Dragons close in on Cowboys’ Drinkwater as long-term fullback

St George Illawarra are closing in on the signature of Scott Drinkwater as the long-time fullback replacement for Clint Gutherson after North Queensland officially granted him early permission to negotiate with rival clubs.

The Cowboys have just re-signed Jaxon Purdue’s until the end of 2030 and see him transitioning into the No.1 jersey. They have allowed Drinkwater, who is contracted until the end of next year, to explore his options now rather than making him wait until November 1.

North Queensland are happy for Drinkwater to remain and fulfil his contract, but don’t want to stand in the way of him securing a long-term deal elsewhere.

Drinkwater continues to enjoy his time in Townsville, but the opportunity to lock in a long-term contract elsewhere will likely result in his departure.

While there is a freeze on retention at the Dragons after a horror 0-5 start to the season that has put coach Shane Flanagan’s job in jeopardy, that stance doesn’t apply to the recruitment of players. The Red V is looking for a succession plan for Gutherson and have identified Drinkwater as their custodian of choice.

The club had considered the prospect of picking up Trai Fuller until the end of the year, but the Dolphins dynamo opted against the move when the Dragons weren’t prepared to offer him a contract for 2027 as well.

Jahream Bula, who has a mutual option to remain at the Wests Tigers, has also been identified as an option, but the focus has shifted to Drinkwater.

Drinkwater is keen to secure his long-term future as a fullback and sources not authorised to speak publicly have said a deal with the Dragons is close to being finalised. However, a potential sticking point is the uncertainty over the future of Flanagan, who is coaching for his career.

The Dragons and the Cowboys – who were contacted for comment – are both playing on Friday night and don’t want the Drinkwater situation to be a distraction ahead of their games. The Dragons face Manly at Wollongong, while the Cowboys take on premiers Brisbane at Suncorp.

The Drinkwater development is a sensitive issue at the Dragons given Gutherson is the club’s captain and fullback. Gutherson has been credited with providing leadership and improving the culture of the club, but some pundits feel he is struggling to keep pace with the modern game.

The decision to sign him until the end of next year has come under question and he may be required to shift positions at some stage. Currently sidelined with a grade-two hamstring strain, Tyrell Sloan will fill the fullback void against Manly.

Ciraldo backs Crichton to return in time for Origin

Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo is adamant Stephen Crichton will return from injury in time to retain his NSW Origin jumper, and has backed Bronson Xerri to fill the void until then.

Canterbury captain Crichton has been diagnosed with a grade five AC joint injury in his right shoulder after falling awkwardly in the Bulldogs’ Good Friday loss to South Sydney.

He is expected to be sidelined for anywhere from four to eight weeks, although Ciraldo believes he will be back in time for the State of Origin series, which begins on May 27.

“Yes, I think he’ll be ready for that,” Ciraldo said. “He’s tracking really nicely at the moment. He’s recovering pretty quickly, but to put a time frame on it would be just guessing at the moment … There’s nothing broken there, but it’s just the injury’s got to heal, and he’s healing pretty well so far, so we’ll just take it day by day.”

Xerri will now slot in for Crichton at left centre for the Bulldogs’ Thursday night clash with unbeaten league leaders Penrith, after reacting poorly to the news that he would be switched to the right side of the field to accommodate the Samoan international.

After a period in purgatory – he has spent time in reserve grade and on an extended bench – the former Shark will try to reestablish himself at the Bulldogs.

“[I’m impressed with] the way he’s ripped into his training, which is what we know he’s capable of,” Ciraldo said.

“That’s all he can control. I will say he’s not the first person to have a poor response and go home and say something [after being dropped]. He’s just ended up in the paper, which was the disappointing thing. But he has handled himself impeccably since that point.”

Asked if the setback could be the making of Xerri as a player, Ciraldo said: “I hope so, I really hope so.

“The way he’s training, the way he’s preparing, and the way he’s committing himself right now, that’s the signs we’re looking for … He loves the players, some of his best mates are in that team and he loves playing with them.

“He’s had a bit of a rocky patch there, which many players go through, but as I said his reaction in the last few weeks has been tremendous.”

Xerri is contracted until the end of 2027, but Ciraldo would not speculate about his long-term future at the club.

“We don’t need to think too far ahead right now,” he said. “He’s excited about the opportunity he’s got tomorrow night. He’s putting all his eggs in the preparation basket and he’ll be ready to rip in tomorrow night.”

It has been a clunky start for the Canterbury attack in 2026. At a time when the game is getting faster and scorelines are increasing, the Bulldogs have averaged just 17 points a game.

