2009 NRL Player Rumours & Signings

[AussieKnight]

2009 Player Movements & Rumours Thread

An overview of the Player movements within the NRL.


Brisbane BRONCOS
2009 Coach: Ivan Henjak
GAINS: Israel Folau (Storm) Ben Te'o (Tigers) Lagi Setu (Dragons) Aaron Gorrell (Catalan Dragons, ESL)
LOSSES: Ben Hannant (Bulldogs) Denan Kemp (Warriors) Michael Ennis (Bulldogs) Joel Moon (Warriors) Tonie Carroll (Retirement) Shane Perry (Les Catalans, ESL), Darius Boyd (Dragons) Greg Eastwood (Leeds Rhinos, ESL)



Mitsubishi Electric BULLDOGS
2009 Coach: Kevin Moore
GAINS: Josh Morris (Dragons) Brett Kimmorley (Sharks) Ben Hannant (Broncos) Michael Ennis (Broncos) Michael Hodgson (Titans) Bryson Goodwin (Sharks) Yileen Gordon (Rabbitohs)
LOSSES: Willie Tonga (North QLD Cowboys) Cameron Phelps (Wigan, ESL) Corey Hughes (Cronulla Sharks) Nick Youngquest (French RU) Sonny Bill Williams (French Rugby Union) Arana Taumata (Melbourne Storm) Kane Cleal (South Sydney Rabbitohs) Justin Tsoulos (Retirement) Reni Maitua (Sharks)


Gold Coast TITANS
2009 Coach: John Cartwright
GAINS: William Zillman (Canberra Raiders) Sam Tagataese (Melbourne Storm) Matt White (Newcastle Knights)
LOSSES: Matthew Petersen (Wakefield, ESL) Michael Hodgson (Mitsubishi Electric Bulldogs) Josh Lewis (Wests Tigers) Clint Amos (Nth QLD Cowboys) Gavin Cooper (Penrith Panthers) Luke Swain (Salford City, ESL) Kris Khaler (Pia Donkeys) Matt Cross (Melbourne Storm) Billy Ngawini (Rugby Union) James Stosic (Wakefield, ESL)


Canberra RAIDERS
2009 Coach: David Furner
GAINS: Stuart Flanagan (Wests Tigers) David Shillington (Sydney Roosters) Bronson Harrison (Wests Tigers)
LOSSES: William Zillman (Gold Coast Titans) Michael Dobson (Mid Season - Hull FC, ESL) Michael Weyman (St George Dragons) Ryan Hinchcliffe (Melbourne Storm) Colin Best (South Sydney Rabbitohs) Marshall Chalk (Celtic Crusaders, ESL) Todd Carney (Sacked/Huddersfield, ESL) Neville Costigan (St George Dragons) Lincoln Withers (Celtic Crusaders, ESL) Ben Jones (Retirement) Bronx Goodwin (Sacked)


Manly Warringah SEA EAGLES
2009 Coach: Des Hasler
GAINS: Chris Bailey (Newcastle Knights) Tony Williams (Parramatta Eels) Shane Rodney (Penrith Panthers)
LOSSES: David Vaealiki (France Rugby Union) Steve Bell (Catalans Dragons, ESL) Steve Menzies (Bradford Bulls, ESL) Luke Williamson (London Harlequins) Mark Bryant (Celtic Crusaders, ESL) Jack Afamasaga (Released)


Melbourne STORM
2009 Coach: Craig Bellamy
GAINS: Ryan Hinchcliffe (Canberra Raiders) Arana Taumata (Bulldogs) Matt Cross (Gold Coast Titans) William Isa (Penrith Panthers) Wairangi Koopu (NZ Warriors)
LOSSES: Israel Folau (Brisbane Broncos) Sam Tagataese (Gold Coast Titans) Matt Geyer (Retirement) Michael Crocker (Hull FC - ESL) Jeremy Smith (St George Dragons) Antonio Kaufusi (Nth QLD Cowboys) Liam Foran (NZ Warriors) Russ Aitken (Released)


Newcastle KNIGHTS
2009 Coach: Brian Smith
GAINS: Isaac De Gois (Cronulla Sharks) Ben Rogers (St George Dragons) George Ndaira (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
LOSSES: Danny Buderus (Leeds Rhinos, ESL) Chris Bailey (Manly Sea Eagles) Mitchell Sargent (Castleford, ESL) Matt White (Gold Coast Titans) Jesse Royal (Kurri Kurri Bulldogs) Michael Young (Central Charlestown)


