New Zealand international winger Ken Maumalo is reportedly set to leave NRL side Gold Coast Titans after this season, and could be heading to Super League.
That’s according to a report by Wide World of Sports, an Australian outlet.
The winger’s manager told them: “He is a big strong winger who can make the hard yards… he had knee problems for a while but had surgery and is running freely again.
“We are looking to move him to another NRL club or even to England – he would kill it over there.”
Indeed, Maumalo is a top player: he won Dally M’s award for the best winger in NRL in 2019, and has represented the Kiwis nine times, scoring five tries.
In addition, at club level, he has 63 NRL tries to his name for New Zealand Warriors and Wests Tigers.
Despite this, since moving to Gold Coast Titans in 2023, he’s struggled for first-team minutes, instead playing at reserves level in the Queensland Cup.
With a move to Super League potentially on the cards, who could he join?
NRL Quiz: Can you name the teams these 10 English players have played for
Catalans Dragons
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It’s well known that Catalans Dragons will be losing some star wingers next season.
They’ve had one of the deadliest wing pairings in the league for a number of seasons, with Tom Davies and Tom Johnstone coming up with tries week in, week out, as they’ve cemented their position as one of the best sides in Super League.
However, Tom Johnstone is heading to Wakefield Trinity, despite being offered a marquee contract with the Dragons, and Tom Davies is reportedly nearing a move to Hull Kingston Rovers, despite interest from St Helens.
Therefore, there will certainly be a vacant spot on one of the wings, despite the statement signing of Super League icon Tommy Makinson, which is where Maumalo could come in.
St Helens
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As was just mentioned, St Helens are losing a big name next season, with perennial number two Tommy Makinson heading to Catalonia.
They’ll be looking to make a signing that can make a real impact on the wing, as they’ll undoubtedly be looking to remain a side at the top of the Super League table.
Although he’s played no NRL games since the 2022 season, somebody that was once chosen as the best winger in NRL could – emphasis on could – be that man.
It would certainly be a risk, as he’s not been able to prove his quality over the past couple of seasons with the Titans, but this could be a left-field option for a side looking to become champions once again.
Hull FC
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Every player on planet Earth is getting linked with Hull FC at the moment, but it’s with good reason – they’re looking to do a major rebuild of the players on the pitch to give new head coach John Cartwright and Director of Rugby Richie Myler the foundations to get the club where they want to be.
Big NRL signing Jayden Okunbor has failed to live up to expectations on the wing, being loaned out to RFL Championship side Bradford Bulls, while wing options such as Cameron Scott, Miteli Vulikijapani, Davy Litten and Harvey Barron are off-contract at the end of the season, and it seems unlikely that they’ll all be offered new contracts.
Therefore, a space for a new winger will be available, and after the high-profile departures of players such as Nu Brown and Tex Hoy, cap and quota space will surely also be free.
This gives them all sorts of opportunities, and Maumalo could certainly be one of them. They’ll be hoping he’s part of what they need to get away from the foot of the Super League table.
