The first star has put his hand up to join the NRL’s newest side in the Dolphins but don’t expect him to be surrounded by ex-Souths players.
Parramatta’s Reagan Campbell-Gillard is the first NRL star to pledge his services to the NRL’s 17th team in the Dolphins, but a clause in Wayne Bennett’s contract may stop him from nabbing a star strongly linked to the side.
As the dust settles on the announcement of the new NRL franchise, the attention has quickly turned to who will be among the club’s first signings.
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Legendary Wayne Bennett is reportedly “99 per cent sure” a deal will be signed and agreed to by next week as reports leak that he’s going to have a four-year deal including next season, which is believed to be for more than $2 million.
While reports that the two parties have agreed to a multi-year deal came out on Wednesday, the finer details are seemingly still being ironed out.
Dolphins chairman Bob Jones already floated extending the deal.
The seven-time premiership winning coach is seen as one of greatest coaches, if not the greatest, in rugby league history.
Bennett was linked with all three bids for the 17th licence in the NRL and had the likes of Cameron Munster, Kalyn Ponga and Brandon Smith tauted for moves for the Dolphins’ inaugural season.
But links to the likes of former Rabbitohs mentees including Cody Walker have been quickly shut down by South Sydney.
Bennett split with his former club on good terms, having led the side to the 2021 Grand Final but any chance of pinching Walker has been put on ice as News Corp revealed that a contract clause will halt any potential raid.
The clause states that Bennett cannot poach any Rabbitohs players or staff for six months after his contract ends on November 1.
It would mean that the likes of Walker and Latrell Mitchell wouldn’t be able to negotiate with Bennett until at least May.
Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly told News Corp he was confident that Bennett would stand by the understanding.
“I think over the three years with Wayne it’s never been about agreements, it’s always been about the relationships between Wayne and the club,” he told News Corp.
“We would never want to rely on that agreement and we think Wayne would feel the same way.”
But one player who is clearing his way to go to the Dolphins is former NSW and Test prop Campbell-Gillard.
The star forward informed the Eels that he wouldn’t be activating a 12-month player option in his contract and the player’s manager Mark Stewart confirmed Campbell-Gillard was looking to join the club for its inaugural season.
“We’ve informed Parramatta that Reagan isn’t taking up his option for 2023,” said Campbell-Gillard’s manager Mark Stewart.
“I want to stress there is no issue with Parramatta.
“He is grateful for all the Eels have done to resurrect his career after leaving Penrith and we will be giving Parramatta every chance to keep him because he has really enjoyed his time at the club.
“We will go to the open market and clubs will want to speak to us come November 1, which brings a second Brisbane team into the equation.
“He would certainly entertain being the face of a new Brisbane franchise.”
If Campbell-Gillard wants to be the face of the club, he might have some competition.
Bennett confirmed that he would look at Storm, Queensland and Australian star Cameron Munster, who floated the chance to reconnect with Bennett earlier in the year.
However, speaking on Triple M’s Dead Set Legends, dual code international legend Wendell Sailor said Campbell-Gillard would be a great signing but that the Dolphins should chase Knights fullback Kalyn Ponga.
“He’s such an articulate young gentleman,” Sailor said of Ponga. “It’s a bit like when Benji (Marshall) set the standard – kids want to follow him and do his thing.
“I think he’s got a great brand and you’re going up against (Brisbane’s AFL team) the Lions and obviously the Brisbane Broncos.”
Sailor said while he didn’t think the club needed a Queenslander as its marquee man, he admitted having a big-name local on the books could help build the Dolphin culture.
“I don’t think it has to be (a Queenslander) but it helps,” he said.
“I look at a guy like Harry Grant, he’s another one they could use, and Christian Welch. Those sorts of guys.
“Welch is a senior player, it’s a different signing, but you want to sign a guy like him because you know going forward, he’s going to be good for your culture.”
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