Every year, the NRL is bombarded with player transfer whispers, re-signings and pre-signings. In truth, it can all get a little muddled and hard to make sense of.
Who’s moving where? Are they staying or going? Who’s hunting their signature now? They’ve signed for how much? These are just some of the many questions asked once the player market kicks into life and fuels the off-field circus that is the modern-day NRL.
But not all business is good business. These days, most can be. That’s the nature of rugby league, where general managers and directors of football spend their days ensuring all business conducted by the club is done with the club’s best interests at heart. However, sometimes this isn’t the case.
As the NRL season continues, more business will be done. We’ll be tracking each bit of deal done by clubs throughout the year and providing our verdict on whether it’s good business or not.
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NRL contract news: 2024 highlights
Here’s our verdict on the best business across the NRL in 2024.
Brisbane extend Walters for two years
No, not Kevin. Billy Walters has been handed a two-year contract extension, meaning his time at the club will run through until at least 2026. Having signed as a utility, Walters has slowly morphed into a serviceable first-grade hooker whose ability to play in the halves has come in handy at certain points throughout 2024.
While he’s not Harry Grant or Api Koroisau, two of the NRL’s finest hookers, few can argue Walters’ pedigree as a fantastically reliable number nine. A key element of Brisbane’s 2023 Grand Final side, Walters has hardly put a foot wrong in recent years with his defence in particular growing year on year.
Verdict: A reward for reliability
The Dolphins reward Max Plath with a contract extension
When Thomas Gilbert went down with an ACL injury at the beginning of 2024 many wondered how the Dolphins would fare. When one door closed, another opened, with Max Plath cementing himself as a tough, reliable first-grade lock who is capable of getting his hands dirty and knitting the Dolphins’ attack together.
Despite his diminutive stature, Plath’s four games as Wayne Bennett’s starting lock have seen him make 152 tackles, missing just two. Such has been his pre-contract extension form, many are talking about the young lock as a future Queensland Origin representative.
Verdict: Smart business that will prove even smarter in the coming years
Heilum Luki to remain a Cowboy until 2029
Everything in the rugby league community has big wraps on Heilum Luki. As far as back rowers go, Luki has it all; speed, agility and power. Injuries have robbed him of a consistent chance to showcase his talents consistently. Yet, when the young edge features, he rarely fails to impress.
Across his short career, Luki has 11 tries and breaks around two tackles per game while making over 93% of his tackles and running for around 72 metres. Luki has a high ceiling, just needs his body to remain healthy enough for him to reach it.
Verdict: A smart investment
Canberra extend Ethan Strange until 2028
Jack Wighton’s decision to trade Canberra for the Rabbitohs rightly left many questioning how Ricky’s Raiders would compensate for his departure. Kaeo Weekes arrived from Manly, but many with a keen eye for talent understood the Raiders’ perfect Wighton replacement had been at the club for some time; Ethan Strange.
Like Wighton, Strange can play both centre and five-eighth. It’s been in the latter position that he’s excelled in 2024, his rookie year. Alongside the steady Jamal Fogarty, Strange’s game has improved weekly. Not only a dangerous ball runner, blessed with deceptive pace and strength, Strange’s defence has strengthened as the season has progressed.
Top talent will always rise to the top, but as Strange explained, Canberra’s coaching has greatly assisted his rapid growth.
“I’m loving the way my footy is going and the coaches trust in me. They don’t put too much pressure on me, and it makes it a great place to play footy,” he said. At just 19, the only way is up for Ethan Strange and the Canberra Raiders.
Verdict: An absolute no-brainer
Roosters tie Terrell May down until 2026
Few props have started 2024 as well as Terrell May. Coming from the bench but playing starting minutes, May has cemented himself as one of the NRL’s most dangerous middle forwards, capable of driving momentum in the Roosters’s favour and generating second phase play for the likes of Brandon Smith, James Tedesco and Joey Manu.
Securing May’s signature, even if on a short-term deal, is a significant coup for the Roosters given how in demand their young prop is. Reportedly the Bulldogs and the Dragons were significantly interested in the props signature, while Penrith re-signing his brother Taylan saw them firm as a likely destination.
As was the case when Lindsay Collins re-signed with the club, May’s signature takes on extra importance next season when the club’s decade-long enforcer, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, vacates his role as the pack’s leader. Make no mistake, May will more than compensate for JWH’s departure.
