NEWCASTLE coach Nathan Brown has confirmed the club’s interest in luring another Sydney Roosters player to the club in representative star Blake Ferguson.
Despite being one of the Roosters’ best so far this season, Ferguson remains unsigned for 2019 and could be on the hunt for a new home.
The Knights this week announced the signing of Cronulla winger Edrick Lee on a three-year deal beginning next season, but are keen on adding another backline star in Ferguson.
Brown told reporters Lee’s recruitment wouldn’t impact their pursuit of Ferguson.
“We’d like to bring Fergo in as well. A bit more size in our outside backs is something we feel would be really good,” Brown said.
“Obviously, we have got (Tautau Moga) to come back and we feel that not only would it add size to our backs, we did come into the year a little skinny in that department which has been a little bit exposed.
“It would see our roster balance get a little better and put some good pressure on everyone to play well.”
Ferguson would join a number of ex-Roosters to move north over the past year, including the likes of Mitchell Pearce, Connor Watson, Aidan Guerra and Shaun Kenny-Dowall.
However while Brown openly expressed his desire on bringing the current Kangaroos winger to the Knights, he denied the club were also looking at contracted stars Martin Taupau and Corey Norman.
He suggested the club couldn’t afford Norman, who has one more year remaining at Parramatta, but admitted seeing him as a possible State of Origin player.
“He’s a talented player who is on a really big wage so at this stage, that is not a true rumour,” he said.
“Is he a very talented player who would help any organisation? Look, he is a potential Origin player so he would help any club.”
Asked about speculation the Knights were also looking at Taupau, Brown said: “I haven’t heard Manly come out and say they are keen to move Marty Taupau.
“But he is certainly the prototype forward that seems to be having a lot of success.
“Those types of players are having a fairly big impact on the game today and he is the type of player who, again, would help any organisation.”
Newcastle on Wednesday also confirmed the immediate signing of Wests Tigers forward JJ Felise for the rest of the season.
