be to keep him as Kieran Foran’s halves partner.

In a strange twist, Watmough could hold the key to the Eels re-signing Norman should he retire this year.



Watmough is waiting to hear whether his insurance claim for a chronic knee injury has gone through but if it does, it means the backrower’s contract won’t be counted towards the Eels’ salary cap next year.

Watmough has another three seasons on his deal worth almost $2 million which the Eels hope will be paid out in full so they have fresh funds to recruit and retain their stars.

The Eels are very interested in North Queensland enforcer James Tamou, however they’re not currently in a position to make the Test star a competitive offer.

Along with Norman, the club also has Michael Gordon, Nathan Peats, Danny Wicks and Isaac De Gois all off-contract.

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Melbourne football manager Frank Ponissi joins Ben Ikin, Ben Glover and Nathan Ryan to provide an insight into their recruitment strategies, Cooper Cronk’s future and what makes Craig Bellamy tick.

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MATA’UTIA ON THE MOVE

Peter Mata'utia has his finger put back in place. Source: News Corp Australia

St George Illawarra back Peter Mata’utia is poised to join Newcastle in a mid-year switch.

It’s understood that the 25-year-old, who has previously been linked to the Gold Coast, has been granted a release after struggling to secure a regular place in Paul McGregor’s first grade side.

Mata’utia, who began his NRL career with Newcastle in 2011, is set to reunite with his three younger brothers on a deal until the end of 2017.

The Knights are expected to announce the deal on Wednesday afternoon.

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GUBB A WANTED MAN

The Warriors have been forced to move swiftly in a bid to lock down Charlie Gubb with rival clubs from Australia and abroad chasing the young prop.

Market Watch can reveal both North Queensland and Wests Tigers have been eyeing the enforcer, while he’s also caught the eye of Super League clubs Huddersfield and Wigan.

One club has been so impressed with Gubb that they expressed interest in luring the forward across the Tasman before the June 30 transfer deadline.

Charlie Gubb of the Warriors looks to get his pass away. Source: Getty Images

The Warriors however are well aware of the interest surrounding the 25-year-old and met on Friday to discuss rewarding his early season form with a pay rise and new deal.

The Warriors have the option to keep Gubb, who is on a modest salary, at the club in 2017 should they choose to do so and, while they’re planning on activating their option, the forward won’t be left out of pocket with the club to reward Gubb with an upgrade of $90,000 on his deal for next season.

On top of the upgrade, the Warriors will offer the 25-year-old an additional year extension which will keep him at the club until at least the end of 2018.

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NEW MANAGER, NEW CONTRACT

Tariq Sims has until the end of May to decide whether to take up an option to stay with Newcastle next season or take his talents elsewhere.

In being proactive, the Knights are already deep in negotiations to re-sign Tariq Sims until at least the end of 2018 which includes an upgrade of his option for next season.

Tariq Sims of the Knights runs the ball. Source: News Corp Australia

Market Watch can reveal Sims recently parted ways with long-time manager Col Davis with Sims’ fiance Ashleigh Sudholz taking control of his contract negotiations.

Earlier in the year Sims rejected the club’s offer for 2018 which was worth less than his current deal but, with the threat of losing Robbie Rochow looming, the Knights have revised their offer to the 26-year-old.

Sims has previously stated he’d love to stay at the Knights, where he’s a co-captain of the club along with Jeremy Smith and Trent Hodkinson.

“Looking into the future, I can see where the club is going to be and I really want to be a part of that. To stay at Newy would be great,” Sims told Market Watch in February.

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KELLY EYES NRL RETURN

He hasn’t been seen in the NRL since 2014 but Albert Kelly is considering whether to stay in England or return to Australia at the end of the year.

The halfback has an option in his favour to stay at Hull KR in 2017 and needs to make a call on whether to take it up by next month.

The 25-year-old played 47 games over four seasons in the NRL with Cronulla and Gold Coast before he was granted a release from the Titans to join Hull KR on a two-year deal with an option.

Kelly was named the Rovers’ player of the year for 2015 and is currently sidelined with injury.

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FITZY SNUBBED KANGAROOS

New Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga. Source: News Corp Australia

Australian coach Mal Meninga has revealed Roosters assistant Craig Fitzgibbon declined the chance to act as Meninga’s right hand man at Test level.

Fitzgibbon, who will coach the Country Origin team this year, was approached for a role with the Kangaroos but didn’t accept.

