Off the Record: Rugby League Rumours and Gossip #89

Transfer rumours are being thrown around left, right and centre involving Rugby Union, NRL, Super League and League 1 clubs at the minute.

CHARNLEY RETURNING TO LEAGUE

Former Wigan Warriors star Josh Charnley looks set to return to Rugby League with Warrington Wolves following a stint in Rugby Union with Sale Sharks.

The 26-year-old has been in Union for 18 months with the Sharks but Warrington are very interested in bringing the England Rugby League international to the Halliwell Jones Stadium for next season.

He was prolific for Wigan, scoring 149 tries in 151 games for the Cherry and Whites while he has scored three in 19 appearances for Sale.

It is understood that he prefers League and that he has been frustrated in not getting as much ball on the wing in the 15-man code.

FAGES WANTED BY NRL CLUBS

Speculation has continued to grow in both England and Australia that St Helens star Theo Fages could move to the NRL for the 2018 campaign.

The 23-year-old is currently in Australia for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, with him captaining France and he is attracting a lot of attention from NRL bosses at the minute, with Newcastle Knights being one of the sides believed to be interested.

Five clubs in the NRL are reported to be interested in Fages but the half-back is under contract at Saints until the end of the 2019 campaign and could be replaced in the halves by Jonny Lomax, with Ben Barba expected to be handed the No. 1 jersey for 2018.

YORK TARGET CLARE

Former Leigh Centurions winger James Clare is being targeted by York City Knights, with the League 1 outfit desperate to secure his services for 2018.

The 26-year-old is out of contract after Leigh Centurions were relegated from the Betfred Super League this season and the loss in the Million Pound Game made his contract void.

Clare has previously played for Castleford Tigers, Bradford Bulls and obviously, the Centurions in 2017 but the winger has begun studying at York St John University, where the Knights train and it is reported that head coach James Ford wants to bring him to the club as they aim for promotion to the Championship next year.

NZOUNGOU TO JOIN SALFORD THIS WEEK

Salford Red Devils are expected to announce the signing of Toulouse Olympique prop Levy Nzoungou this week.

The 19-year-old joined the Championship side earlier on this year after being successful on trial. Nzoungou was previously in St Helens’ Academy and was an ever present in their undefeated Under-19s side of 2016.

He then parted ways with the club and joined NRL outfit Melbourne Storm before going back to his homeland France, where he caught the attention of Salford.

WARRINGTON SET TO BRING IN BAPTISTE

Papua New Guinea star Kurt Baptiste is set to join Warrington Wolves from Canberra Raiders for next season.

It is understood that Baptiste, who is interchange hooker to England ace Josh Hodgson at Canberra, is allowed to leave the NRL side due to the club’s salary cap issues.

The Wolves are still in search to replace Brad Dwyer, with the Wigan-born hooker agreeing to move to Leeds Rhinos for next term and it is believed that Warrington head coach Steve Price thinks Baptiste could be the ideal signing for the club.

What do you think of these possible transfers? Let us know in the comments below.