Verdict: Fantastic business in the face of immense interest
Lindsay Collins re-commits to the Roosters until 2028
He was already contracted until 2026 but with the season barely a month old the Roosters have moved to tie their star front rower for another two seasons. At 27, Collins is on the cusp of entering his prime. If his last two seasons are anything to go by, his next few seasons will be ones to remember.
A ferocious leader of the Roosters and Queensland pack, Collins is one of the best props in the NRL, capable of making tough metres, tightening his team’s middle defence and doing all the little, widely unnoticed plays all the great players do.
With Jared Waerea-Hargreaves finishing up at the club this season, Collins’ extension will take an increased importance in the coming years, as the Roosters search for their next alpha forward to lead their pack.
Verdict: Good business, will become great in a few years
Nick Meaney signs contract extension with Melbourne
When the Storm signed Nick Meaney from Canterbury, he was a promising fullback performing well in an underperforming, uninspiring side. Expected to be a squad player who filled in across the back line when necessary, Meaney has exploded into one of Craig Bellamy’s most trusted troops.
Since joining Melbourne in 2022, Meaney’s crossed for 24 tries in 52 games, featuring on the wing, at centre, and, crucially, at fullback during Ryan Papenhuyzen’s lengthy injury layoffs. Not once has the outside back looked out of place at Melbourne.
In 2024, he has slotted in comfortably at left centre, with his impressive performances rewarded by a new deal.
Verdict: A reward for consistent reliability
Rabbitohs extend Jye Gray for two years
He may be one of the smallest players in NRL history but the wraps on Jye Gray are enormous. Rapidly quick with a deadly change of pace, Gray is a five-eighth-fullback who has terrorised NSW Cup defences in 2024, running for 160 metres per game, scoring twice, breaking the line seven times and breaking 25 tackles in four games.
Rabbitohs Head of Football, Mark Ellison, said Gray’s “style of play is very dangerous for opposition defences in attack, using his quicksilver pace to trouble his opponents, and he is a high quality defender as well.”
Yet, with Latrell Mitchell locked in at fullback and Jack Wighton seemingly the next man up to replace Cody Walker as South Sydney’s five-eighth, one must wonder how the Rabbitohs will fit their energizer bunny young star into their line up.
Verdict: Shreud business, but headaches will ensue
Matt Timoko to remain a Raider until 2026
At 24, Matt Timoko is already one of the best centres in the NRL. A destructive wrecking ball, Timoko breaks tackles for fun with the ball in hand while he’s a more than capable defender. Given who Canberra have lost in recent seasons it would have been a travesty to see another product of the club’s junior pathways depart.
Tying Timoko down until 2026, with a two-year extension attached on top of that, is smart business by Ricky Stuart and the Raiders. As Timoko’s game improves year-on-year, so too will his market value. This current contract ensures that the Raiders get great value for money as their boom right centre continues to go from strength to strength.
However, one must wonder if the decision to sign until 2026 with a two-year option on top, as opposed to a contract until 2028 places the bargaining power in Timoko’s hands in the coming years, especially if he becomes the world-class centre everyone expects him to be.
Verdict: Great short-term gain, but will there be long-term pain?
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Mitch Kenny and Penrith agree three-year extension
There aren’t many hookers in NRL history with two Premiership rings. Mitch Kenny is one of them. The Penrith hooker isn’t the flashest hooker, he doesn’t particularly run the ball well nor can he pick defences apart with his playmaking around the ruck.
But he doesn’t need to do all that. All Mitch Kenny needs to do is his job: tackle hard and provide great service. He executes both those roles expertly, hitting attackers like a bulldozer and finding Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo or Jarome Luai no matter how far they are from the play the ball.
Kenny wears his heart on his sleeve and is the heart of this all-conquering Panthers side. Keeping him around for a few extra years is shrewd business from Penrith.
Verdict: A reward for years of excellent service
Dolphins extend Isaiya Katoa until 2028
At 20, the rugby league world is seemingly at the talented feet of Dolphins half, Isaiya Katoa. The highly-touted youngster was signed from Penrith and thrown immediately into first grade, with green shoots of his talent on show almost immediately.
A patchy end to the 2023 campaign carried into 2024, with Katoa not named in the Dolphins’ team for their round one loss at the hands of the Cowboys. Returning to the side in round two, Katoa impressed, showing a maturity well above his age to guide the Dolphins to victory.
