Player movements: Merritt, Rogers
and Laffranchi

South Sydney has furthered its recruitment drive for 2006 by signing Cronulla utility Nathan Merritt and Penrith's Ben Rogers to three-year deals.

Merritt, an accomplished winger or fullback, is a South Sydney junior who played first grade with the Rabbitohs in 2002-03 before shifting to the Sharks for the past two years. Rogers can play lock or five-eighth and will join Panthers teammate Joe Gulavao in Souths colours next year.

Meanwhile, Wests Tigers forward Anthony Laffranchi has become the latest player to put pen to paper with the new Gold Coast NRL franchise.

Laffranchi joins Preston Campbell, Luke Bailey and Brian Carney as foundation members of the new club. The Gold Coast product will remain with the Tigers for next season before relocating back to the tourist strip.