North Queensland COWBOYS
2009 Coach: Neil Henry
GAINS: Willie Tonga (Bulldogs) Luke Harlen (Wests Tigers) Manase Manuokafoa (South Sydney Rabbitohs) Clint Amos (Gold Coast Titans) Antonio Kaufusi (Melbourne Storm) Grant Rovelli (NZ Warriors)
LOSSES: David Faiumu (Huddersfield, ESL) Jacob Lillyman (NZ Warriors) Daniel Abraham (Released) Ray Cashmere (Salford Reds, ESL) Sione Faumuina (Castleford Tigers, ESL) Mark Henry (Salford Reds, ESL) Justin Smith (Retirement)


Penrith PANTHERS
2009 Coach: Matthew Elliot
GAINS: Gavin Cooper (Gold Coast Titans) Shane Elford (Huddersfield, ESL)
LOSSES: Tony Puletua (St Helens, ESL) Richie Williams (Sacked/Relased) Joe Williams (Bulldogs) Luke Rooney (Rugby Union, France) Luke Priddis (St George Dragons) Rhys Wesser (South Sydney Rabbitohs) Shane Rodney (Manly Sea Eagles) William Isa (Melbourne Storm)


St George Illawarra DRAGONS
2009 Coach: Wayne Bennett
GAINS: Wendell Sailor (NSW Waratahs, RU) Michael Weyman (Canberra Raiders) Ben Rogers (South Sydney Rabbitohs) Jeremy Smith (Melbourne Storm) Luke Priddis (Penrith Panthers) Neville Costigan (Canberra Raiders) Darius Boyd (Brisbane Broncos) Matt Head (Wests Tigers) Mickey Paea (St George Dragons)
LOSSES: Josh Morris (Bulldogs) Jason Ryles (Les Catalans, ESL) Tony Caine (Released) Mark Gasnier (Rugby Union, France) Lagi Setu (Brisbane Broncos) Simon Woolford (Retirement) Rangi Chase (Castleford Tigers, ESL) Ben Rogers (Newcastle Knights) Kirk Reynoldson (Retirement)


Cronulla Sutherland SHARKS
2009 Coach: Ricky Stuart
GAINS: Anthony Tupou (Sydney Roosters) Danny Nutley (Sydney Roosters) Trent Barrett (Wigan, ESL) Corey Hughes (Bulldogs) Reni Maitua (Bulldogs)
LOSSES: Lance Thompson (Retirement) Isaac De Gois (Newcastle Knights) Brett Kimmorley (Bulldogs) Greg Bird (Sacked) Danny Nutley (Retirement) Adam Peek (Celtic Crusaders, ESL) Kevin Kingston (Parramatta Eels) Dustin Cooper (France RL)


South Sydney RABBITOHS
2009 Coach: Jason Taylor
GAINS: Colin Best (Canberra Raiders) Rhys Wesser (Penrith Panthers) Kane Cleal (Bulldogs) Garret Crossman (Hull KR, ESL)
LOSSES: Ben Rogers (St George Dragons) Manase Manuokafoa (Nth QLD Cowboys) Dean Widders (Castleford Tigers, ESL) Jeremy Smith (Salford City, ESL) Yileen Gordon (Bulldogs) George Ndaira (Newcastle Knights) Nigel Vagana (Retired)


Parramatta EELS
2009 Coach: Daniel Anderson
GAINS: Kevin Kingston (Cronulla Sharks) Jeff Robson (Manly Sea Eagles)
LOSSES: Tim Smith (Wigan, ESL) Mark Riddell (Wigan, ESL) Tony Williams (Manly Sea Eagles) Chad Robinson (London Harlequins, ESL) Daniel Wagon (French Rugby League)


Wests TIGERS
2009 Coach: Tim Sheens
GAINS: Gareth Ellis (Leeds, ESL) Josh Lewis (Gold Coast Titans)
LOSSES: Brett Hodgson (ESL - Huddersfield) Nick Youngquest (Bulldogs) Luke Harlen (Nth QLD Cowboys) Ben Te'o (Brisbane Broncos) Matt Head (St George Dragons) Ryan O'Hara (Celltic Crusaders, ESL) Bronson Harrison (Canberra Raiders)


