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Your club's transfer performance rating: Part 1

6th December, 2016
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Will Bennett be at the Broncos in 2019? (AAP Image/Dan Peled)
Roar Guru
6th December, 2016
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The end of the year draws nearer and nearer, we are getting closer to the promised land of the NRL season every day.

As is the case with the off-season, topics can be hard to come by. So today, I’m going to analyse how each club has fared in the transfer market thus far.

This will include the best signing and biggest loss for each club, as well as a possible surprise package, and a key re-signing.

Ratings are out of ten.

Brisbane Broncos

Best signing: David Mead (Gold Coast Titans)
The former Titans flyer has packed his bags and moved slightly further north to represent Wayne Bennett’s Broncos. Mead, on his day, is a massive threat to opposition defences and can be utilised anywhere in the backline.

Biggest loss: Jarrod Wallace (Gold Coast Titans)
Where Mead is gained, Wallace is lost to the Titans.

More of a bustling, hard-running forward than a speedy outside back, the up and coming prop will be missed by the Brisbane-based club.

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Possible star signing: Benji Marshall (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Maybe the riskiest signing of the off-season so far, the once brilliant Benji Marshall heads to the Broncos with no form under his belt.

However, you never know what a player can do under Wayne Bennett, so watch this space.

Key re-signing: Matt Gillett (2020)
The Australia and Queensland representative second-rower has committed to the club until the 2020 season.

Gillett has been one of Brisbane’s most consistent performers over the last few years and will be boosted by his new deal.

Transfer performance rating: 7

Matt Gillett on the charge for Brisbane

Canberra Raiders

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Best signing: Jordan Turner (St. Helens RLFC)
In a Canberra side where spots will be hard to come by, former Super League back Jordan Turner may be the most likely to play first grade next season.

Signed more for depth purposes, if BJ Leilua or Jarrod Croker are selected for Origin, expect to see Turner step up.

Biggest loss: Paul Vaughan (St George Illawarra Dragons)
The Italian Stallion has left the Raiders, and he may have left a hole to fill behind him.

A stand out front rower for Canberra over the last few years, Vaughan’s absence will have an impact on the Raiders line-up.

Possible star signing: Jordan Turner (St. Helens RLFC)
We welcome back Jordan Turner to the segment. Restating what I said before, he will mainly be used for depth, but if given the opportunity, he could really shine in the lime green.

Key re-signing: Josh Hodgson (2018)
Hodgson was perhaps the best on the park for Canberra this season.

He led the Dally M race for some time and took the Raiders all the way to the finals. His re-signing is welcomed by Raiders fans.

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Transfer performance rating: 5

Canterbury Bulldogs

Best signing: Brenko Lee (Canberra Raiders)
After losing a host of outside backs, Lee may just have a starting spot at the Belmore-based club.

There are plenty of holes to fill and the former Canberra flyer can perform.

Biggest loss: Curtis Rona (Rugby Union)
The club’s leading try scorer a couple of years ago, Rona is now code hopping over to the land of Union.

He is sure to be a big loss for the club, who, again, are missing plenty of backs.

Possible star signing: Zac Woolford (Canberra Raiders)
Another man who joins the Bulldogs from the nation’s capital.

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Crafty under-20s hooker Zac Woolford will likely be behind Michael Lichaa and Craig Garvey in the pecking order, but he’s a talented young player and anything can happen.

Key re-signing: Josh Jackson (2020)
Jackson has been touted as the next captain of the NSW blues.

He is currently one of the best second rowers in the competition and will be important for the club’s future success.

Transfer performance rating: 5

Cronulla Sharks

Best signing: Manaia Cherrington (Wests Tigers)
Cherrington was unlucky this season not to see more first-grade time at the Tigers, but he may be considered the heir to Michael Ennis’ throne at Cronulla.

Quick out of dummy half and decent in defence, Manaia will relish the fresh environment.

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Biggest loss: Ben Barba (Released)
He may rejoin the club later on next season, but all the controversy surrounding Ben Barba has meant the club will lose its premiership-winning fullback.

After a fantastic season, Barba will be watching from his lounge room in 2017.

Ben Barba crossed for the first try of the 2016 NRL Grand Final (AAP Image/David Moir)

Possible star signing: Tony Williams (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
Never has so much emphasis been put on the word ‘possible.’

T-Rex can be a damaging edge forward, but inconsistency has ruined his reputation.

The Sharks will look to get the best out of him.

Key re-signing: Jason Bukuya (2018)
While big names such as Paul Gallen and Luke Lewis have re-signed, under-rated star Bukuya has also put pen to paper.

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A quiet achiever for Cronulla, he will be looking to establish himself next year.

Transfer performance rating: 7

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