2014 NRL signings

[TITAN PETE]

Eels re-sign Fijian flyer Radradra

AAP
7:28am Wed 04th June, 2014




Parramatta have re-signed boom winger Semi Radradra to a four-year NRL contract extension.

The deal will keep the Fijian flyer at the club until the end of the 2018 season.

After debuting for the Eels last year, the 105kg Radradra has come along in leaps and bounds this season.

He leads the competition's try-scoring list after crossing the stripe 11 times in 11 matches and has quickly become a favourite amongst the club's fans.

"Semi's an exciting player who is a definite crowd-pleaser and has great finishing abilities," Eels coach Brad Arthur said.

"He's been working hard to adjust to rugby league since signing with the Eels and he's a valuable part of the side."

[Titan4Life]

News around the web saying James Tedesco will backflip on his Raiders deal and remain with Tigers. Not confirmed but very strong chance.

[Mexican titan]

News around the web saying James Tedesco will backflip on his Raiders deal and remain with Tigers. Not confirmed but very strong chance.

Has been on the Telegraph website for a little while. Good to see he stays with the Tigers who will be an exciting team in the next year or so. Why let Ricky Stuart wreck another career.
Mind you he seems injury prone and a huge risk if you are paying big $$.

[Titan4Life]

http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2014-0...eports/5501040

Wests Tigers full-back James Tedesco has reneged on his deal to sign with the Canberra Raiders from 2015 onwards.

Tedesco approached Tigers chief executive Grant Mayer on Wednesday and told him he would rather remain with the Tigers rather than join the Raiders for three years, as announced last week.

"I firstly need to apologise to the Canberra Raiders for my change of heart," Tedesco said in a statement.

"They have been great throughout the whole process. That said, I never felt totally comfortable with my decision and after thinking it through I realised it would be too hard to leave my best mates.

"I understand that the Raiders and their fans will be disappointed and I apologise to all of them for making this decision and I only hope they will understand."

The apology is sure to be cold comfort for the Raiders who have recently missed out on Penrith winger Josh Mansour, Canterbury skipper Michael Ennis and Melbourne back rower Kevin Proctor

Mayer said Tedesco had struggled with the decision before settling on the Tigers and that they were thrilled to retain the 21-year-old.

"There is no doubt that this has been a difficult period for James and his family but we are clearly thrilled that he has decided to stay with the club," Mayer said.

"This is a brave decision by James that will undoubtedly show many that his belief in his mates and belief in the club far outweighs all other influences.

"All at the club are delighted with his decision and we will work towards concluding the terms that were last available to him from the Wests Tigers."

Fairfax Media quoted Raiders chief executive Don Furner as saying he was "bitterly disappointed" by the change of heart.

It was hoped Tedesco could fill the void left by Brisbane-bound star Anthony Milford from 2015.

"James is an outstanding young talent who we see as a big signing for the Raiders and we look forward to him joining the club at the beginning of the 2015 season," Furner said in a statement last week.

"The Raiders have followed James's progress from his days at St Gregory's College Campbelltown and we know being from Camden, James will fit into the lifestyle and culture here in Canberra. "We wish him a successful season for the remainder of 2014 with the Wests Tigers and look forward to him joining us for pre-season 2015."

[TITAN PETE]

Suck Shyte Ricky no body likes you

[TITAN PETE]

Wicks set for post-jail NRL return
By James MacSmith
AAP
7:25pm Wed 11th June, 2014


Parramatta are one of a number of NRL clubs who have expressed an interest in signing Danny Wicks for the 2015 season.

Wicks is set to return to the rugby league next year, after serving a four-year WADA ban and an 18-month prison sentence for drug supply.

The former Newcastle and St George Illawarra forward was released from jail in March, after being found guilty of drug dealing.

On a contract worth around $300,000 a year before his arrest, the 28-year-old is unlikely to command anywhere near that sort of money as he seeks a second chance in rugby league.

Wicks met Eels officials on Tuesday but the club stressed negotiations were at an early stage.

"We have had preliminary discussions with him, but we are aware a number of other clubs have as well," an Eels spokesman told AAP on Wednesday.

"There has been nothing further than that. Any discussions we have had have been at an initial stage."

Wicks manager Steve Gillis confirmed to Triple M that Wicks had been shopped around to a number of NRL clubs, but that no offers had been officially tabled.

"Danny has no offers from any clubs ... there is preliminary interest from a few clubs," Gillis said.

"Danny remains banned from playing footy, Grafton or otherwise, until late September."

Given their struggles up front this season, the Dragons are another club who have been linked to Wicks, as have the Knights who are also struggling for forward depth.

Wicks played 69 NRL games for the Dragons and the Knights before being found guilty of three counts of supplying drugs in 2011 and served his sentence at Glen Innes Correctional Centre, expressing his desire to return to the NRL when he was released on parole.

Wicks' four-year World Anti-Doping Authority ban ends in September, which means he won't be eligible to join a new NRL club until the 2015 season.

[TITAN PETE]

Broncos confirm Garbutt signature
By Broncos Media
NRL.com
5:40pm Wed 16th July, 2014



The Brisbane Broncos have added more depth to their squad for 2015 with the signing of exciting front-rower Mitch Garbutt for the next two years.

At 115 kilograms and 190 centimetres, Garbutt will also add plenty of size when he joins the club at the end of the 2014 NRL season.

Garbutt will be a Bronco until at least the end of the 2016 season after agreeing to a two-year deal to leave the Melbourne Storm.

At 25 years of age– the age when front-rowers are generally starting to find their best form – Garbutt is a long-term prospect for the Broncos.

He is a valuable acquisition, said coach Anthony Griffin.

"Mitch will add some depth and some size to our squad next season," said Griffin.

"He is coming to the right age as a front-rower and has the best football of his career in front of him.

"I’m sure he will fit in well at the Broncos and his addition will complement the other talent we have in our group of forwards."

Garbutt has played nine NRL matches with the Storm and was respectful to his current club when announcing his intention to join Brisbane.

He has been performing solidly in the Intrust Super Cup for Storm feeder club Easts Tigers, but has now set his sight on breaking into the Broncos’ top 17 permanently next year.

"The Broncos are a really professional club and I'll do the hard work necessary to get into the side," Garbutt said.

"There are some great players at the club so I can learn a lot there."

A junior from the Newcastle Wests club, Garbutt made his NRL debut for the Storm in Round 14 last season.

That match came against the Knights, ironically the team that represent the region he was recruited from.

[TITAN PETE]

COWBOYS SIGN GRANVILLE
Broncos Cowboys
July 22, 201400

The North Queensland Cowboys have signed Brisbane Broncos hooker Jake Granville on a two-year deal starting in 2015.

A Rockhampton junior, Granville, 25, played under Cowboys coach Paul Green at Wynnum Manly, winning back-to-back Intrust Super Cup premierships in 2011 and 2012 and will arrive in Townsville looking to play more first grade.

“Jake can see an opportunity to play more regular first grade football by coming to the Cowboys,” North Queenland’s general manager of football Peter Parr says via a press release.

“Anyone who has seen him play knows that he has the ability to become a regular in the first 17.

“He’s quick off the mark, a solid defender and has good service from dummy-half.”

Granville has played eight first grade games for the Broncos since debuting in round 10 last year.

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Always thought this bloke would be a good NRL player after watching him come through the Q Cup