Winger Matt Ikuvalu will follow coach Craig Fitzgibbon from Bondi to Cronulla after being granted a release from the final year of his Sydney Roosters NRL contract.
The 27-year-old Ikuvalu joins the Sharks on a two-year contract, as the club announced the retention of veteran prop Aiden Tolman, along with the signings of Olympic rugby sevens player Lachlan Miller and hooker Jayden Berrell.
Ikuvalu was picked up by the Roosters while working as a shoe salesman and went on to score 25 tries in 38 NRL games for the club, including a five-try haul against North Queensland last year.
“It has been a pleasure to coach Matt and to watch him progress from a fill-in training role to a key contributor in our NRL squad,” Roosters coach Trent Robinson said.
Ikuvalu will compete with Sione Katoa and Ronaldo Mulitalo for a spot on the wing in Fitzgibbon’s maiden year in charge of a first-grade side.
The former Roosters assistant has been busy in the transfer market having already added Dragons captain Cameron McInnes and Melbourne duo Nicho Hynes and Dale Finucane to the revamped Sharks squad for 2022.
Matt Ikuvalu. (Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)
Joining them is 27-year-old Miller, who was part of Australia’s sevens team in Tokyo and had been linked with Cronulla more than a month ago.
Having the ability to cover the spine or backline, Miller is believed to have turned down other opportunities in league and union to sign a two-year deal.
Berrell will provide back-up at hooker to Blayke Brailey and McInnes after his exploits in Wynnum-Manly’s journey to the Queensland Cup grand final were brought to Cronulla’s attention by Mat Rogers.
Rounding out the Sharks’ flurry of signings is Tolman, who has opted to prolong his career with a one-year contract.
The 32-year-old joined from Canterbury before the start of last season and has acted as a calming influence on a talented young squad aspiring to challenge for a top-four spot in 2022.
“I enjoyed my first year at the club and I’m really happy to be returning for a second,” Tolman, who is four games shy of joining the NRL’s 300 club, said.
“We’ve got some quality players joining us and a new coach in Craig who I’m looking forward to working with.”
Meanwhile, the Storm have added a former sevens player of their own by bringing in New Zealander William Warbrick.
The 23-year-old, who won a silver medal at Tokyo, is aiming to play in the Storm’s outside backs.
Melbourne also announced the signing of playmaker Jayden Nikorima, who has not played NRL since 2016.
The playmaker was sacked by the Roosters for failing a drugs test the following season and has recently been plying his trade in the Queensland Cup.
Elsewhere, South Sydney have signed 22-year-old winger Isaiah Tass, who had previously been on the books of Brisbane and Canterbury, on a one-year deal.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Agree and so do I.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Reagan Campbell-Gillard has re-signed with the Eels. He has a three-year extension deal worth $2.4 mill which means he is signed until the end of 2025. Scratch RCG from the Redcliffe Dolphins shopping list. Finally, something for you to celebrate, mighty! But Reed Mahoney and Junior Paulo are still up for grabs. Eels ward off Dolphins raid with RCG inking $2.4 million extension https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/teams/eels/james-hooper-parramatta-eels-reagan-campbellgillard-nrl-eels-brad-arthur-junior-paulo-clint-gutherson/news-story/1d9c95afeba99b1fd3d99fb99f708f8f
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
I get the feeling Bennett wants the Dolphins key players to be QLDers like DCE, Munster, Ponga etc.
Larry1950
Guest
Totally agree, they could get jack wighton & a good prop for that. Ponga plays half a season every year, has defensive flaws & also has that weird millennial mentality making him hard to coach. Buy out Tedesco’s contract for that money or get joey manu & change.
Larry1950
Guest
I’m an old timer but looking at Warbrick’s wiki page he seems interesting, 6ft4in & 15st10lb in the old, rugby 7’s speed & a background in aussie rules in NZ where he was a junior rep. If he can tackle he’s a shot at centre for the Storm. Can’t see Nikorima getting a go at the rorters, bit too small to defend the line as his brother is bigger yet struggles. Souths signing Tass is interesting, he has potential but wasted at the broncos.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Gutherson is better value for $600K - $800K per season, IMO. He also has better leadership qualities than Ponga.
ozziedude
Roar Rookie
Belly might turn him into a lock or centre
ozziedude
Roar Rookie
The most overated player ever. Will probs jump ship and play nz rugby.