Sydney ROOSTERS
2009 Coach: Brad Fittler
GAINS: Jordan Tansey (Leeds Rhinos, ESL)
LOSSES: Anthony Tupou (Cronulla Sharks) David Shillington (Canberra Raiders) Mickey Paea (St George Dragons) Amos Roberts (Wigan, ESL)


Vodafone WARRIORS
2009 Coach: Ivan Cleary
GAINS: Denan Kemp (Brisbane Broncos) Jacob Lillyman (Nth QLD Cowboys) Joel Moon (Brisbane Broncos) Liam Foran (Melbourne Storm) Stacey Jones (Retirement)
LOSSES: Ruben Wiki (Retirement) Wairangi Koopu (Melbourne Storm) Logan Swann (Retirement) Michael Crockett (Released) Ryan Shortland (Released) Grant Rovelli (Nth QLD Cowboys)

[AussieKnight]

Players are taken off the list as they are re-signed. If you notice a Player on this list has re-signed, mention it in this Thread.

[knight-no-7]

Matt Henjak > Raiders (2009)

Looks like he will definately switch codes... or he would have to wait till 2009 for the ARU to reassess him.

[jamesgould]

Bah, I can't be bothered with this when the 2008 season hasn't even started!

[~knights1~]

Todd Carney(Canberra) is being linked to penrith

[Untitled23]

I don't see Carney leaving the Raiders, or vice versa. Especially since Penrith seem keen to go with Williams and Sammut.

[Jonno_Knights]

Carl Webb being targeted by the Bulldogs, source = Ch 9 news (danny weidler of all people lol)

They could definately use the firepower up front, and need to get some mongrel back. apparently their offering in the vicinity of $500,000 a season.

[AussieKnight]

Israel Folau is the first Player Movement of 2009.

To the Brisbane Broncos.

[Frizzed]

Just an opinion from myself, why not put the gains in green and the losses in red ?

[AussieKnight]

Originally Posted by Frizzed

Just an opinion from myself, why not put the gains in green and the losses in red ?

I havent updated the thing since now, since late last year. But Im hearing you!

[Frizzed]

Willie Tonga is linked with a move to the Cowboys, nothing confirmed yet though.

Carl Webb linked with the Bulldogs, nothing confirmed yet though.

[AussieKnight]

Tonga joins the Cowboys (Confirmed)

FORMER Australia centre Willie Tonga has confirmed he had signed a four year contract to join North Queensland.


On the same day as the Cowboys snared coach Neil Henry, Tonga told the Daily Telegraph he was looking forward to linking up with Matt Bowen and Johnathan Thurston in Townsville.

"I'm looking at making an announcement tomorrow," the 24-year-old Bulldogs star said last night.

"I went up there a couple of weeks ago and I was very impressed with their setup. I look at Johnathan Thurston and Matt Bowen and I can really see myself in that backline.

"It's tough to make this sort of decision but I just wanted to get it out of the way and concentrate on my football."

The Dogs' loss came on the same day that new chief executive Todd Greenberg asked errant back-rower Reni Maitua about rumours he wanted to quit at the end for the season. Maitua assured Greenberg he would serve out his contract.

He is due to meet Maitua's manager, Gavin Orr, at 10am today.

Tonga said he did not join NQ in the understanding Henry would be coach.

"I've only just learnt about that - I thought it would be him or (Ian) Millward," said Tonga.

"Neil is obviously a very good coach. He's done some great things at Canberra and all the boys have been very impressed with him in the Queensland side."

Tonga joins the Cowboys

Guess you could say Maitua could be leaving the Dogs aswell.

[Frizzed]

Jesus crist my sources are freakish, I wonder if Reni will go home to Souths.

[Untitled23]

Eh, haven't really seen much in Tonga in the past few years. The year they won the comp he was one of the best in the game, but now his nothing more than average.

[Frizzed]

Originally Posted by Untitled23

Eh, haven't really seen much in Tonga in the past few years. The year they won the comp he was one of the best in the game, but now his nothing more than average.

Yea last year and such he was pretty crapola, but now he is starting to hit some form again, I think he will benefit from playing with a half-back like Thurston rather then the Bulldogs halves.