NRL News: Bennett wants Latrell reunion at Dolphins, Storm up bid for Munster, Panthers may rest stars

Wayne Bennett is ready to pounce with a mega offer for Latrell Mitchell if the Rabbitohs cannot re-sign the star fullback before the November 1 deadline.

The Dolphins are desperate to land a marquee signing and although Mitchell would not be able to join the expansion side until 2024, Bennett is keen to lure the NSW and Australian representative to Redcliffe.

Bennett is also chasing Melbourne five-eighth Cameron Munster but faces stiff opposition from the Storm, who have upped their offer for their dynamic playmaker.

“I haven’t had talks with Latrell, but if he is on the open market in November, then yes I’m interested,” Bennett told NewsCorp.

“If Latrell does go to the open market, there will be 16 other clubs chasing him and we will be one of them.”

(Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)

Melbourne now ‘in ballpark’ for Munster: Anasta

The chances of Munster re-signing with the Storm have increased with his agent, Braith Anasta, saying he has “had a really positive and productive meeting” with the club.

In his role as NRL 360 host, Anasta declared “it’s good signs” for the Storm after they upped their offer on the table for Munster.

Munster, 27, has played his entire NRL career with the Storm but according to his agent Braith Anasta, was unwilling to accept the frugal contract extension proposed by the club earlier in the year.

The State of Origin representative opted to put contract talks off until later in the season, and on current form is set to command a marquee salary.

The Dolphins have signed Anthony Milford as a playmaker for their inaugural season but reports have linked the NRL’s 17th team to Munster, who is a Queenslander and enjoys a good relationship with head coach Wayne Bennett.

Earlier in the season, Anasta indicated that as many as four rival clubs had been in contact with hopes of acquiring Munster’s signature.

As speculation about his future escalates, Munster and Anasta met with Storm CEO Justin Rodski and owner Matt Tripp on Tuesday.

“We had a really positive, productive meeting, which was really good. It’s good signs,” Anasta told NRL 360.

Anasta chose not to disclose Munster’s prospective salary at the Storm but said the offer was competitive enough to match it with rivals.

Cameron Munster. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

“It’s going to be the hardest decision of (Munster’s) life,” Anasta said.

“Melbourne have definitely put an impressive offer forward. It’s going to come down to Cameron. 

“Matty (Tripp) is doing everything he can to keep him there and Cameron loves it there.”

Munster is able to negotiate with rival clubs from November 1, with Anasta admitting the Storm were hoping to secure a contract extension before then.

“There’s still a lot to play out in all of this,” he said.

Interest in Munster’s future comes amid reports the Dolphins could instead make a play for Latrell Mitchell, who has transformed South Sydney into premiership contenders since returning from a hamstring injury.

Mitchell comes off contract at the end of 2023, along with key teammates Damien Cook and Cody Walker.

The triumvirate are each on salaries reportedly north of $700,000 a season but in July, Cook said all three were keen to remain at the Rabbitohs together if possible.

Anasta said he got the impression Bennett was putting pressure on Munster through the media to make a decision while also making Souths pay more for Mitchell to retain his services.

Luai may rest after comeback: Cleary

Penrith will assess Jarome Luai’s best path to the NRL finals after Friday’s clash with the Warriors, with the returning five-eighth still a chance to be rested in round 25.

Luai will play his first match in close to a month this weekend, after getting final clearance on a knee injury sustained in round 19.

Already confirmed as minor premiers, Penrith will only be without suspended star Nathan Cleary for the Warriors clash ahead of his week-one finals return.

But the defending premiers are then expected to rest the majority of their big names against second-placed North Queensland in the final round of the regular season, with little to play for before the finals.

Luai could still be among those to sit out that Townsville trip. There is a thought the five-eighth will be able to regain match fitness against the Warriors, before then being put on ice to ensure no further issues before finals.

(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

“We’ll just see how he goes this week first,” coach Ivan Cleary said.  “We’ve got a couple of plans. Things can change very quickly in footy.

“We want to want him to play (this weekend). He’s missed four games. That type of injury, it’s better to get out there and get him going. He’s chomping at the bit too. Very keen to to get him out. There’s no way we would have played him if there was any risk (to the knee).”

Penrith will also welcome back a well-rested James Fisher-Harris from a two-week suspension against the Warriors, while Scott Sorensen is on track to overcome a calf complaint.

The Panthers played close to a full-strength team in the final round of last season while still pursuing the minor premiership, but rested three stars in the last round of 2020 with top spot already wrapped up.

Travel would also likely be a factor for Penrith officials when it comes to the last round in Townsville this year, given there would also be a six-day turnaround into the first final if it is on the Friday night.

“There are lots of factors and each year is different,” Cleary said. 

“This year has been different to last year and situations are forever changing.

“Not just with the team itself, but with individual players and some of the things (like getting match time into bench players). 

“All those factors have gone into it. We feel fortunate that we’re in a position to be able to think like this, but sometimes you can overthink it as well.”

Tamou yet to make 2023 call

James Tamou admits he could enter the final-round clash at Leichhardt unsure if he is playing in his last NRL game after being handed a reprieve by the judiciary.

Tamou has had his two-match ban downgraded to one game for calling referee Ben Cummins “f**king incompetent” last weekend.

The Wests Tigers captain will miss Sunday’s clash with St George Illawarra, but will be back in time to face Canberra in the last round of the season on Father’s Day.

Off contract at the end of the year, Tamou wants to play on but is also realistic about his future given he is yet to be handed another contract by the Tigers.

It means he will likely enter the September 4 clash with no clear call made on his future and retirement still an option.

“I’m not sure (if it will be my last game),” Tamou said after Tuesday’s hearing.

“Once I feel like I’m behind the eight-ball, I’ll be the first one to put my hand up.

“But I still feel I can compete at a high level and contribute to a team and we’ll see where the off-season goes. 

“There’s still a lot to digest with this year. And who knows? It could be the last time I suit up on Sunday. 

“I’m really not sure, everything is on the table, including retirement.”

Tamou’s comments came after he successfully argued that his abuse of Cummins was a spur-of-the-moment error borne out of frustration in the Tigers’ 72-6 loss to the Sydney Roosters.

The veteran 304-game prop also claimed that he had never once sworn at an official in the past, and that he had immediate remorse upon being sent off late in the loss.

All those factors were taken into account by the NRL judiciary panel, who deliberated for close to an hour before Michael Hagan and Bob Lindner reached a unanimous verdict.

(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

It came after the NRL’s counsel Lachlan Gyles said Tamou had been warned twice previous in the match for back chat, including as early as the third minute.

In those instances though, Tamou was adamant that no foul language had been involved.

He also said a verbal spray, delivered minutes before the sending off at the opposite end of the field, had in fact been directed at Roosters forward Matt Lodge.

Still, the former NSW and Australian Test prop admitted to feeling “embarrassed and appalled” while watching replays of his outburst at Cummins before being sent off.

Tamou looked a far happier man when he left NRL’s headquarters, shaking hands with panel members before sharing his relief with wife Brittney and Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe.

“I’ll tell you what, if the result didn’t go well tonight, it would have been hard to live with myself knowing that was my last game just gone on the weekend,” Tamou said afterwards.

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