RL Rumours: Team tease new signings, Super League side make offer for NRL star and Aussies target English pair

Below is a round-up of all the biggest rumours and gossip from the world of rugby league over the past week.

Team tease upcoming signings

There’s been plenty of mid-season transfers this year, just today Hull KR confirmed their loan deal for Tanguy Zenon from Catalans Dragons to help out with their injury crisis. Another side who are thin on the ground at the moment are Castleford Tigers but in an injury update report today they’ve hinted that new players could be inbound at Wheldon Road.

Super League side make offer for NRL star

Luke Brooks has been the subject of a long and drawn-out contract saga and the most recent confirmation was that he has refused the offer that Wests Tigers have made him. That’s triggered interest from around the NRL but also Super League. Leeds Rhinos have been reportedly keen on Brooks and now an unnamed Super League side have put an offer in for the playmaker per reports.

NRL star half being shopped around

Per reports down under in the Daily Telegraph, North Queensland Cowboys’ star half-back Chad Townsend is being shopped around with the club looking to part ways with him. That includes Super League sides as a possible destination so we’ve rated which clubs could target Townsend and why.

Leeming’s wage demands “hampering” return

It was a major shock when former Leeds Rhinos skipper Kruise Leeming parted ways with Leeds Rhinos early in the season, and even more so when the hooker found himself at Gold Coast Titans almost immediately. There’s been suggestions he’s set for a Super League return and now L’Independant are reporting that financial demands of the Englishman are “hampering discussions”.

Englishman set to skipper NRL side whilst another potentially returns

John Bateman is one of the brilliant English talents who has been a success story down under, so much so that he’s now in his second stint in the NRL. Playing at the struggling Wests Tigers he’s now set to shift to the 13 role with the club also reported to give him the huge honour of being skipper. Another Englishman down under is Luke Thompson and with his contract set to run out we’ve looked at which Super League sides could acquire the former Saints man.

Aussies circling English pair

Tom Johnstone is having an exceptional season and there’s now reports from Zero Tackle in Australia that it’s not gone unnoticed by NRL clubs. Moreover there’s been a shout from one pundit that “the Aussies are coming”. Another brilliant Englishman is Jack Welsby and it’s been reported by legendary commentator Andrew Voss that an NRL giant will move for him. That was something that one of Welsby’s teammates was fearful of, having been interviewed just days earlier.

Twists in saga of Super League halves

This time last week it was being rumoured and reported that Lachlan Lam could be heading for an NRL return with Canberra Raiders targeting the PNG man as replacement for Jack Wighton. A potential twist though is that the Raiders may move for Leeds target Luke Brooks instead, thus leaving Lam with Leigh potentially. A more veteran playmaker in Super League is Mitchell Pearce and there’s now big reports that he could return to Sydney Roosters, despite Pearce rubbishing talks of a move to Wests earlier this year.

Landing spots for NRL stars

There’s set to be plenty of NRL stars making the jump to Super League for next season, with some already being told by their current NRL sides that their services are no longer required. We’ve compiled a list of five that are most likely to land in Super League, but also with which team. Similarly we’ve looked at which Super League men could be destined for a move down under.