NRL Transfer Centre: Roosters centre given immediate release, Souths swoop for Manly prop, Tigers lock down key rookie

The Roosters have allowed Paul Momirovski to leave the club immediately, with the centre joining Leeds Rhinos in the Super League for next year.

He had been injured for much of 2023, but has a stellar record, having won a Premiership with Penrith in 2021 and played for the Roosters and Storm, as well as the Tigers.

“I am excited to be joining the Rhinos,” he said. “As soon as I spoke to [Leeds coach] Rohan Smith, I felt our philosophies on rugby league aligned and I thought it would be a great fit for me and the next chapter of my career.

“I still feel like I have got a lot to learn and working with the coaches and players at Leeds will benefit me. I have had the privilege of playing in some great teams in the NRL and I believe in always looking for ways to grow.”

South Sydney are set to make their first signing of the off-season, with Manly prop Sean Keppie likely to join the club for 2024. He will slot right into the rotation to replace Hame Sele, who rejoins the Dragons.

Keppie is out of contract at the Sea Eagles and, with their salary cap tight, the front-rower will be allowed to leave.

His likeliest replacement will be Matt Lodge, who was on a short-term deal with the club before suffering an ACL injury. Aitasi James, a recent pick-up from the Wests Tigers, will also provide an option.

The Tigers have made a key move for their future by handing gun rookie Jahream Bula a two-year extension to his deal, locking him down until 2027.

Bula has been the standout star of a poor season for the Tigers, and was voted their player of the year and rookie of the year. At just 21, he is a player they can look to build around, along with incoming Manly pair Samuela and Latu Fainu.

The fullback had wanted a clause in his contract that would have allowed him to leave early if the club did not make the finals by 2026, but that was rejected by the Tigers.

“I want to stay here as long as I can,” he said.

“The club blessed me with this opportunity and I’m not in this position without them. I want to hopefully win a championship here one day, that’s my goal.”

Canberra have also extended one of their stars of 2023 with Corey Horsburgh also staying on until 2027. He joins Hudson Young, Joe Tapine and Seb Kris in committing his long-term future to the Raiders.

“Having Corey re-sign with the club long-term allows us to continue to create some stability and consistency in our forward pack and he will continue to be a big part of the team into the future,” said Raiders recruitment manager Joel Carbone.

“Corey has developed into a representative player here at the Canberra Raiders and we know he still has a lot of improvement in his game; we expect to see the best of his talent over the next four years.”

Manly’s forward stocks for 2024 are starting to take shape with Kelma Tuilagi set to leave for Parramatta, but Ethan Bullemor extended at Brookvale.

Tuilagi was a big name signing when he arrived from the Wests Tigers this time last year, but has failed to impress on the Beaches and, by the end of the season, had lost his spot in the first grade side.

With Josh Schuster set to move back to an edge in 2024 and the club in a salary cap squeeze, the decision has been made to allow Tuilagi to look elsewhere. Parra, who have been light in that position since the departure of Isaiah Papali’i, will gladly take a chance on a player who just 24 and retains a lot of potential.

Bullemor has had the opposite trajectory with Manly. He bounced between first and reserve grade in his first year, but has become a valuable option off the bench of late, making 23 appearances under Anthony Seibold.

He gets another two years, with effusive words from his coach.

“Ethan had his best season in the NRL off the back of a really good pre-season,” said Seibold. “It was a really good launching pad for him.

“We saw the impact he gave us from the bench throughout the season. We believe we can continue to take Ethan’s game to the next level over the next two seasons.”

The Panthers have reversed the traffic from Penrith to Belmore, signing Paul Alamoti from the Bulldogs on a one-year deal.

He joins along with Brad Schneider, who will return to Australia after a short stint in the Super League with Hull KR. His contract is for two years.

Alamoti will compete for a spot as a replacement for outgoing centre Stephen Crichton, who joins Canterbury as of next year. Jesse McLean, Tom Jenkins and Taylan May will also aim to take the Samoa international’s minutes.

The 19-year-old has long been touted as one of the best up-and-coming outside backs in the NRL, but was ditched from the first grade squad after a promising start and now finds himself out of the club. Both Alamoti and fellow local Canterbury junior Jake Averillo have now left the Dogs.

Schneider will replace Jack Cogger, who moves to Newcastle after a year as a back-up at Penrith that has seen him deputise for both Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai for long periods.

