WARRIORS LAND FORMER TOP TRY-SCORER
—David Riccio
The Warriors have injected blinding speed into their backline ahead of the next NRL season with Titans flyer Alofiana Khan-Pereira agreeing to a deal with the Auckland franchise.
Khan-Pereira has, in the last 48 hours, agreed to terms on a two-year deal with the Warriors for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
As first revealed by this masthead last month, the Titans had given the 23-year-old formal permission to negotiate a contract with the Warriors, who is ranked in the top-five fastest players in the NRL.
He clocked almost 36km/hr when hitting top speed last season.
Take me there
TIGERS SIGN OFF-CONTRACT WARRIOR
—Tyson Jackson
The Wests Tigers have signed Warriors veteran Bunty Afoa for the 2026 season, bolstering an already stacked forward pack.
Afoa, who recently claimed the NSW Cup premiership and NRL State Championship for the Warriors will join the Tigers, adding to an already stacked forward pack with the likes of Terell May and new recruit Kai Pearce-Paul.
Tigers coach Benji Marshall said Afoa’s 145 NRL games will give his forward pack and team some extra experience in their hunt for their first finals appearance since 2011.
GORDON RETURNS TO RUGBY
—Travis Meyn
The Wallabies have paid a monster six-figure transfer fee to bring Gold Coast Titans convert Carter Gordon back to rugby for the World Cup.
Gordon is expected to be released from his 2026 Titans NRL contract on Friday to return to the 15-man code ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
The Titans were committed to persisting with Gordon’s NRL move next year following his one-game cameo this season after recovering from a serious spinal injury.
However Rugby Australia’s offer of a transfer fee, believed to be worth $100,000, proved too hard for the Titans to resist and the club has resolved to release Gordon.
Importantly for Gold Coast, Gordon’s move will help the Titans free up his $500,000 contract on next year’s salary cap.
SHARKS STAR TAKES PAY CUT
—David Riccio
Will Kennedy is staying a Shark after putting pen to paper on a new contract.
Cronulla’s first-choice fullback for the past six seasons, Kennedy has re-signed for the 2026 season.
Kennedy, who led the Dally M medal count through the first quarter of last season, showed incredible mental steel to go the entire year without a contract for next year.
Due to salary cap pressure, the Sharks reluctantly were only able to offer Kennedy a cut-price deal for a fullback of around $350,000.
Although available to rival clubs, the 28-year-old also found himself in a difficult market for fullbacks with almost every NRL club currently locked into long-term deals with their No.1.
SEA EAGLES’ STUNNING SHOW OF FAITH
—David Riccio
In a business that is often cutthroat, the Sea Eagles have proven loyalty still exists by extending the future of utility Aaron Schoupp.
Schoupp, who joined Manly mid-season from the Titans in 2024, suffered a torn ACL in the Sea Eagles final game of the season against the Warriors.
The club had agreed with Schoupp at the time of the devastating injury to extend his contract.
Instead of tearing-up the offer and leaving Schoupp on the rugby league scrap heap, the Sea Eagles decided to honour their intention to sign the 24-year-old until the end of 2026.
