Walters locked in for World Cup as Kangaroos extend coach’s contract

NRL legend Kevin Walters will coach Australia at this year’s Rugby League World Cup after signing a two-year contract extension.

In the week Penrith master mentor Ivan Cleary revealed aspirations to become a representative coach, the Australian Rugby League Commission ensured Walters would hold one of rugby league’s top jobs through June 2028.

He will preside over Australia’s World Cup tilt this year, as well as the post-NRL season Pacific Championships slated for 2027.

The NRL is likely to announce more international fixtures for the two years before his contract expires.

Walters’ tenure began with a 3-0 Ashes clean sweep of England last Spring and had initially been up after June this year.

He had been handed the job on a short-term basis given Mal Meninga’s appointment as Perth’s inaugural coach forced the long-term boss to immediately step down from the national team.

The new deal is a showing of faith in Walters, who previously coached Brisbane to a narrow loss in the 2023 NRL grand final and Queensland to State of Origin series wins in 2016 and 2017.

“The experience I had with the team at the Ashes was a privilege and very rewarding,” Walters said. “Now to be able to continue into a home World Cup will be a huge honour. World Cups always provide the biggest challenges, and I’m looking forward to assembling a great, experienced staff and playing group to have a successful tournament.”

The ARLC was impressed by feedback received from Kangaroos players following Walters’ first matches in charge on tour of England.

“Kevin did an outstanding job and I’m very pleased to announce him as the Kangaroos coach for the most important tournament in many years,” said ARLC chair Peter V’landys.

The news comes on the same day V’Landys confirmed a new six-year deal to keep Magic Round in Brisbane until at least 2032.

Dragons land Warriors playmaker on three-year deal

Luke Metcalf has joined St George Illawarra on a three-year deal as the Dragons continue to overhaul their spluttering roster.

The out-of-favour New Zealand Warriors playmaker met with Dragons and Canterbury officials this week.

And after the Dogs baulked at Metcalf’s asking price, the 27-year-old was quickly snapped up by the Red V. The Dragons had hoped Metcalf would be released immediately, but the second-placed Warriors were not interested in any early exit.

Metcalf will join North Queensland fullback Scott Drinkwater and South Sydney forward Keaon Koloamatangi at the club from next year.

The Dragons have struggled in the halves, with Cronulla recruit Daniel Atkinson taking time to find his feet, and Kyle Flanagan only parachuted back into the starting side because of a serious hand injury suffered by rookie playmaker Kade Reed.

“I’m really excited to be joining the Dragons and grateful for the opportunity,” Metcalf said in a statement released by the Dragons.

“I intend to give my all to the Warriors for the remainder of this season before taking the next step in my career. It will be an honour to pull on the Red V and do everything I can to help the club move forward.”

Metcalf was a leading contender for the 2025 Dally M Medal before he ruptured his ACL. He has been unable to return to the Warriors starting side with Tanah Boyd the preferred No. 7.

Metcalf did not travel to Magic Round with the Warriors for Sunday’s clash against Brisbane so he could use the time to thrash out his future.

Warriors coach Andrew Webster said of Metcalf’s future: “This is not an argument or a blow-up or anything like that. Luke wants to play NRL. He wants to be the guy who runs the team and steers them around. He obviously doesn’t feel like he can get that here.”

Watson set for PNG tour with view to Chiefs deal

Christian Nicolussi

Connor Watson will fly to Port Moresby on Sunday, with the Sydney Roosters representative utility eyeing a potential two-year deal with the PNG Chiefs.

Hot on the heels of Jarome Luai and Alex Johnston signing with the NRL’s 19th franchise, Watson has been in talks with Chiefs’ general manager of football Michael Chammas for several weeks. The planned hit-and-run trip to the country with his partner Kiana proves he is serious about the move.

Watson is contracted to the Roosters until the end of 2027, but has the club’s blessing to leave if he can secure a longer-term deal elsewhere.

Should he sign a deal with the Chiefs, Watson will need to find a club for 2027, with St George Illawarra, Manly and even Perth all identified as possible short-term solutions. Watson and his management, however, will not entertain longer-term offers from those clubs until they know what will happen with the Chiefs.

The 29-year-old endured a horror run with injuries in the first half of his career but has been able to stay on the field since 2024, playing a brand of football that earned him an Origin call-up for NSW.

Watson has been named to start at lock against North Queensland in Brisbane on Saturday evening. He will be back in Sydney by Monday when the NSW team is announced for game one of this year’s series.

“Connor is a great player and someone who has shown great resilience throughout his career,” Chammas said. “His leadership qualities and experience are things we could benefit from. We appreciate the Roosters giving him the time to go and visit PNG with his partner, and we look forward to continuing conversations at the right time.”

The Dragons have been heavily linked to Watson, but he has not yet met with interim coach Dean Young.

The Red V remain firm favourites to sign unwanted New Zealand Warriors playmaker Luke Metcalf, especially with the Bulldogs reportedly out of the race and not prepared to pay the $1 million-a-season asking price.

Metcalf was leading the Dally M count last year before he ruptured his ACL and since struggled to reclaim his starting spot at the high-flying Auckland-based club, with Tanah Boyd the preferred No. 7.