He made 12 appearances over three seasons at Canberra before moving to East Yorkshire, where the halfback has enjoyed an impressive spell.

Canberra have received a boost on the eve of their finals campaign with Hudson Young signing on for a further three seasons until the end of 2027.

Young was already contracted for 2024 and after breaking into the Origin ranks with NSW this year, the 25-year-old second-rower will rack up more than a decade with the club by the end of his contract.

“This club means everything to me and my family and it’s been home for me since 2017 and I’m really excited to extend my stay,” Young said.

“My partner and I are really settled here and I’m happy off the field and on the field, and I’m really excited about the squad we’re building.

“I feel like we’ve got really good juniors coming through. Our SG Ball team went really well and our NSW Cup team has had a great season as well and I want to be a part of their development. I feel like we’re building something really special and that’s something I want to be a part of. I’ve worked really close with Ricky and the coaches and the biggest goal is to win a premiership here at the Raiders.”

The NRL off-season transfer action kicked off with perhaps the most unsurprising move of the year, with Kyle Flanagan officially joining his father Shane at the Dragons.

Shane is yet to take over as the players are on holiday, but is already making moves behind the scenes, with the long-expected arrival of Kyle the first of his manouevers.

While much has been made of the familial connection, Kyle’s reinvention as a hooker in the latter part of his Bulldogs career does offer versatility to the Dragons, especially given the midseason departure of Moses Mbye to the Super League.

With Jayden Sullivan also leaving the club, Flanagan can offer depth in the halves as well as at dummy half. Sullivan has left St George Illawarra to join the Wests Tigers from next year. Veteran back Tautau Moga and prop Nick Lui-Toso have also not been retained for next year.

Flanagan debuted under his father at Cronulla, but has been through the Roosters and latterly the Dogs en route to reuniting at the Dragons. They will be the third father/son duo in the NRL, joining Ivan and Nathan Cleary and Kevin and Billy Walters.

Raiders half Matt Frawley is leaving at season’s end to join Leeds while Knights playmaker Adam Clune is heading to Huddersfield.

Panthers star Dylan Edwards has re-signed until the end of 2028, as has Souths skipper Cameron Murray, while Knights winger Greg Marzhew has also extended his deal until the end of 2026.

CLICK HERE for a seven-day free trial for your favourite sport on KAYO

NRL Transfer Centre

Team by team, here’s how each club’s roster is shaping up. PO denotes player option, CO club option and MO mutual option.

Brisbane Broncos

2023 recruits

Reece Walsh (Warriors), Jesse Arthars (via loan deal with Warriors), Jock Madden (Tigers), Martin Taupau (Sea Eagles), Tristan Sailor (ex-Dragons).

2023 departures

Brenko Lee (Dolphins), David Mead (retired), Te Maire Martin (Warriors), Tyson Gamble (Knights), Rhys Kennedy (Hull KR), Ryan James, Tyrone Roberts (retired), Zac Hosking (Panthers), Jake Turpin (Roosters), Albert Kelly (unsigned), Tesi Niu (Dolphins), Karl Oloapu (Bulldogs)

2024 recruits

Fletcher Baker (Roosters)

2024 departures

Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins)

Canberra Raiders

2023 recruits

Pasami Saulo (Knights), Danny Levi (Huddersfield).

2023 departures

Sam Williams (retired), Josh Hodgson (Eels), Ryan Sutton (Bulldogs), Adam Elliott (Knights), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Warriors), Harry Rushton (Huddersfield), Semi Valemei (Cowboys).

2024 departures

Jack Wighton (Rabbitohs), Matt Frawley (Leeds).

Canterbury Bulldogs

2023 recruits

Viliame Kikau (Panthers), Ryan Sutton (Raiders), Reed Mahoney (Eels), Franklin Pele (Sharks), Hayze Perham (Eels), Karl Oloapu (Broncos), Toby Sexton (Titans), Liam Knight (Rabbitohs).

2023 departures

Jack Hetherington (Knights), Jeremy Marshall-King (Dolphins), Paul Vaughan (Warrington), Matt Dufty (Warrington), Josh Jackson (retired), Aaron Schoupp (Titans), Matt Doorey (Eels), Joe Stimson (Titans), Aaron Schoupp (Titans), Ava Seumanufagai (released), Josh Cook, (unsigned), Reece Hoffman (unsigned) Tui Katoa, (unsigned) Brandon Wakeham, (unsigned), Corey Allan (Roosters), Andrew Davey (Eels).

