Due to his signing of a contract extension with Newcastle Knights until the 2025 season, Australian forward Mat Croker will not be joining the Super League for the time being.
Croker was reportedly offered to Super League teams for 2025, according to reports that surfaced last month. The news that Croker, who was out of contract at Newcastle after their 2024 season, was free for grabs by Super League teams was initially reported by Rugby League Live.
Additionally, recent claims from Zero Tackle had raised the possibility that the Castleford Tigers would be interested in hiring Croker. However, those rumors have been dispelled, since Croker will not be joining the Super League anytime soon.
The 25-year-old signed a one-year contract extension with Adam O’Brien’s team, meaning he will play in the NRL with the Knights at least till the conclusion of the following season.
After being chosen for the 2014 development squad, Croker joined the Knights system and worked his way up the grades until making his NRL debut in 2021. He has played 58 games in the first grade for Newcastle so far.
The director of football of Newcastle, Peter Parr, expressed his satisfaction that Mat had decided to stay longer with the Knights.
This year, he has displayed some of his best football skills.
“Mat is a crucial member of the group and a valuable asset on and off the field.
“That someone of his caliber is still with us at the club makes us very happy.”
In the meantime, Castleford has already finalized the permanent acquisition of Parramatta Eels’ Zac Cini, and they are also chasing a contract to recruit Daejarn Asi, a half-back for Samoa who appears to be nearing the end of his NRL career.
The Tigers have also signed players like Tex Hoy, Louis, and Innes Senior to contracts that extend into the following season. According to Rugby League Live, the team has most recently been connected to a transfer for Judah Rimbu, a star from Papua New Guinea.
22-year-old Kumuls international Rimbu, who is primarily a hooker but can also play half-back, won the Petero Civoniceva Medal as the best player in the Queensland Cup this year.
