Rising star Bailey Hayward has signed a contract extension at the Bulldogs through to the end of the 2026 season.
The 23-year-old has played 23 NRL games since debuting against the Storm in Round 6 of the 2024 season.
“Bailey is a shining example of the kind of players that we are looking to bring through our Academy system,” said Bulldogs general manager of football Phil Gould.
“He is a well-spoken young man that is a local of the Canterbury-Bankstown district.”
New Zealand international Brandon Smith will join the South Sydney Rabbitohs on a two-year deal from next season.
The versatile forward has signed with the club for the 2026 and 2027 seasons, joining from arch-rivals the Roosters.
Smith is expected to slot in at lock and hooker for the Rabbitohs and recruitment manager Mark Ellison expects him to make an instant impact next year.
“Brandon has a wonderful record of success in the NRL and at international level, having a 70% success rate across his career,” Ellison said.
“He improves the players around him and gives 100% every time he steps on the field and is a great character off the field.
“Wayne [Bennett] has a high opinion of Brandon and they will have the opportunity to work together here at South Sydney.
“We’re delighted to have signed an international-calibre player with a history of premiership success such as Brandon and we wish him the best of luck for the remainder of his time at his current club.”
Smith has not played since he suffered a serious knee injury last September and is not expected to return to the field until late in the 2025 season.
Meanwhile, the Knights have re-signed hooker Phoenix Crossland for a further two years through to the end of 2028.
Crossland made his NRL debut for the Knights as an 18-year-old in 2019 and has gone on to play 87 games for the club, including 51 of the past 53 matches.
“Pound-for-pound, Phoenix is one of the toughest players in the NRL,” said Knights head of recruitment Peter O’Sullivan.
“With his work ethic, evolving hooker play and ongoing leadership development, Phoenix is fast becoming a poster boy for our pathways development and a genuine role model for aspiring juniors.”
Veteran utility Kurt Mann has extended his time at the Bulldogs until at least the end of the 2026 season after inking a new one-year deal.
Arriving at the club in 2024, the 32-year-old has found a home at the Bulldogs after stints at the Storm, Dragons and Knights throughout his career.
A veteran of 11 seasons in the NRL, Mann is the most experienced member of the Bulldogs’ squad and is on track to play his 200th NRL match during the 2025 season.
“Kurt has continually reinvented himself and his game with each coming year,” said Bulldogs general manager of football Phil Gould.
“On the football field he provides leadership, experience, creativity as well as versatility.
“He is the utmost professional and is a very popular and highly valued member of the squad.”
The Bulldogs have also granted Ryan Sutton an immediate release from his contract.
Sutton joined the Bulldogs from Canberra in 2023, playing 13 games in his first season at Belmore.
Fijian flyer Mikaele Ravalawa will join the Rabbitohs for the remainder of the 2025 season as part of an agreement made with the Dragons.
The short-term deal will see the winger move to South Sydney before returning to St George Illawarra next year.
With injuries to Tyrone Munro and Latrell Mitchell, Rabbitohs recruitment manager Mark Ellison said Ravalawa will add much-needed depth to the squad.
“Mikaele is a powerful, big body with a lot of NRL experience and noted try scoring ability, and he will add depth to our outside back stocks,” Ellison said.
“He has represented his country and provides us with a point of difference on our flanks with his aggressive running style.
“We look forward to welcoming Mikaele to the Rabbitohs.”
The Knights have confirmed the signing of Kiwis five-eighth Dylan Brown on a 10-year contract.