2024 recruits

Stephen Crichton (Panthers), Blake Taaffe (Rabbitohs).

2024 departures

Jake Averillo (Dolphins), Kyle Flanagan (Dragons).

Cronulla Sharks

2023 recruits

Oregon Kaufusi (Eels), Tuku Hau Tapuha (Roosters).

2023 departures

Luke Metcalf (Warriors), Aiden Tolman, Andrew Fifita (retired), Franklin Pele (Bulldogs), Lachlan Miller (Knights).

The Dolphins

2023 mid-season recruits

Josh Kerr (Dragons).

2024 recruits

Herbie Farnworth (Broncos), Tom Flegler (Broncos), Jake Averillo (Bulldogs).

Gold Coast Titans

2023 recruits

Kieran Foran (Sea Eagles), Sam Verrills (Roosters), Joe Stimson, Aaron Schoupp (Bulldogs), Chris Randall (Knights), Ken Maumalo (Tigers), Kruise Leeming (Leeds).

2023 departures

Jarrod Wallace (Dolphins), Jamayne Isaako (Dolphins), Will Smith (released), Kevin Proctor (released), Corey Thompson (retired), Sam Lisone (Leeds), Herman Ese’ese (Dolphins), Esan Marsters (Huddersfield), Greg Marzhew (Knights), Patrick Herbert (released), Sam McIntyre (Cowboys), Toby Sexton (Bulldogs), Thomas Mikaele (Warrington).

2024 departures

Kruise Leeming (Wigan).

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

2023 recruits

Kelma Tuilagi (Wests Tigers), Ben Condon (Cowboys), Cooper Johns (Storm), Aaron Woods (Dragons), Jake Arthur (Eels).

2023 departures

Kieran Foran (Titans), Dylan Walker (Warriors), Andrew Davey (Bulldogs), Martin Taupau (Broncos), Viliami Fifita, Alec Tuitavake (Dragons).

2024 departures

Latu Fainu, Samuela Fainu (Tigers)

Melbourne Storm

2023 recruits

Eliesa Katoa (Warriors), Tariq Sims (Dragons), Joe Chan (Catalans), Aaron Pene (Warriors).

2023 departures

Felise Kaufusi (Dolphins), Brandon Smith (Roosters), Jesse Bromwich (Dolphins), Kenny Bromwich (Dolphins), David Nofoaluma (Wests Tigers, returning from loan), Cooper Johns (Sea Eagles) Chris Lewis (unsigned).

Newcastle Knights

2023 recruits

Adam Elliott (Raiders), Jack Hetherington (Bulldogs), Tyson Gamble (Broncos), Jackson Hastings (Tigers), Greg Marzhew (Titans), Lachlan Miller (Sharks).

2023 departures

Mitchell Barnett (Warriors), Edrick Lee (Dolphins), Jirah Momoisea (Eels), Tex Hoy (Hull FC), Anthony Milford (Dolphins), Sauaso Sue (Hull KR), Pasami Saulo (Raiders), Jake Clifford (Hull FC), David Klemmer (Knights), Brayden Musgrove (unsigned), Chris Randall (Titans).

2024 recruits

Jack Cogger (Panthers), Jed Cartwright (Rabbitohs)

2024 departures

Dominic Young (Roosters), Lachlan Fitzgibbon (Warrington), Adam Clune (Huddersfield)

NZ Warriors

2023 recruits

Marata Niukore (Eels), Luke Metcalf (Sharks), Dylan Walker (Sea Eagles), Mitchell Barnett (Knights), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Raiders), Te Maire Martin (Broncos), Jackson Ford (Dragons), Braydon Wiliame (Perpignan).

2023 departures

Euan Aitken (Dolphins), Reece Walsh (Broncos), Eliesa Katoa (Storm), Jack Murchie (Eels), Aaron Pene (Storm), Daejarn Asi (Eels), Pride Petterson-Robati (unsigned) Iliesa Ratuva, (unsigned), Viliami Vailea (Cowboys).

2024 recruits

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (All Blacks), Chanel Harris-Tavita.

North Queensland Cowboys

2023 recruits

Jack Gosiewski (Dragons), James Tamou (Tigers), Gehamat Shibasaki (Mackay Cutters), Sam McIntyre (Titans), Semi Valemei (Raiders), Viliami Vailea (Warriors).

2023 departures

Connelly Lemuelu, Tom Gilbert, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins), Ben Condon (Sea Eagles), Kane Bradley (unsigned) Emry Pere (unsigned).

