2024 NRL Signings Tracker: Schuster joins Rabbitohs
South Sydney have thrown a lifeline to former Sea Eagles utility Josh Schuster for next season after signing the Samoan international on a one-year contract.
Rabbitohs Head of Football, Mark Ellison, is confident that Schuster can make a successful return to the NRL at South Sydney after being released by Manly earlier this year.
“We think a comeback to the NRL with our club will be just what Josh needs to get his career back on track,” Ellison said.
“We’re confident that he can use this second opportunity at NRL level, at a new club with new coaches, new teammates and renewed expectations, to resume his NRL career and achieve his and the team’s goals.
National Schoolboy Cup winners Sam Stephenson and Zane Harrison have been rewarded for leading Palm Beach Currumbin to victory in last week’s final with development contracts at the Gold Coast Titans.
The pair have long been in the club’s system and trained with the first-grade side last pre-season and will take a major step towards NRL debuts when they join the squad on a full-time basis.
Harrison won the Peter Sterling Medal in last week’s last gasp victory over Patrician Brothers Blackton while Stephenson is preparing to play two matches for the Australian Schoolboys in October.
Raiders hooker Zac Woolford is leaving the national capital to join Huddersfield in the Super League competition.
Woolford has signed a one-year deal with the Giants and farewells the Green Machine after three seasons and 39 NRL matches for the club.
“Zac has been a wonderful contributor in his time with the club and is a very well-liked player amongst the group. We wish him all the best as he looks to further is career,” said Raiders CEO Don Furner.
The Eels have confirmed that prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard has been granted a release from the final year of his contract to pursue an opportunity at another NRL club.
Campbell-Gillard joined the Eels in 2020 from the Panthers and went on to play 107 games for the blue and gold, including the 2022 grand final.
“I’ve really enjoyed my time at Parramatta, I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve had and for the lifelong friendships I’ve made,” Campbell-Gillard said.
“I also want to thank the passionate Eels fanbase, it’s been a pleasure playing in front of them and I’ve appreciated all their support over the years.”
Meanwhile, Wests Tigers have signed Jack Bird for two seasons from 2025.
The premiership winner has been exploring his options throughout the past month and ultimately decided to join Benji Marshall’s rebuild at the Tigers.
Bird will depart the Dragons immediately and begin his time at his new club when pre-season kicks off in November and is contracted through to the end of the 2026 season.
“Jack is a very talented player, a very good person, and we’re thrilled that he’s decided to join us,” Marshall said.
“He has achieved a lot in the game and brings a wealth of experience to our young squad.
“We all look forward to welcoming Jack and his partner Mirae to the Wests Tigers.”
Erin Clark is returning to New Zealand after signing a three-year deal with the Warriors to the end of 2027.
The Titans announced they had granted the Kiwi forward an early release from the remainder of his contract on compassionate grounds, with the 26-year-old wanting to return to New Zealand with his partner and young family.
The Warriors announced his return to the club where he made his NRL debut as a 19-year-old in 2017.
“Erin was coming through our NYC system when I was first here and was a player with lots of ability,” Warriors head coach Andrew Webster said.
“It didn’t work out for him initially but the way he has taken his second chance has been outstanding. He has developed into a tough middle forward, durable with a great work ethic, intensity and aggression.”
The Titans also announced the departure of Isaac Liu who will depart the club to explore new opportunities.
Liu played his final game for the club in Round 27, ending a three-year stint on the Gold Coast and is set to farewell the NRL in 2024.
Meanwhile, the Norths Queensland Cowboys have agreed to a one-year extension with front-rower Griffin Neame.
Already contracted for the 2025 season, the extension ensures Neame will remain in North Queensland at least through the end of 2026.
“Griff plays his best football when he is settled and knows his role and expectations around his contribution and this extension provides that for him off the field until the end of 2026,” Cowboys General Manager of Football Micheal Luck said.
This comes after the Cowboys received a boost on the eve of the finals with Kangaroos forward Reuben Cotter extending his stay until the end of the 2028 season.
Born and bred in North Queensland, the Sarina Crocodiles junior has been in the Cowboys system since joining the Mackay Academy as a 15-year-old.
Now 25 and Cowboys co-captain alongside fellow Mackay product Tom Dearden, Cotter is entrenched as a linchpin of the North Queensland, Queensland and Australian forward packs.
Cotter faced early career adversity, missing almost the entirety of three consecutive seasons between 2016-2018 with ACL injuries before making his NRL debut in 2019.
He has since gone on to make 79 appearances for the Cowboys over the course of six seasons, along with seven appearances for Queensland, five for Australia and two for the Indigenous All Stars.
