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3 hours ago | Rhys Sullivan
Manly may sign another Newcastle star within a week, with rumours that representative winger Timana Tahu is set to agree to a long-term deal with the club.
Tahu is off-contract at Newcastle at the conclusion of this season and is close friends with Ben Kennedy, who signed a two-year deal with the Sea Eagles today.
Both Tahu and Kennedy?s wives are also close friends, further enhancing the speculation that the pair may unite at Manly.
Newcastle coach Michael Hagan paid tribute to Kennedy today, but he couldn?t hide his disappointment over the departure of the test star.
?He has had a huge effect on the club in a period that has seen him gain State and National selection and win a premiership with the club,? Hagan said.
?It is an unfortunate fact that the restrictions of the salary cap do not allow us to keep all the players we would like to.
?We have not been active in the player market for a number of years now, and each year we are forced to release players that we would otherwise like to retain.?
The Knights are still yet to sign star halfback Andrew Johns, but he is expected to announce by the end of the month that he will stay at Newcastle. He hasn?t been given permission to negotiate with other clubs and there are some rumours he will wait beyond June 30th to make a final decision on his future, just to see what he is worth on the open market.
If Johns does decide to leave Newcastle, Manly may again pop up, with the club needing a quality halfback to partner Andrew Walker in the halves.
In other news, Penrith have denied they?ve re-signed talented winger Amos Roberts, despite a report to the contrary in a Sydney newspaper this week. Panthers boss Shane Richardson is attempting to secure Roberts to a long-term deal with the club before departing for Souths on Friday.