They will need to increase their output against a red-hot Penrith side that is the NRL’s only undefeated team this season, and easily the best defensive team in the league having conceded just eight points per game.

Moses given formal warning over approaches to referee

Chris Barrett

Parramatta captain Mitchell Moses has been cautioned by the NRL over a running battle with referee Peter Gough during the Easter Monday blockbuster against Wests Tigers at CommBank Stadium.

Moses drew the attention of league officials after approaching the whistle-blower to contest decisions on multiple occasions in the Eels’ 22-20 defeat and even laying a hand on Gough’s arm and back.

Moses was issued with a concerning acts notice, which is a level below a player receiving a charge. The formal warning was not because Moses had touched the referee, which was regarded as incidental, but for the manner and frequency with which he approached Gough on Monday.

The NRL had sent a note to coaches after round two of the competition, warning them about players disputing decisions with referees.

Moses protested a series of calls during the sold-out clash with the Tigers, including after a collision between Sean Russell and Tigers youngster Heamasi Makasini that left the Eels centre knocked unconscious but for which Parramatta were penalised, with Gough ruling Russell had rushed out of the line.

He also made a beeline for the referee after Tigers fullback Jahream Bula scored a first-half try that took them to an 18-10 lead at the break, arguing the Eels’ opponents had gained possession of the ball with a strip.

In a third incident, Moses was denied the opportunity to mount a captain’s challenge after forward Jack Williams was brought down close to the line and lost the ball as he went to play it.

“[Williams] felt like he was held and had about four players on him, so he’s trying to get up and play the ball. So I asked to challenge it, then [Gough] said that he hadn’t called held yet, so there was no point in me challenging it because I was never going to win it,” Moses said after the game.

The NRL considered Moses’ approaches to be slightly aggressive in nature. While the physical contact between Moses and Gough was minor, players touching referees has always been considered a no-no.

There was a more serious case in English soccer on the weekend when Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli shoved referee Sam Barrott during their FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Southampton, although he escaped with just a yellow card.

Reece Walsh may be out for six weeks. Bennett has his Origin replacement

Christian Nicolussi

Broncos star Reece Walsh is facing up to six weeks on the sidelines with a fractured cheekbone, and should he fail to be fit in time for Origin I, Wayne Bennett is backing Jye Gray to perform strongly if handed a Queensland jersey.

Broncos officials confirmed on Sunday morning that Walsh would undergo surgery after suffering the injury in the win over the Gold Coast on Saturday night. The news got worse for the premiers with Ben Hunt ruled out for a similar timeframe with an MCL injury.

Billy Slater will pick his first Maroons’ team for the May 27 opener in six weeks, around the same time Walsh is expected to return.

Kalyn Ponga is already out with a hamstring injury, and while Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has played fullback for Queensland, and would be the logical next choice, Gray has been in irresistible form for Souths.

At the very least, Gray and his blistering speed make him a genuine Maroons bench option.

“Of course he’s up to it, he’s playing at a high level every week in the NRL; if you can play at the level he can play at in the NRL, he can certainly play Origin,” Bennett said.

“Origin is an extension of what they already do; they just have to be a bit quicker and skilful. But Jye answers that question every week. He’s up to it if he was chosen.”

While Slater is spoiled for choice with fullbacks, so is his NSW counterpart, Laurie Daley, when it comes to his options in the centres.

Casey McLean, still only 19, is doing everything he can to put himself in the frame with some outstanding performances for Penrith.

Daley had such a high opinion of McLean that he picked up the phone last year to see if he was keen to play for the Blues if the NRL changed the international eligibility rules, which they have since done.

He told this masthead last month about McLean: “I like his defence, I like the way he carries the ball strongly, and while he’s only young, he’s not overawed by anything – I think he’s a wonderful player.”

McLean has improved further since then, including an excellent individual try where he palmed off Melbourne’s Jahrome Hughes – twice – and showed speed to zoom into a gap before sending Tom Jenkins over for a first try on Friday night.

McLean was a standout for New Zealand at the end of last year, but is just as keen to represent the state in which he grew up.

Latrell Mitchell is the incumbent and also in sizzling form for South Sydney, but another centre option, Stephen Crichton, is now nursing a shoulder injury. Crichton is yet to undergo scans, but is expected to be out of play for up to a month with an AC joint injury.

McLean pointed out he was just as comfortable playing right centre and on the wing.

“I wanted to represent my family and where I come from,” said McLean, when he first chose New Zealand ahead of NSW. “That’s a big factor I’ve been playing this game as long as I have been.

“I wanted to put on the black jersey and represent where my parents [Shannon and Willie] come from as a way of giving back to them. If the opportunity comes [to play for NSW], I’d take it with both hands.”

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