The Roosters have locked in centre Billy Smith until the end of 2024 and utility Connor Watson until 2025 in a big boost for the club.
After returning from injury in 2023, 24-year-old Smith led a breakout season for the Roosters where he played 15 games and scored four tries at centre.
While a pre-season injury sidelined Connor Watson for the entire 2023 season, the 27-year-old is progressing well and set to commence pre-season training in late November.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson was pleased to retain the pair ahead of the 2024 season.
“It was terrific to see Billy’s growth throughout the 2023 season and I’m looking forward to continuing to work with him,” Robinson said.
“While we were all disappointed for Connor at the time of his injury, it says a lot about his character that he used the year to mentor some of the younger players in our squad and to work on areas of his own development both on and off the field.”
Melbourne trio Tepai Moeroa, Grant Anderson and Dean Ieremia have inked new one-year deals that will see them remain at AAMI Park until at least the end of 2024.
Moeroa joined the Storm in 2021 and has played 18 games for the club, including six in 2023. Since debuting with Parramatta in 2014 he has racked up 130 NRL matches.
Ieremia has played 22 games for Storm since debuting in Round 8, 2021 and claiming the club’s rookie of the year award. He missed the 2023 season due to an ACL injury and will look to work his way back into Craig Bellamy’s best 17, while the versatile Anderson has played 10 games for the Storm since debuting in 2022.
The Bulldogs, meanwhile, have bolstered their roster with the addition of four new signings for the 2024 Telstra Premiership season.
Faamausili, who was released by the Dolphins to take up a development offer with the Bulldogs, will link up with his new teammates immediately for the start of pre-season training, with the other three new additions joining later this year.
Hutchison and Turpin come across from the Roosters, with both featuring prominently in 2023 for the club at NRL level, while Mann brings 178 career appearances with him and the ability to play in the halves, at hooker or lock.
The Warriors confirmed Addin Fonua-Blake will remain with the club in 2024 after requesting a release on compassionate grounds from the last three years of his contract. CEO Cameron George said an agreement had been reached for Fonua-Blake to remain with the Warriors for the 2024 season while assessing his personal circumstances for 2025 and beyond.
“My only motivation for this move is for family reasons,” said Fonua-Blake.
“But I really want all Warriors fans to know that I am fully committed to getting into the 2024 season. I can’t wait to get back to training with my teammates with the aim to go even further in the upcoming season.”
The Warriors also re-signed Dallin Watene-Zelezniak to a new one-year deal which will see the prolific winger stay at the club until the end of 2025.
The Raiders have landed English international Morgan Smithies on a three-year deal which will see him stay at Canberra until the end of 2026.
The 22-year-old forward will join the Raiders on the back of a Super League grand final victory for Wigan, the club which he has played 114 games for since making his debut in 2019.