In other contract news, Cronulla warhorse Cam McInnes has received serious interest from York, with the Super League club prepared to offer him a three-year deal.

McInnes was weighing up a two-year offer from Perth before the Knights came to the table. The Knights’ Australian owner Clint Goodchild has personally reached out to McInnes.

The 32-year-old had hoped to remain in Sydney, and was even prepared to accept one-year extensions with Cronulla, especially if it meant he was not blocking the path of younger teammates progressing to the top grade. Reports of interest from the Melbourne Storm were wide of the mark.

Benji hands debut to former Rooster; Luai battling blisters

Christian Nicolussi

Once the Wests Tigers were denied the chance to recruit Sydney Roosters’ Siua Wong last year, they quickly shifted their sights to local junior Ethan Roberts.

Back-rower Roberts, 21, will make his debut off the bench for the Tigers against Manly at Magic Round, becoming the 34th player to be handed his Tigers debut by coach Benji Marshall and the 18th to make his NRL debut.

The bye round, however, cannot come quickly enough for the Tigers, whose casualty ward features Jahream Bula (shoulder), Adam Doueihi (shoulder) and Api Koroisau (suspension).

Jarome Luai also appeared to hobble through training on Thursday, later putting his discomfort down to a bad case of blisters that may need painkillers come game day.

Tigers officials have high hopes for Roberts and young five-eighth Javon Andrews, predicting they would play a lot of first-grade football for the club. Marshall was impressed by the way Roberts had trained over the summer, only for a foot injury on the eve of the season to delay his progress.

“We’re really impressed with what he’s brought to club, not only on the field but off the field as well,” Marshall said. “We’re looking forward to seeing him do his thing out there.

“I saw a few things in the NSW Cup on the weekend that I asked for from him, and that you need to play first grade. He responded really well. He’s an aggressive big guy, great skills and great footwork, and very aggressive in defence.”

The Tigers have lost their last two games and go up against a red-hot Manly, who are humming under caretaker coach and Marshall’s former New Zealand teammate, Kieran Foran.

“One thing I know about ‘Foz’ is he wears his heart on his sleeve, and if you look at the way he played his footy – aggressive, passionate, and [someone who] gave everything for the jersey – players want to play for him, and that’s half the battle when you’re the coach,” Marshall said.

Despite serving the last game of a three-match ban, Koroisau remains an outside chance of a NSW Blues call-up, as does prop Terrell May, who missed the Melbourne game on the weekend for the birth of his child.

“One thing I know about Api is if he is selected, [I know what] he’s going to do – he’s having one of his best seasons to date,” Marshall said.

“And I thought [May] should have made it last year. Footy does the talking, and he has a good opportunity this weekend to put his case forward. I think he’s been great for us.”

Johnston out with same knee injury as Koloamatangi

Christian Nicolussi

South Sydney forward Keaon has been playing with a partial tear in his knee, the same injury which has now forced try-scoring record-holder Alex Johnston out of Magic Round in Brisbane.

The Rabbitohs welcome back Latrell Mitchell from a bulging disc in his back for Friday’s clash against the Dolphins.

But Johnston has been given time off to recover from what club sources, who are not authorised to comment publicly, confirmed was a full tear of his PCL in the back of the knee. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape is his replacement.

Koloamatangi has had his right knee heavily strapped since injuring himself in the win over Canterbury on April 3, and joked Johnston was unable to cope with the same pain.

“He’s got the same issue as me, I’m not sure if he is strong enough mentally to play with the injured knee – he’s a winger,” Koloamatangi said.

“Maybe he’s different because he needs to sprint more. I’ll be giving it to him [for not playing]. I’ve got a tear in my PCL, the good thing is you’re able to play with it, but it’s pretty painful,” Koloamatangi said.

“It’s getting better each week. In a perfect world, I need some time off. I can’t needle it because it’s a ligament. I feel like I’ve got a 50-year-old knee. It’s different to the left knee [I had operated on at the end of last season]. You can play without it [the PCL].”

Mitchell was almost reduced to tears because of the pain in his back against the Knights in round nine and missed the win over Cronulla. However, in a boost for NSW and the Rabbitohs, he has been named to line up at Suncorp Stadium.

Koloamatangi said the playing group had taken a lot of confidence knowing they could get the job done without Mitchell against the Sharks.

“Wins are sweeter when you can do it without your big names,” he said. “It’s more of a team effort. We want Latrell there every week. But there was more urgency because we couldn’t just give Latrell the ball if we were down by a few points, and expect him to create some points. He’s someone who can change a game and win you a game.”

Cronulla have received a double boost with winger Ronaldo Mulitalo to play his first game of the season against Canterbury on Thursday. Mulitalo ruptured his ACL while on international duty with New Zealand last October.

Jesse Ramien (knee) is also back on deck, while Jayden Berrell replaces Blayke Brailey at hooker, with the Sharks’ favourites’ 139-game streak ending because of concussion.

Jamal Fogarty (groin) is back for Manly, with Joey Walsh relegated to a six-man Sea Eagles’ bench for their clash with Wests Tigers, who have named Latu Fainu at hooker.

Brisbane skipper Adam Reynolds (concussion) will make a timely return for Sunday’s clash with the Warriors, while the Dragons have lost rookie halfback Kade Reed to a hand injury for the next few months.