The most in-demand playmaker in the NRL for 2026 is running around in reserve grade at the moment.
Promising Roosters halfback Sandon Smith started the season in red-hot form but has lost his spot to the brilliant Sam Walker in recent weeks.
Walker missed the first half of the season after knee surgery and coach Trent Robinson has paired him successfully with another youngster, Hugo Salava, to good effect.
READ MORE: Goal celebration takes life-threatening turn
READ MORE: ‘Overdose’ blamed for wild three-hole disaster at $30m event
READ MORE: Stars’ agent making Manly ‘paranoid’ amid Seibold rumours
Smith is signed to the Roosters for next season but with Daly Cherry-Evans set to join for 2026, the Roosters don’t need four halves on good money in their top 30 squad.
Smith shapes as the odd man out and with a shortage of quality playmakers, his management has already been inundated with enquiries from at least five clubs.
Sandon Smith is set to be in demand. Getty
The Central Coast junior can’t hold official talks until given permission by the Roosters but that seems a mere formality.
“Canberra, the Cowboys, Dragons, Souths and Newcastle have all asked me where things are at with Sandon,” Smith’s manager Gavin Orr told Wide World of Sports.
“We can’t talk at this stage but it seems likely he will move on.
“He has been man of the match in NSW Cup the past two weeks but the first grade is also playing well so he can’t get a crack.”
Manly skipper Cherry-Evans is believed to have agreed to terms with the club months ago but his form has plummeted since then.
There are rumours that the Roosters will offer him a long-term coaching role instead of a playing position in the wake of his struggles on the field.
CANBERRA’S FORM COULD COST THEM
Another promising youngster contracted for next season also looks set to make a move over the summer.
Raiders fullback Chevy Stewart hasn’t been able to get a look-in at the club this season due to the superb form of Kaeo Weekes.
Chevy Stewart in action for the Raiders. Getty
The 20-year-old debuted last season and looked solid in three top grade appearances.
Word has it he is close to signing with the Dragons, where he is likely to play fullback, with veteran Clint Gutherson moving to lock.
Gutherson has been a great buy for the Big Red V but turns 31 next month and has lost some of his speed, making a shift to the forwards a logical decision.
NEWCASTLE’S UNUSUAL TACTIC TO FIX ISSUE
The Knights clearly know they have problems scoring points and have gone to unusual measures to solve the issue.
The club placed an advertisement on LinkedIn recently for a specialist kick and catch coach for 2026.
Watch the 2025 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and 9Now.
Teams like the Roosters (Daniel Tuopu) and Storm (Xavier Coates) have made a habit of nabbing tries from high kicks on a regular basis and the Knights clearly want to join in on the fun.
But the club is still in a dilemma over exactly who will do the kicking of the bombs, with the lack of a quality halfback one of their biggest problems throughout 2025.
YOUNGSTER MAKES AN IMPRESSION
The Panthers are delighted with a young centre they picked up from the Warriors mid-season – so much so that they have extended him to a long-term deal.
Compton Purcell started the year in the Wahs’ Jersey Flegg team before taking up an offer from the Panthers to cross the ditch.
Penrith liked what they saw when he joined them and after just a handful of games, the powerful centre has signed with the Panthers until 2028.