The Cowboys had earlier also signed one-year contract extensions with half Jake Clifford and outside back Semi Valemei for the 2025 season.
Wests Tigers have announced the signing of forward Royce Hunt on a three-year deal, starting from next season.
The Sharks granted the Samoa international’s request for a release from the final season of his contract in 2025 to take up a multi-year opportunity with his new club.
“Royce is a great leader who will be invaluable in assisting us with the development of the younger players at the club,” Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall said of the signing.
Maroons Origin forward J’maine Hopgood has extended his stay with Parramatta until at least the end of the 2027 NRL season.
Already contracted with the Eels for next year, Hopgood has re-signed for a further two seasons.
He played for the Maroons in their Origin I triumph at Accor Stadium but suffered a back injury and has not played since.
“I love this club and I appreciate the opportunities the Eels have given me. I can’t wait to put the jersey back on and represent the Blue and Gold,” said Hopgood.
“I feel like I still have so much more to give, I’m committed to this team and to this club and I’m excited about the future.”
North Queensland’s all-time leading try scorer Kyle Feldt will depart the club at the end of the 2024 season to join St Helens on a two-year deal.
Feldt, who will forever be remembered for the try that forced the 2015 grand final into extra-time before Johnathan Thurston kicked the winning field goal, will replace 2018 IRL Golden Boot winner Tommy Makinson, who is joining Catalans.
“This feels like the right choice and the right decision, not only for me but for my family,” Feldt said.
“I know I’m coming to a great club with a very rich history of great players with great a work ethic as well. I’m eager to get over and meet the lads at the end of the year.
“I’m coming over to add some more accolades to my career, to help out the boys in the club, and I’m very eager to get silverware.
“When I was on the phone to Wello [St Helens coach Paul Wellens] he reaffirmed how the club has an expectation of winning, and that’s something that got me across the line.”
The Norths Thuringowa Devils junior has played 213 matches for the Cowboys since debuting in 2013.broke Matthew Bowen’s long-standing Cowboys try-scoring record when he crossed for the 131st time in front of his home fans at Queensland Country Bank Stadium against the Gold Coast Titans in Round 5 this season.
“This hasn’t been an easy decision to make, but I feel the time is right,” Feldt said.
“I have been very fortunate to live out my childhood dream to play NRL for my hometown team for 11 years.
“The club has given me the opportunity to stay home where many other professional athletes have had to move away from their family. I’ve made some amazing memories and lifelong friends.”
Thursday’s game against the Melbourne Storm will be dedicated to farewelling Feldt and fellow veteran Jake Granville. Granville will complete a lap of honour prior to kick off, while Feldt will conduct his lap of honour after full-time.
The Storm have announced the re-signing of prop Joe Chan, who is part of the Storm’s first father-son duo, joining father Alex (Storm player #71) in donning the purple jersey.
His extension matches that recently signed by his roommate and best mate, fellow Storm forward Alec Macdonald.
After playing 26 Super League matches for the Catalan Dragons, Chan arrived at the Storm at the end of the 2022 season.
“It’s such a great opportunity that the club has given me and being offered a new contract is a sign for me that they have faith in me and that my hard work is paying off,” Chan said.
“I wouldn’t be here today without my family’s support and sacrifices along the way and they are so happy for me getting this chance.
“My Mum, in particular, has been a big part of my journey. She has given up a lot and is the rock of the family. She gave up her dream job as a teacher’s aide at a primary school when our family moved to France.
“I love that I can build a future at such a good club with my flatmate and best mate Alec (Macdonald). Even though it’s considered work playing footy, I’m having fun and making lifelong friends.”
The Knights have re-signed back-rower Tom Cant for an additional two seasons through to the end of 2026.
The 22-year-old graduated through the Knights pathways system to make his NRL debut against the Dolphins in Round 3 last year.
“Tom is having a tremendous year in NSW Cup, and we believe he is primed to take that form into the NRL,” said Knights director of football Peter Parr.
The Eels have announced the signing of Isaiah Iongi from the Panthers on a three-year deal starting in 2025.
The 21-year-old fullback made his NRL debut in Round 22 and racked up 256 running metres in the Panthers’ 22-14 win over the Knights.
“Isaiah is a talented player with a promising future, he will be a wonderful addition to our backline next season,” said Eels general manager of football Mark O’Neill.
Meanwhile, the Wests Tigers have announced the signing of seven players they hope will eventually progress into their top squad.
Emerging forward Lachlan Broederlow has signed a two-year deal that will see him progress to a development contract in 2026.
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