Signings tracker: Are Knights chasing Golden Boot winner?

Author: Newcastle Knights
Timestamp: Wed 5 Dec 2018, 05:42 PM

Nathan Brown has set the record straight on reports linking 2018 Golden Boot winner Tommy Makinson to the nib Newcastle Knights.

It has been reported that the winger has been in talks with Coach Brown about a potential move to the NRL with some reports claiming the pair were spotted at Knights HQ.

Those reports are false.

Brown did however catch up with the St Helens star last weekend for dinner with Makinson holidaying in Australia post-Super League season.

"My family and Tommy's family have a good relationship from my time back in England," Brown told newcastleknights.com.au.

"We caught up for a catch-up and Tommy has expressed an interest in coming to the NRL and living in Australia.

"He has a number of clubs he's looking at and he asked me for advice. That's pretty much what it was."

So, can we expect to see the 27-year-old running around with the Knights next year?

"Tommy is definitely playing with St Helens next year," Brown said.

"Tommy's desire is to come out at the end of next year.

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"He's not off-contract for a couple of years. For any who plays with a club in England and is a high talent like Tommy, the English clubs don't let them go for free.

"There's transfer fees and player swaps. There's a lot of water to go under the bridge in those areas.

"We've just invested quite heavily in the outside backs, so it's not a position at this stage, we're looking at.

"Would we be interested in Tommy if we were looking at those positions? Certainly, he's a terrific player but he's got four or five clubs already interest in him.

"My advice to him would be to sit down with St Helens and organize something soon.

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"These processes are long.

"He is a player and character any club would like to have."

Makinson made his first-grade debut in 2011 and won a premiership with the Club coached by Brown in 2014.

Makinson became only the fifth Englishman to win the Golden Boot award when he picked it up last month.

Below is the list of new signings for the 2019 season and current players who have extended their deals.

NEW SIGNINGS

David Klemmer (Bulldogs - 2023)

Mason Lino (Warriors – 2020)