Rumor Mill

[jaseg]

Found in the Sharks forum...

Anyone know anything about this? Toby Rudolf, 23yo prop, fringe first grader.

Was a guy who came through Souths jnrs / Bears a few years ago iirc, popped up on some analytics models but never really got enough significant minute games to become someone that looked like a great prospect. I think there was another guy similar in that respect... Rhys Kennedy maybe?

Has been at the Sharks but nfi how he went last year... looks like he only played a few games at the end of the season, was injured before that or else had to work his way into the side? Dunno.

 

[Penrose_11]

Signed for Sharks last season then pretty much immediately did his ACL, hence why limited games I guess. Looks like a big boy, running around at 6’3. Hopefully big money doesn’t mean stupid money though. Hasn’t played any NRL yet, so a couple seasons at reasonable $$ would be all I’d go with if it’s going to happen.

 

[Iron Lion]

WOW all my days... Probably the Sharks best forward prospect in years.

How have the Sharks not locked in for the next 5 years?

Only injury stopped Rudolph playing NRL so far.

This guy is rated... And I think much better than the last Warriors target Tino.

 

[Wheeled Warrior]

Warriors chasing an unproven and better yet already done an ACL. No surprises our mob are foaming at the mouth at anything literally with 2 arms and a 2 legs. 2020 is going to be a long one for us guys.

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

Who cares, he's not coming.

 

[Iron Lion]

But....but...we bought a bus. Of course he wants to come and have his photo taken with it.

 

[Rich102]

It's going to take more than a bus!

 

[Iron Lion]

We got more than a bus...

We have Kearney driving it.

Meaning...

It's driven slow, safe with no risky turns.

The front won't be overweighted.

In fact, it will be more mobile than most vehicles on the road.

When it comes to music being played onboard you will hear non stop Jazz.

And once you get nestled in your seat, you won't get out of it until the end of the journey.

Just don't try sitting in the back seats. That's reserved for Blair and Papalii. They get the free ride.

Remember to let Tony Iro clip the tickets ... he's been clipping them for years.

 

[One Warrior]

Ben Murdoch-Masila rumoured to join Warriors in 2021, reported by Daily Telegraph, behind a paywall, if anybody has access.

 

[Rich102]

Seems to be gaining strength.
Apparently we are trying to get an early release.

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

We have a few guys off contract. Swap for Lisone or Pulu maybe?

 

[Big Marn]

Ben Murdoch-Masila rumoured to join Warriors in 2021, reported by Daily Telegraph, behind a paywall, if anybody has access.

First he steamrolled George Burgess. Now Ben Murdoch-Masila is set to take on the NRL with the Tongan bulldozer expected to ink a two year deal with the New Zealand Warriors.

While the Warriors had hoped of landing Murdoch-Masila from this year, he has agreed to join the club from 2021 – playing out the rest of the season with his English Super League club Warrington.

The backrower was at his damaging best when he gave Burgess a Super League debut to forget during Warrington’s first-round victory against Wigan on Friday.

Murdoch-Masila scored the first try of the new Super League season running straight over Burgess from 10 metres out to crash through for the tryline and leaving Burgess red-faced. The 28-year-old has thrived since joining the Super League in 2016.

He was given a career lifeline by Salford after ill-fated stints with the Wests Tigers and Penrith. Murdoch-Masila struggled with fitness and work ethic during his 58 NRL matches after bursting on to the scene as one of the game’s most promising players when he made his debut for the Tigers as an 19-year-old.

But in England he found his motivation, which has helped rejuvenate his career. He played for two years at Salford before joining Warrington, where he was part of their Challenge Cup-winning side last year.

Murdoch-Masila was named in the Super League team of the year in 2017. He has also risen to prominence with his performances for Tonga, including their historic victory against Australia at the end of last year. The Auckland-born Murdoch-Masila has played 12 times for Tonga.

The New Zealand Warriors have a host of players off-contract including Gerard Beale, Lachlan Burr, Blake Green, Peta Hiku, Pat Herbert, Adam Keighran, Sam Lisone and Isaiah Papali'i. Veteran forward Adam Blair has an option in his favour for 2021.

 

[LeagueNut]

He was given a career lifeline by Salford after ill-fated stints with the Wests Tigers and Penrith. Murdoch-Masila struggled with fitness and work ethic during his 58 NRL matches after bursting on to the scene as one of the game’s most promising players when he made his debut for the Tigers as an 19-year-old.

Sorry but I don't see anything here to get excited about. It's like the recruitment team have said "go forth and find the stereotypical type of player who'll get hyped up and fall well short of expectations once they're here".

 

[JJ]

Hope he goes ok but leaguenut is right on the money...

Great to read that Adam Blair has an option for 2021

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

BMM is an improvement, but not so much of an improvement that we don't need 4-5 similar level signings to make a difference.

As is with everything Warriors, how far overs we paid is the deciding factor.

 

[Rich102]

The Warriors are likely to let Sam Lisone leave the club, even with Bunty Afoa picking up a season-ending injury.

The 25-year-old Lisone is in the last year of his contract with the Warriors. He has a couple of NRL clubs showing interest in him, as well as a few Super League teams.

