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Storm forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona still has a year to run on his current contract, but Melbourne aren’t taking any chances.
According to nrl.com, the Storm are close to finalising a three-year extension for the Kiwi giant, that will keep in Melbourne until the end of 2022.
The new deal is expected to be announced shortly after the grand final.
Asofa-Solomona has played 76 first grade games for the Storm, and 5 Tests for New Zealand.
The Knights’ roster remains in a period of transition, and as a result, their interest in different players is likely to remain fluid.
Two players apparently no longer of interest to Newcastle are Warriors hooker Issac Luke and Knights winger White Lightning, according to WWOS reporter The Mole.
In the case of Luke, the Knights had been in negotiations with the Kiwi Test star, and were believed to be favourites for his signature. However, with Sharks hooker James Segeyaro believed to be available, the report suggests that he’s now their primary target.
The case of Lightning is a bit more complicated, with the popular winger still under contract for another two seasons.
However, with the Knights having bolstered their backline for next year with the additions of Jesse Ramien and Edrick Lee, Lightning is now surplus to requirements, and it’s believed that the club have notified NRL and Super League clubs that he’s for sale.
Luke has played 254 first grade games for the Warriors and Rabbitohs, and 42 Tests for New Zealand.
Lightning has played 60 first grade games for the Knights.
Having developed an unfortunate of habit of late-season fadeouts, it was rumoured that Dragons coach Paul McGregor would need that to change in 2018 in order to secure an extension. Not so, apparently.
According to WWOS reporter The Mole, the Dragons are in talks with McGregor for a contract extension, despite yet another poor end to the season.
Yes, they managed to win a finals game, but is that enough to erase the memory of losing 6 of their last 9; of their 40-4 flogging from the Eels; of being shutout in a 38-0 spanking from the Bulldogs; or of whatever the heck happened against the Rabbitohs? In this particular case, it appears that the answer is ‘yes’.
If this wasn’t a poor finish to the season, we’d hate to see what was.
As expected, the Knights have today announced the signing of Warriors halfback Mason Lino on a two-year deal, that will see him head to Newcastle until the end of 2020.
Lino had served as the primary back-up to both Shaun Johnson and Blake Green in Auckland, but impressed when called into first grade.
Lino has played 17 first grade games for the Warriors, and 2 Tests for Samoa.
As expected, Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary has signed a five-year extension to remain at the foot of the mountains.
His new deal will keep Cleary at Penrith until the end of 2024.
Cleary has played 58 first grade games for the Panthers, and 3 Origins for New South Wales.
