Canberra have taken the first step towards life after Jack Wighton by confirming the signing of Kaeo Weekes on a two-year deal.
Weekes, who joins from Manly, has been viewed as an option to fill the void at five-eighth by Wighton’s exit.
Wighton, who has played all of his 242-game NRL career at Canberra, made the shock decision to leave the Raiders earlier this year to link up with South Sydney.
Weekes has played at fullback and in the No.6 for Manly across 12 games and will compete with rookie Ethan Strange to partner Jamal Fogarty in the halves at Canberra.
“I think it’s a great opportunity in front of me and I’m looking forward to moving away from home, knuckling down on footy and getting ready for the next challenge in my career,” Weekes said.
“I can play a few positions, but for me it’s really trying to prove myself and find a place in the team week in week out.
“I’m looking to come in with determination to cement a full-time position in the team.”
Newcastle have re-signed Crossland, who firms as the Knights’ bench utility in 2024.
The 23-year-old was parachuted into dummy-half for the majority of 2023 after co-captain Jayden Brailey suffered a season-ending knee injury.
Crossland enjoyed a breakout campaign in his new position as the Knights charged to the second week of the finals.
Coach Adam O’Brien previously told AAP Crossland was likely to fill the void left by the departing ‘Mr Fix-It’ Kurt Mann once Brailey returns to the starting side.
“Phoenix has shown he has all the attributes to be a major contributor to the club’s future success and we are excited about what he can achieve,” Newcastle football boss Peter Parr said.
Meanwhile, Corey Waddell has left Canterbury amid their ongoing rebuild and will return to Manly on a one-year deal.
The 27-year-old forward made his NRL debut with the Sea Eagles in 2019 and played 36 of his 95 first-grade games there.
He joined the Bulldogs in 2021 to reunite with then-coach Trent Barrett, who mentored him in Penrith’s junior system.
Waddell typically starts in the second row but coach Anthony Seibold indicated he could be used in the middle, with Josh Schuster and Haumole Okalau’atu unlikely to be ousted from the edges next season.
“The thing that interested me in Corey is his work ethic,” said Seibold.
“He is a very hard worker. He adds a different sort of dimension to the middle forwards that we have already got.”
Waddell joins Paul Alamoti, Jake Averillo, Kyle Flanagan, Jayden Okunbor, Franklin Pele and Luke Thompson in leaving Canterbury as part of a post-season clean-out.
Canterbury also announced rookie winger Blake Wilson had put pen to paper on a contract which runs until the end of 2025.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Curran’s a real worker & has some talent. Every club needs those type of players.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Yes, I can understand the frustration. Unless Brown suddenly has an attitude change & form change . Not sure why they’d buy him? The Manly Cup team wasn’t bad last season. Better to just invest in those players & the junior grades , than buy average players. Yet Penrith have been buying all that they can afford average players of late .
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Seibold would apparently…. Although he has mates at Manly.. Jake and Garrick are close to him.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Somebody who pretends to have a vision prefers mediocrity it would appear. At the moment they are making a play for Nathan Brown ffs. A bloke who is a proven penalty magnet and suspension accumulator. In the meantime, practically all the talent that was coming through lower grades is let go. It’s exasperating
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Why didn’t Manly buy Curran?
Randy
Roar Rookie
I thought Ethan Strange would get first crack at 5/8 for the Raiders, good to have some competition I guess.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
I think Curran is a pretty decent forward.. far better than Waddell.. so disappointed but not surprised he has been brought back to Manly
Tom G
Roar Rookie
He got Seibolded.. I hope he kicks on, he’s a great kid with tons of talent
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Weekes looked bigger and tackle breaking stronger in the few runs he had for the Cook I. on the weekend. Looks like we didn’t see the best of him at Manly.
Abbot
Roar Rookie
If you were Parra, your better swap for Matto would be Nick Meaney and Melb need forwards too. Even Papi as another swap option if they wanted an X factor fullback, hoping of course he returns as he was pre knee injury.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Weekes is a really handy signing for the Raiders. A real shame to see him go after several years of investment. Although that’s true of a number that were let ho this year. I guess it’s a case of never mind we can always use the money saved on a nepo baby mediocre half, recycled forwards, a half a season one legged prop and big Sharon. What could possibly be wrong with that :silly:
The Barry
Roar Guru
I know Matto isnt small, but there’s a big difference in body shape between two guys who are 107kg but one is 6 foot and the other is 6’4 Ditto, two blokes who are 6’4” but one weighs 107 and the other 117 There’s a difference in how those guys play that’s more than what reads on a scale and a tape measure Matto can do the middle third hard yards as the third middle forward, but not as the main man
Tony
Roar Guru
Just so long as he wasn't working off his fines on the sideline :happy:
Albo
Roar Rookie
Matterson is not small , he is 6’4′ and 107 kg. but can run as well. Fish is 6’2′ & 104 kg ! Leota is 6’0′ & 107 kg. Payne Haas is bigger body at 6’4′ and 117 kg. But I reckon you could get Matterson to stick his head down and toil up the guts.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yeah agreed I’ve thought Chris Patolo has potential but has struggled with injuries and as a result his fitness. Still only 21 or so Matto works well as a 13 - and clearly where he’ll play off all this is true - but you can’t have him playing as a genuine prop. He’s not that big King and Knight have great names for a front row pairing but too small to be effective together
Albo
Roar Rookie
Unfortunately , these days good front rowers are getting as scarce as good halfbacks. The good ones are already tied up with the better clubs. I think the Dogs are going to have to develop a few from their junior ranks or have their scouts search the country for likely types. However, I could see Matterson be converted to a prop. He is big enough and has all the skills. With Matterson I think it is all about his attitude to put in, and he needs to be happy to perform. He always plays well against the Panthers ?
Abbot
Roar Rookie
Gotta come down to the coin that JAC is on and needing some forward muscle. Not sure Matto is the answer but there’s a lot worse out there than him. Part of the why would probably be his experience and leadership qualities.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Yep ! I wouldn't let Waddell near my first grade side. Curran is more than handy.
Tony
Roar Guru
If it's true, it's a strange one. He's done well at the Dogs in my view
The Barry
Roar Guru
I guess nothing at the Bulldogs at the moment would blow my hair back, but it seems a bit strange Fox has scored 27 tries in 38 games for the Dogs… that’s comparable to his strike rate at the Storm - in a club that’s struggled in attack both seasons He’s been a great leader on and off field. It makes no sense to me that the Dogs are trying to offload him for something (I’m still not really sure what?) that happened at a non-Bulldogs, non-NRL event Latest I heard is talk of a swap with Parra for Matterson. I love Matto, but isn’t he just more of the same for one of the few (only) positions where we have a bit of depth? We”re giving up a reasonably unique skill set in an area we”re weak in favour of an above average player in an area we have depth… doesn’t make sense Meanwhile we’re still desperate for big middles…