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Tom Dearden will become the NRL’s most wanted man with Jarome Luai set to join Wests Tigers on a monster five-year deal.
While Penrith are likely to turn to Daine Laurie, Brad Schneider or long-term prospect Jack Cole to succeed Luai in the No.6 jumper, Canterbury and St George Illawarra will be back in the market for a top-shelf half.
With a dearth of quality halves on the market, North Queensland and Maroons Origin representative Dearden is seen by many as the next best free agent.
Ezra Mam is about to recommit to a lucrative deal at Brisbane, while teammate and Broncos captain Adam Reynolds is expected to sign on for 2025.
Luke Keary, 31, is off contract at the end of 2024, but wants to play on and plans to begin negotiations with the Sydney Roosters soon. He has little appetite to leave Bondi Junction, and his on-field chemistry with Sam Walker continues to improve.
The evergreen Kieran Foran is without a home after next season, and while his experience is priceless, clubs will not break the bank for the 33-year-old.
Next in line: Tom Dearden is the next free agent that NRL clubs will pursue.Credit: Getty
The Dragons showed interest in St Helens’ Jack Welsby, but he is signed until the end of 2025. They regard him as a potential halves partner for captain Ben Hunt, who has finally committed himself to the club for the 2024 season. But senior club officials informed this masthead on Saturday they are hopeful of extending Welsby’s deal until the end of 2028, but more likely 2027.
Even if Welsby wanted an early release to join an NRL club – Dolphins officials met with Welsby last month in England – St Helens would demand a large transfer fee.
Shaun Johnson is 34 and off contract at the end of next year, and also has limited interest in leaving New Zealand again.
Daly Cherry-Evans, who will be 35 when Manly kick off the season in Las Vegas, and South Sydney’s 33-year-old Cody Walker are both locked down until the end of 2025.
Luke Keary plans on playing on beyond next year.Credit: Getty Images
So Dearden, 22, is now in the perfect position to capitalise on a market desperate for decent playmakers.
His management has begun negotiations for a new deal in Townsville, but Dearden will be in no hurry to re-sign. Up to half-a-dozen clubs have already shown an interest.
Based on some of the money earned by rival halves, including the $1.2 million being offered to Luai, Dearden is holding out for $1 million a season.
The Cowboys also have Chad Townsend, 33 next month, off contract, and he is also keeping his options open.
Townsend said if Dearden fell short of the magical seven figures with his next deal, he would certainly be a million-dollar man by the time he inked his next contract.
“With Jarome potentially coming off the market, Tommy is next in line,” Townsend said on Saturday.
“Tommy knows how much I love him as a player, he’s got a lot of quality football in front of him, and if he doesn’t get that [$1 million a year] contract this time, he will next time because I know how hard he works.
“He earns every single dollar by the way he plays and the effort he puts out on the field.
“[As for myself] I’m taking it day by day and just want to focus on enjoying my footy. I’m open to everything.”
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