While it was initially thought that Lisone would play out his final year with the Warriors before heading somewhere new, the interest in him in Australia and the UK has picked up again recently.

The Warriors have for some time been willing to let Lisone go, although there was a need to pause for thought when Afoa picked up an ACL injury at training early last week, which has ruled him out for the season.

But it appears that the Warriors would still be willing to allow Lisone to leave if he gets a good enough offer to play for another NRL club, or move north to the Super League.


There have already been discussions at the Penrose-based club about who to bring in for Lisone, with one of the names understood to be the Canberra Raiders' Jack Murchie.

Murchie is listed as a second rower, but can also play in the middle. He comes off contract at the end of the season, so would need an early release.

He might not be a big name player yet and so far the 22-year-old has only played three NRL games for the Raiders.

However, he recently played for them at the NRL Nines in Perth and previously represented the Australian under 23s team at the 2018 Rugby League Commonwealth Championship.

He is a player held in high regard by Warriors recruitment manager Peter O'Sullivan, but the 1.93m forward is one of a number of players the club are looking at.

If a player at Murchie's level was to come in, it's unlikely he would be able to take the 30th spot in the roster, so would be dependent on Lisone moving on.

As for that much talked about final spot on the team's roster for this season, it's possible there could be some news on that soon.

NRL clubs must register 29 players on their roster by March 1, with the 30th player needing to be registered by June 30.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/authors/david-long
Some clubs may have more than 30 players on their books, so will need to offload someone before the March 1 deadline. If any of those players are of interest to the Warriors, they can come in for them.

The Warriors have 12 players coming off contract at the end of the season and it's unlikely any of them will be offered new deals until the 2020 campaign is underway.

O'Sullivan is busily looking at how the club's roster might look and as well as seeing what players might move on, he's also looking at who would be available to come in.


One name that there could be interest in is the Dragons' Tyson Frizell. His brother is All Black Shannon Frizell, who plays for the Highlanders.

While the Knights have offered him a three-year deal for once his current contract expires at the end of the season, he's a player the Warriors could make a move for too.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/leagu...t-at-warriors-as-club-eye-replacement-options

 

[Philip_Smith007]

Lisone gone is to good to be true, much like Frizell coming.

 

[Campion]

a tease with these delicious rumours!

 

[Rich102]

New Zealand Warriors coach Stephen Kearney has revealed plans to offer train-and-trial prop Jamayne Taunoa-Brown a permanent contract, as the club prepares to cover for the loss of Bunty Afoa to a season-ending knee injury.

Experienced front-rower Afoa suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during a training session last week and is scheduled to have surgery next month.


The Warriors have one vacant spot in their top-30 squad, and while 23-year-old Taunoa-Brown's impressive pre-season already had him in a good position to pick up a contract, Afoa's misfortune means the Warriors will now move to ensure he remains in Auckland.

After failing to nail down a spot during stints with Melbourne and Newcastle previously, Victoria-born Taunoa-Brown was given a chance by Warriors recruitment guru Peter O'Sullivan last year and has taken it with both hands.

"At the moment we are making sure that we keep [Jamayne] around for at least another year," Kearney told NRL.com.

"What that looks like in a month's time [in terms of what type of contract] I am not 100% sure, but Jamayne will be around the footy club.


"I couldn't fault him since he's arrived and that's why we are adamant that we want to keep him at our footy club.

"He's ticked a lot of boxes, he's a big body and very skilful.

"Sometimes when you get players that have I guess not made the most of an opportunity they have been given in the past, it makes their desire and drive a little bit stronger."

Hours after the Warriors play a trial against Melbourne in Palmerston North this Saturday, Taunoa-Brown will have the chance to show what he's got against NRL opponents when he lines up for the Indigenous All Stars on the Gold Coast.

Kearney said even after the loss of Afoa he's comfortable with the state of the club's front-row stocks.


Experienced props Leeson Ah Mau and Agnatius Paasi are likely to remain the first-choice starters, with the previously out-of-favour Sam Lisone and towering rookie Jackson Frei among the candidates to assume Afoa's spot on the interchange.

Isaiah Papali'i is also set to play as a dedicated middle forward this year, after being a starting second-rower in 20 of his 23 games last season.

Following a dismal last-place finish at last weekend's NRL Nines in Perth, the majority of the Warriors' squad for Saturday's trial is made up of fringe first-graders and those untried at NRL level.


David Fusitu'a and new recruit Wayde Egan are named to play for the first time this year, having overcome hamstring and shoulder issues respectively, but Kearney said their inclusion is only to ensure they are ready for the club's final trial against the Wests Tigers on March 1.

"I think it's important for those two guys to get a bit of confidence and game time under their belt," Kearney told NRL.com

"In terms of exactly how much time it is and what it looks like, we are not going to keep them out there for the entirety of the match.

"It's just preparation for the following week which will be a dress rehearsal for round one."

https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/02/20/warriors-set-to-sign-rookie-prop-following-afoa-injury/

 

[Fufu Andronez]

I wouldn't be surprised if Harawira Naera pops up in a year or two.