“(Craig) was someone I approached straight away about taking on the assistant coaching role but unfortunately for Fitzy, with his family and Rooster commitments, he didn’t really want to go overseas at the end of the year,” Meninga said on Triple M Saturday NRL.

“He has turned me down, so what I’ve done is really bolstered the Sports Science and Medical team.

“It’s a bit more intimate for me but I have such great players, so I’ll lean on them a bit too about how we want to play.”

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

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SHHHHHH

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GUESS WHO

Which assistant NRL coach was contacted by a third party last week to gauge if he’d be interested in a head-coaching position should one become available.

It’s no secret Warriors coach Andrew McFadden and Tigers mentor Jason Taylor are the two men most under pressure, although the third party did not say which club he was calling on behalf of.

While Ivan Cleary and Geoff Toovey are tipped as the next two coaches pushing for an NRL return once a post appears, this could be an indication one club has other plans. The assistant who was contacted is not based in Sydney.

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LATEST RUMOURS

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BROOKS TO BELMORE?

Luke Brooks of the Tigers is tackled. Source: News Corp Australia

Rumours that Canterbury are chasing Wests Tigers halfback Luke Brooks continue to bubble away.

The playmaker has been linked to the Bulldogs for weeks, with gossip saying Des Hasler sees Moses Mbye as more of a running half than team general.

Brooks has an option in his Tigers contract for next season in his favour worth almost $600,000. Originally both he and Mitchell Moses had until January to take up the option, however the Tigers extended that deadline until June.

Mbye is expected to announce a new four-year deal shortly which could spell trouble for Josh Reynolds, who is off contract at the end of next season.

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If you have heard a rumour you want to share with us, tweet us: @FoxNRL, @Nath_Ryan or email Nathan.Ryan@news.com.au

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OFF CONTRACT LIST FOR 2016

BRISBANE BRONCOS

Carlin Anderson, Greg Eden, Herman Ese’ese, Matt Gillett, Lachlan Maranta, Francis Molo, Kodi Nikorima, Tom Opacic, Corey Parker, Travis Waddell, Jarrod Wallace

New deal: Wayne Bennett (until the end of 2019)

Leaving: Dale Copley (Immediate release to Roosters until end of 2018)

CANBERRA RAIDERS

Kurt Baptiste, Luke Bateman, Adam Clydsdale, Rhys Kennedy, Brenko Lee, Jeff Lima, Iosia Soliola, Sam Williams

New deal: Josh Hodgson (until the end of 2018), Kato Ottio (from PNG Hunters until end of 2017)

Leaving: Tevita Pangai (released to Brisbane until end of 2018), Sisa Waqa (end of June for French Rugby)

CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS

Tim Browne, Dane Chisholm, Greg Eastwood, Josh Jackson, David Klemmer, Moses Mbye, Pat O’Hanlon, Tony Williams

New deal:

Leaving: Shaun Lane (released to Warriors until end of 2016)

CRONULLA SHARKS

Mitch Brown, Jayson Bukuya, Kurt Capewell, Josh Cleeland, Michael Ennis, David Fifita, Jacob Gagan, Paul Gallen, Chris Heighington, Luke Lewis, Junior Roqica, Sam Tagataese

New deal: Jack Bird (until end of 2017)

Leaving:

GOLD COAST TITANS

Lachlan Burr, Anthony Don, Nathan Friend, David Hala, David Mead, Daniel Mortimer, Kierran Moseley, Nathaniel Peteru, Leivaha Pulu, Matt Robinson, Ryan Simpkins, Matt Srama

New deal: Jeff Lynch (From Canberra until end of 2017), Cameron Cullen (From Queensland Cup until end of 2016), Kane Elgey (until end of 2018), Dan Sarginson (From Wigan until the end of 2018)

Leaving:

MANLY SEA EAGLES

Luke Burgess, Fabian Goodall, Nathan Green, Jayden Hodges, Isaac John, Liam Knight, Brenton Lawrence, Blake Leary, Jamie Lyon, Feleti Mateo, Tim Moltzen, Tony Satini, Josh Starling, Tom Symonds, Jorge Taufua, Brayden Wiliame

New deal: Pita Godinet (until end of 2016 from Wakefield)

Leaving:

