The NRL’s salary cap team is helping guide and advise clubs through what promises to be a frenetic period of player trading over the next nine days.
Storm offloaded Patrick Kaufusi to the Dragons on Friday in the first of what will be a spate of departures and arrivals between now and the June 30 signing deadline.
Warriors centre Solomone Kata is expected to be the next to go, hopping on a plane from Auckland to Melbourne to link up with the Storm.
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The NRL has access to all 16 clubs’ financial records and it’s understood the salary cap team is in constant contact, advising on how to balance the books in releasing and signing players.
The Storm coach view Kata as the perfect replacement for Curtis Scott, who remains out of favour after losing form and running into a host of off-field problems.
Kata has been languishing in the Canterbury Cup in a clear sign he is on the outer with Warriors coach Stephen Kearney.
His move across the ditch is likely to mean Craig Bellamy will now release fullback Scott Drinkwater to the Cowboys.
North Queensland will be delighted to get their hands on Drinkwater early after losing Ben Barba before a ball was kicked and missing out on Val Holmes.
Sporting News broke the Kaufusi signing to Dragons pair Paul Vaughan and Tariq Sims after the Blues wrapped up training in Perth on Friday.
“Did we? That’s good. I’m very happy we got him before June 30,” Sims said.
“I trained with Patty up in Townsville. He’s a very respectful and hard working kid.
“He will be like a sponge learning off the likes of Paul Vaughan, James Graham and my brother and help steel our middle.”
Vaughan added: “We’ve been looking for a middle (forward) for a while and he will be a great addition to the squad.”