Flanno’s $1.5m Shark poaching; Dogs enter race for Knights gun — Free Agency LIVE

The Dragons have reportedly secured a massive coup, with Sharks star Daniel Atkinson signing a multi-year deal with join Shane Flanagan’s Red V revolution.

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That is according to Code Sports, who are reporting the 23-year-old has put pen to paper on a three-year deal from 2026 worth around $500,000 per-season.

The $1.5 million contract reportedly blew the Sharks out of the water in their bid to retain the gun playmaker, who has informed Cronulla bosses of his decisions to depart the club.

Atkinson’s playing time the Sharks was set to be limited in the future, with Nicho Hynes, Braydon Trindall, Will Kennedy, Kade Dykes and Liam Ison in the halves and fullback ranks.

While the Sharks have already re-signed Briton Nikora, Trindall and Oregon Kaufusi, Atkinson could be the first to make way in their salary cap squeeze.

The Dragons reportedly also beat out the Dolphins to secure Atkinson’s signature, offering him a position as the club’s starting five-eighth.

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Cronulla powerbrokers reportedly have no intention of allowing the utility to terminate his contract early, meaning he will remain at the Sharks in 2025.

The Sharks will also have a 10-day window to attempt to convince Atkinson to backflip on his decision under current NRL contracting rules.

Atkinson now joins Clint Gutherson, Valentine Holmes, Damien Cook and Lachlan Ilias as off-season signings set to join the club in 2025 and beyond.

THOMPSON’S SIT-DOWN WITH BULLDOGS OFFICIALS

The race to recruit Knights gun Leo Thompson is reportedly heating up, with the Bulldogs sitting down with the Kiwi international on Wednesday.

That is according to Code Sports, who are reporting the meeting came after he also met with Raiders officials in recent weeks, while the Eels and Dolphins are also interested in his services.

The Knights have made it clear they are desperate to retain the rising star, however the 24-year-old will be forced to make a big decisions regarding his future.

Thomspon previously played for Canberra’s lower grade sides, and they’ve reportedly tabled a lucrative deal to entice him to the nation’s capital.

His current contract reportedly sees him earn around $350,000 per-season, and that figure is set to be blown out of the water on his next deal.

Thompson is currently on an extended break after his New Zealand commitments and will return to Newcastle’s pre-season campaign in the coming weeks.

Thompson’s brother Tyrone has also signed with the club after making a switch from rugby union.