MELBOURNE STORM

Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Cheyse Blair, Kenny Bromwich, Cooper Cronk, Blake Green, Ben Hampton, Richard Kennar, Marika Koroibete, Mark Nicholls, Young Tonumaipea, Matt White

New deal: Tim Glasby (until the end of 2018), Craig Bellamy (until the end of 2018), Shem Tatupu (From AFL until the end of 2018)

Leaving:

NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS

Charlie Gubb, Ben Henry, Mason Lino, Sione Lousi, Ken Maumalo, John Palavi, Jeff Robson, Henare Wells, Jonathan Wright

New deal:

Leaving: Raymond Faitala-Mariner (release to Bulldogs until end of 2019)

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS

Bryce Donovan, Krys Freeman, Josh King, Alex McKinnon, James McManus, Robbie Rochow, Nathan Ross, Tariq Sims, Bradie Smith, Jeremy Smith

New deal:

Leaving: James McManus (rested for 2016 due to injury), Joseph Tapine (Released to Raiders until end of 2019)

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS

Javid Bowen, Lachlan Coote, Ben Hannant, Sam Hoare, Jahrome Hughes, Patrick Kaufusi, Rory Kostjasyn, Kane Linnett, Ethan Lowe, Tautau Moga, Justin O’Neill, James Tamou, Antonio Winterstein, Matthew Wright

New deal: Jake Granville (until end of 2018)

Leaving:

PARRAMATTA EELS

Mitch Cornish, Isaac De Gois, Bureta Faraimo, Michael Gordon, James Hasson, Luke Kelly, Cameron King, Kieren Moss, Cody Nelson, Corey Norman, Rory O’Brien, Nathan Peats, Kelepi Tanginoa, Vai Toutai, Joseph Ualesi, Danny Wicks

New deal: Daniel Alvaro (until the end of 2018), Kaysa Pritchard (until the end of 2018), Alex Twal (until the end of 2017)

Leaving: Pauli Pauli (released to join Knights until end of 2017), Junior Paulo (Raiders until end of 2018)

PENRITH PANTHERS

Sitaleki Akauola, George Jennings, Robert Jennings, Josh Mansour, Suaia Matagi, Andy Saunders, James Segeyaro, Will Smith, Tupou Sopoaga, Elijah Taylor, Peter Wallace

New deal: Oliver Clark (until end of 2018), Soni Luke (until end of 2018), Tyrone May (until end of 2018), Dylan Edwards (until end of 2018), Isaah Yeo (until end of 2019)

Leaving: Chris Smith (released to Roosters on deal until end of 2017)

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS

Nathan Brown, Paul Carter, Jason Clark, Brock Gray, Tom Hughes, Hymel Hunt, Luke Keary, Ed Murphy, Zane Musgrove, Michael Oldfield, Riley Travers, Cody Walker, Cheyne Whitelaw

New deal: Dane Nielsen (From Bradford until end of 2017), Jack Gosiewski (until the end of 2017)

Leaving: Tim Grant (Immediate release to Tigers until end of 2017), Chris Grevsmuhl (Panthers — 2 years), John Olive (Released to Gold Coast until end of 2018)

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS

Tom Carr, Ben Creagh, Matthew Dufty, Dylan Farrell, Jake Marketo, Benji Marshall, Mitch Rein, Joel Thompson

New deal:

Leaving:

SYDNEY ROOSTERS

Mitchell Aubusson, Tyler Cornish, Mitchell Frei, Ian Henderson, Martin Kennedy, Sam Moa, Abraham Papalii, Omar Slaimankhel, Eloni Vunakece, Vincent Leuluai, Joey Lussick

New deal: Boyd Cordner (re-signed until end of 2018), Jackson Hastings,(until end of the 2017), Isaac Liu (until end of 2018)

Leaving: Michael Jennings (Immediate release to Eels until end of 2019)

WESTS TIGERS

Josh Addo-Carr, Josh Aloiai, Jack Buchanan, Michael Chee-Kam, Manaia Cherrington, Josh Drinkwater, Asipeli Fine, Dallas Graham, Rod Griffin, Dene Halatau, Justin Hunt, Chris Lawrence, Jack Littlejohn, Chance Peni, Bayley Sironen, Sauaso Sue

New deal:

Leaving: Marion Seve (released to Brisbane), Billy McConnachie (released to Brisbane until end of 2016), Lamar Liolevave (released to Bulldogs until end of 2017), Jesse Parahi (released to rugby sevens)