At his age, Katoa’s far from the finished article and that’s okay. His extension means Katoa has time, and support, to harness his immense potential. Should he sustain his mature performances, there’s no reason the former Panther can become the player the Dolphins’ future prospects are hinged on.
Verdict: A smart investment
Max King to remain at the Bulldogs until 2027
Bulldogs general manager, Phil Gould, is on the record that rugby league front rowers are few and far between. Unsurprisingly, his side has locked their top prop, Max King, down on a new multi-year deal.
Since arriving at Belmore, King has continually exceeded expectations and consistently proved himself an excellent front row forward capable of matching it with the game’s top middles. A sturdy, reliable defender who tightens up Canterbury’s middle when on the field, King’s work rate is second to none at Belmore.
Doubts remain about his ability to explode into one of the NRL’s premier front row forwards, alongside James Fisher-Harris, Payne Haas and Joseph Tapine, amongst others. However, what can’t be questioned is King’s commitment and reliability.
With good front rowers harder to come by than water in a desert, Canterbury can do worse than tying their top prop down on a multi-year deal.
VERDICT: A solid play
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Luke Metcalf agrees two-year extension with the Warriors
Warriors five-eighth Luke Metcalf is an excitement machine, everyone in the rugby league world knows that. In 2023, we were robbed of the chance to see his talents over a full season, largely down to injury. In 2024, Metcalf has come out with a bang.
At 25, he’s on the cusp of entering his prime years as a footballer. Match an increased rugby league IQ, which grows only through experience and repetitions, with his electric speed and agility and the Warriors have a handful in their side.
Whether he is the man to take over the reins for Andrew Webster’s side when current halfback Shaun Johnson retires in the coming years remains debatable. In terms of profile, Metcalf is chalk and Johnson is cheese. Then again, many fondly remember the younger Johnson, perhaps the most agile, ankle-breaking half in NRL history who lacked the game management he boasts in his later years.
With that in mind, it’s hard to rule out Metcalf developing into a more traditional halfback, though those bridges will be crossed when Webster’s Warriors get to them.
VERDICT: An important retention
Penrith tie Izack Tago down until 2028
At 21, few footballers have achieved what Izack Tago has. A dual-Premiership winner, the young Penrith centre arrived at first grade with Matt Burton-sized shoes to fill on Penrith’s left edge. No one could’ve expected that, 50 games later, Tago would be considered one of the best centres in the competition.
Already on a deal with Penrith until the end of 2025, the Panthers moved quickly at the beginning of the 2024 season to ensure their boom young centre remains off the market until 2028, at least. Tago’s re-signing means four of Penrith’s back five are contracted until at least 2026.
Providing Ivan Cleary, arguably the third greatest coach this century, with that level of continuity to plan and develop is a scary prospect. Defensively, we’re yet to see if Tago has the same ceiling as Stephen Crichton, the man he’s replaced as Penrith’s right centre.
Offensively he’s simply a frighteningly destructive prospect with a running game nearly second-to-none in the NRL. With a few more years under his belt, outside Liam Martin, a psychotic defender and hard-hitting line runner, and Nathan Cleary, one of the greatest halfbacks of all time, the sky is the limit for Izack Tago.
VERDICT: Could prove a masterstroke
Panthers re-sign Taylan May on two-year deal
After Penrith’s round three victory against Brisbane, star young centre Taylan May, confirmed what many fans had long been hoping for; his re-signing at Penrith for a further few years. May’s signature was made sweeter by rumours St George was circling both him and his brother Terrell.
Penrith snapping the youngest May brother provides continuity to a backline decimated in recent years. First, left centre Matt Burton departed for the Bulldogs in 2022. Then right centre, Stephen Crichton, joined Burton at Belmore a year later.
While May, who won the 2022 NRL Premiership on the wing, has played a handful of games in the centres, all roads lead to him being a premier top-grade centre. In the opening three rounds of the 2024 season, against top-level opposition in Melbourne, Parramatta and Brisbane, May broke 11 tackles, created a try for Brian To’o, and averaged 125 running metres a game while making 92% of his tackles.
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In essence, he’s a centre highly capable of getting through a mountain of tough work, while maintaining an ability to create something from nothing. It’s no surprise Ivan Cleary’s side have secured his services for a further two seasons.
VERDICT: Smart move
