A former Super League man who is set to represent England in the Ashes later this year could also find himself at the heart of a $600,000 bidding war.
English stars Down Under have been making the headlines of late with Will Pryce securing a release from Newcastle Knights in order to make a switch to Hull FC, whilst Matty Nicholson has been named as the ‘buy of the year’ by one journalist after his lightning start with Canberra Raiders.
Another of those to catch the eye as he starts his second season in the NRL is Kai Pearce-Paul, the former Wigan Warriors second-rower who made the move from Super League to Newcastle alongside Pryce.
Whilst Pryce is already back home and possibly preparing for a Hull derby, Pearce-Paul is turning heads and is now reportedly the subject of a three-way bidding war with his estimated new deal to be worth around $600,000 per year.
Ex-Super League man Kai Pearce-Paul the subject of three-way $600,000 NRL bidding war
Pearce-Paul joined the Knights from Wigan Warriors ahead of the 2024 season, during which he played 22 games and earned major plaudits. Thus far in 2025, he has only played twice with the Englishman currently serving a ban after a shoulder charge.
Despite not being on the field in recent weeks, he’s still making headlines with Code Sports reporting that both Canberra Raiders and Wests Tigers are interested in the former Super League man.
Previous reports have put his expected salary at around $600,000 but should a bidding war emerge between the Raiders, Tigers and Knights, who are reportedly “desperate” to keep Pearce-Paul, then that figure could rise.
A major issue for the Knights could be their salary cap with Dylan Brown handed a 10-year deal at $1.3 million a year whilst players such as former Super League man Jackson Hastings are also reportedly earning big money, despite playing in the New South Wales Cup.
A move to the Raiders would reunite Pearce-Paul with ex-Wigan teammate Morgan Smithies and current England teammate Matty Nicholson, whereas a move to Wests would see him follow in the footsteps of the likes of John Bateman.