Redcap
Roar Guru
The Pope agrees - Ponga's about the same level as Gutherson.
Phil
Roar Rookie
In answer to your question, no he's not worth 1.4 mill. It would be fiscal madness to throw that sort of money at a good player. A great player maybe, but not Ponga. If it did happen then Ponga would have the added expectation of performing according to his price tag every time he takes the field. History has shown that big money imports don't always deliver like Ash Taylor, David Fifita, Anthony Milford to name a few. When the media frenzy dies down I think Ponga will stay at Newcastle.
EagleWal
Roar Rookie
You cannot put a Turbo on a Dolphin!!!!! :silly:
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Is Kayln Ponga worth $1.4 million per season? That's what reports indicate the Dolphins are willing to spend to bring Ponga to Redcliffe (links below). Ponga's stats for 2021 are as follows: 15 games, 8 Tries, 10 goals, goal conversion rate Goal Conversion Rate 71.4%, 14 Try Assists, 74 Tackle Breaks, 9 Line Breaks, Tackle Efficiency 60.8%, 29 Missed Tackles (in 15 games), Average Running Metres 145, Total Running Metres 2,178. Tries: Ponga not inside top 50, Goals: 34th, NRL Running Metres: Ponga not inside top 50, Kick Return Metres: 34th, Try Assists: 18th, Line Break Assists: 18th, Player in Support: Ponga not inside top 50 Ponga's stats for 2020: 19 games, 10 Tries, 46 Goals, Goal Conversion Rate 65.7%, 14 Try Assists, 12 Line Breaks For that money the Dolphins could sign Mahoney/Grant $700K, Hynes $600K and still have $100K left over to go towards Sam Walker. If not these players then players of similar value and skills. For arguments sake the Dolphins could spend $1.4 million on Turbo and I would say it was money well spent but Ponga is vastly overrated for that price tag IMO. https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/ponga-bombshell-could-see-him-leave-knights-gutho-considering-eels-offer-transfer-whispers/news-story/6af9a5b49e877548626cca6785202a96 https://www.zerotackle.com/ponga-reportedly-seen-as-dolphins-1-4-million-marquee-man-111586/
Phil
Roar Rookie
It has crossed my mind that maybe he was coached that way at Melbourne. I'll be watching with interest his defence at Canterbury.
adam smith
Roar Rookie
Hey Phil, I don’t believe this issue of Addo-Carr always seemingly “abandoning his wing” & standing too far infield is necessarily his “fault”. Historically, Storm wingers have encroached “infield”, which leads me to believe it is a coaching directive. Anthony Quinn, Steve Turner et al have positioned themselves similarly. As long as I can remember Storm have played with a compressed defensive line. It has always & will continue to irk me. What I’m saying is not gospel, just my uneducated observation.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Berrell is a very good player. Really hope he gets a shot
Stormy
Roar Rookie
If nothing else, he should be fast, Phil.
Opposed Session
Roar Rookie
Coates is a like for like with Addo in terms of speed but they have played different sides of the field. Coates would need to play left at Storm to replace Fox (which wouldn’t surprise putting the two Kumuls together). Both wing spots are up for grabs at Storm as they never really settled on a right wing in 2021.
Opposed Session
Roar Rookie
Fitzy has had a good apprenticeship but I’ll keep my powder dry as well. NRL head coach career path is one that doesn’t prepare you for the job. Head coaching is much more than X’s and O’s. The ex-player - Assistant - Head Coach route without actually coaching a side as head coach in the levels below is a false economy IMO.
Greg
Roar Pro
Not much of interest in the Sharks signings as outside of Tolman not sure any will see a whole lot of first grade. The Storm signings interest me somewhat. It wouldn't really shock me to see Warbrick walk into the starting side. Played plenty of junior league and has a greater skillset than Iremia and Lumelume. Just a question of whether he can displace Jennings to start the season. Nikorima unlikely to feature much this year but potentially a long term replacement if Munster ends up at the Dolphins. Will need to make the most of any chance he is given.
mushi
Roar Guru
At what, Backgammon? He's a very good finisher but Dylan Walker looked better under the high ball to start out for Manly before Turbo returned. Matt makes the wrong read in defence and has a very loose carry bringing the ball back. If it was the NFL and he could be subbed in just during the attacking half - great. But he's a liability in too many spots.