2024 recruits

Jake Clifford (Super League)

Parramatta Eels

2023 recruits

Josh Hodgson (Raiders), J’maine Hopgood (Panthers), Jirah Momoisea (Knights), Jack Murchie (Warriors), Matt Doorey (Bulldogs), Joe Ofahengaue (Tigers), Daejarn Asi (Warriors), Joey Lussick (St Helens).

2023 departures

Marata Niukore (Warriors), Isaiah Papali’i (Wests Tigers), Oregon Kaufusi (Sharks), Ray Stone (Dolphins), Tom Opacic (Hull KR), Reed Mahoney (Bulldogs), Hayze Perham (Bulldogs), Solomone Naiduki (unsigned), David Hollis (released), Jake Arthur (Sea Eagles), Mitch Rein (retired).

2024 departures

Josh Hodgson (retirement)

Penrith Panthers

2023 recruits

Tyrone Peachey, (Wests Tigers), Luke Garner (Wests Tigers), Zac Hosking (Broncos), Jack Cogger (Huddersfield).

2023 departures

Charlie Staines (Wests Tigers), Api Koroisau (Wests Tigers), Isaiya Katoa (Dolphins), Robert Jennings (Dolphins), J’maine Hopgood (Eels), Sean O’Sullivan (Dolphins), Viliame Kikau (Bulldogs), Christian Crichton (unsigned), Jaeman Salmon (unsigned).

2024 departures

Stephen Crichton (Bulldogs), Jack Cogger (Knights)

St George Illawarra Dragons

2023 recruits

Jacob Liddle (Tigers), Zane Musgrove (Tigers), Nick Lui Toso (Northern Pride), Ben Murdoch-Masila (Warriors), Alec Tuitavake, Viliami Fifita (Sea Eagles).

2023 departures

Tariq Sims (Storm), Josh McGuire (Warrington), Jackson Ford (Warriors), Poasa Faamausili (Dolphins), George Burgess (released), Jack Gosiewski (Cowboys), Andrew McCullough (retired), Josh Kerr (Dolphins), Moses Mbye (St Helens).

2024 recruits

Hame Sele (Rabbitohs), Kyle Flanagan (Bulldogs).

2024 departures

Jayden Sullivan (Tigers), Nick Tui-Loso, Tautau Moga.

South Sydney Rabbitohs

2023 recruits

Nil.

2023 departures

Mark Nicholls (Dolphins), Kodi Nikorima (Dolphins), Jaxson Paulo (Roosters), Josh Mansour (Newtown), Liam Knight (Bulldogs).

2024 recruits

Jack Wighton (Raiders).

2024 departures

Blake Taaffe (Bulldogs), Hame Sele (Dragons), Jed Cartwright (Knights).

Sydney Roosters

2023 recruits

Brandon Smith (Storm), Jake Turpin (Broncos), Jaxson Paulo (Rabbitohs), Corey Allan (Bulldogs), Nathan Brown (Eels).

2023 departures

Sam Verrills (Titans), Siosiua Taukeiaho (Catalans Dragons), Daniel Suluka-Fifita (Rabbitohs), Oliver Gildart (Dolphins via Wests Tigers – after loan stint) Kevin Naiqama (Huddersfield), Adam Keighran (Catalans), Tuku Hau Tapuha (Sharks).

2024 recruits

Dominic Young (Knights), Lewis Murphy (Wakefield Trinity)

Wests Tigers

2023 recruits

Charlie Staines, Apisai Koroisau (Panthers), Isaiah Papali’i (Eels), Triston Reilly (rugby union, Waratahs), David Nofoaluma (Storm – return from loan), David Klemmer (Knights), John Bateman (Wigan), Brandon Wakeham (Bulldogs)

2023 departures

Luke Garner, Tyrone Peachey (Panthers), Kelma Tuilagi (Sea Eagles), Thomas Mikaele (Warrington), Jock Madden (Broncos), Jacob Liddle (Dragons), Zane Musgrove (Dragons), James Roberts (retired), James Tamou (Cowboys), Jock Madden (Broncos), Oliver Gildart (Dolphins), Jackson Hastings (Knights), William Kei (unsigned), Henry O’Kane, (unsigned), Ken Maumalo (Titans), Joe Ofahengaue (Eels).

2024 recruits

Latu Fainu, Samuela Fainu (Sea Eagles)