Broncos sign exciting son of a gun; Dolphins lead race to land Origin flyer: Transfer
Brisbane has continued its roster turnover ahead of the 2023 season, signing a young gun with plenty of promise — and a famous last name.
Wynnum Manly utility Max Plath has reportedly signed on with the club on a short-term deal that sees him training at Red Hill for 12 weeks during the pre-season, per The Courier Mail.
The agreement also sees him spend time with the side during the State of Origin period.
Max is the son of Broncos legend John Plath, who played 149 games for the Broncos but now the 20-year-old is starting to forge his own path.
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“Max is a lovely kid with a great attitude and we want to give him an opportunity,” Broncos academy and recruitment boss Simon Scanlan told The Courier Mail.
“We had him in our junior development squad several years ago. He didn’t graduate to the Broncos academy but he’s continued to work and is one of those kids who’ll be a late developer.
“He’s worked his way through (the grades) with Wynnum Manly and played some Queensland Cup this year.
“His preferred role is five-eighth but he has some of his Dad in him, we he can play multiple positions. He can be a very good utility.
“He’s well put together, he has a really good training ethic, so he’ll give himself every chance of playing NRL.”
DOLPHINS FIRMING FOR COWBOYS GUN
The Dolphins are reportedly leading the race to sign Cowboys and Maroons speedster Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow Origin last year but struggled to cement his starting spot in club land this season.
The 21-year-old started the season as North Queensland’s fullback but Scott Drinkwater then made the position his own.
Drinkwater has since re-signed until the end of 2027 and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow will have to move elsewhere to wear a No. 1 jersey.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is contracted until the end of next season but the Cowboys have allowed him to explore his options for next season.
Enter Wayne Bennett.
The Dolphins coach has already signed former Broncos fullback Jamayne Isaako but he by no means has a mortgage on the No. 1 jumper.
Bennett is in the market for a star fullback after missing out on Reece Walsh and more recently Dragons young gun Tyrell Sloan.
The Dolphins are leading the way to sign Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, who has played 50 NRL games for the Cowboys, according to The Daily Telegraph.
NORTH QUEENSLAND VETERAN COMING HOME
Tigers veteran James Tamou is reportedly set for a return to the Cowboys, six seasons after departing Townsville in 2016.
The 33-year-old has reportedly been in contact with North Queensland powerbrokers according to The Daily Telegraph.
Cowboys coach Todd Payten held a meeting with the former Panther while in Sydney for Wednesday night’s Dally M Medal, where he won Coach of the Year.
Payten was said to have told the prop he wants him in his squad next season.
Tamou looks set to snub interest from the English Super League and a return to the club he made his debut at is reportedly firming.
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Wakefield Trinity were one of the clubs interested in the 305-gamer, but Tamou and his family are keen to remain in Australia.
Tamou’s role at the club would be to mentor younger forwards after a stint with the Tigers.
If he is to sign with the Cowboys, reports suggest he would take a significant pay-cut, but the big man wants to play one more season in the NRL.
Last season, during the Tigers’ 72-6 demolition at the hands of the Roosters there were fears the veteran had played his last game.
Tamou was hit with a grade three contrary conduct charge for saying “f***ing incompetent you are” to referee Ben Cummins in the final two minutes of the clash.
The veteran prop was initially sin-binned in the dying minutes for saying “f**k off” but after his second outburst “incompetent” Cummins upgraded the binning to a send off.
The grade three charge carried a two-week suspension but fronted the judiciary and successfully had his ban downgraded to just one game.
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