Heated race for exiled Roosters star emerges; Broncos’ No.7 successor locked in: Whispers

'Not the way he wanted to finish' | 04:27

The race for Sandon Smith’s signature is reportedly heating up, with one club reportedly in the box seat to secure the talented playmaker’s services.

With Daly Cherry-Evans set to arrive at the Roosters, and the emergence of Hugo Savala, Smith is set to be squeezed out of the Roosters.

According to Smith’s manager Gavin Orr, the Raiders, Dragons, Knights, Cowboys and Rabbitohs have all expressed their interest in his services.

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“Canberra, the Cowboys, Dragons, Souths and Newcastle have all asked me where things are at with Sandon,” Orr said to WWOS.

“We can’t talk at this stage but it seems likely he will move on.

“He has been man of the match in NSW Cup the past two weeks but the first grade is also playing well so he can’t get a crack.”

However, according to The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield, the Knights are his likely destination.

“The mail I’m getting out of Newcastle is that Sandon Smith, on Wednesday, is driving from Bondi Junction to Newcastle,” Rothfield said on Triple M.

“To look at their high-performance centre and all their facilities with the view of joining Newcastle on a two or three-year deal as a utility player.”

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Meanwhile, The Australian’s Brent Read touched on the conversations he’d had with two other clubs.

“He spoke to Ricky last week, didn’t go down to Canberra but caught up with Ricky,” he said.

“And the Cowboys, I believe, have put an offer of a two or three-year deal maybe to Sandon Smith as well.”

BRONCOS LAND REYNOLDS SUCCESOR

The Broncos have reportedly landed the signing of young gun Tom Duffy, who will reportedly sign a one-year contract in the coming days.

According to Code Sports, the 22-year-old knocked back Super League suitors to remain in the NRL, switching from North Queensland to Brisbane.

Broncos bosses reportedly are hoping veteran halfback Adam Reynolds can mentor Duffy in 2026 before he takes over in the No.7 jersey in 2027.

Ben Hunt is also expected to hang up the boots at the end of the 2026 season, opening up two spots in the club’a halves and hooker ranks.

The Brisbane club also have young gun Coby Black in their squad, while Jock Madden will make a move back to the Tigers.

Duffy is the same age as five-eighth Ezra Mam, and with Black reportedly not ready for the rigours of the NRL, the former Cowboy could leapfrog the young gun in the pecking order.

The talented halfback was handed the reins at the Cowboys in Round 1 but struggled to cement his position, playing only six games this season.

North Queensland powerbrokers did reportedly table an offer to retain Duffy but could not meet his asking price.

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“He definitely has potential to be a starting half in the NRL,” Cowboys football boss Michael Luck said.

“Tom is very smart and understands the game. He works hard and has a good kicking game and gets his body in front defensively, so he ticks a lot of boxes for any future club.

“We have salary-cap pressures like any club and you can’t keep everyone. We wish Tom all the best for his future career.”

RAIDERS DUO IN TALKS TO EXTEND

The Raiders are reportedly in discussions to re-sign both Josh Papalii and Morgan Smithies according to the Canberra Times.

Papalii was set to make a move to the Super League before he backflipped on that move and reached out to the Canberra club to garner their interest in an extension.

The fresh report claims that Papalii’s negotiations have ramped up, with a one-year contract extension looming for the veteran enforcer.

Smithies, meanwhile, has also began negotiating his new deal with the English gun seen as a key figure in the middle of the park moving forward under Ricky Stuart.

Trey Mooney is set to be squeezed out following that duo’s extensions, with a move to the Knights on the cards.

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