The Mole: 'Unwanted' halfback Jock Madden could solve South Sydney's playmaking woes

Unwanted halfback Jock Madden could be the answer to South Sydney's halfback woes.

Madden played some decent football when called into the Broncos team last season, but Ben Hunt's arrival has made him surplus to requirements.

South Sydney have had halfback problems since Adam Reynolds shifted to the Broncos in 2022 in a move that still angers many of the club's faithful.

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Souths have tried several players in the No.7 jumper with limited success and are banking on English import Lewis Dodd to prove their saviour next year.

But the former St Helens half is untested at NRL level and may take time to adjust to football the way it is played down under.

Madden's management intends to approach Souths coach Wayne Bennett this week in the hope of securing the 24-year-old from Scone a deal.

The playmaker would come cheap, with the Broncos paying a fair slice of his contract, and Bennett is a shrewd operator who loves a bargain … watch this space.

EXPANSION BID EYEING OFF TOP COACH

The Orcas, the Christchurch based franchise hoping to join the NRL, have targeted a leading coach to be their main man should they get the nod from the game's leaders to become the second Kiwi team in the league.

Bid manager Graham Lowe is one of the smartest men in the game and has hand picked the current coach he believes will make the Orcas a success.

"But I can't say who it is yet," Lowe told Wide World of Sports.

"It's not appropriate as we haven't been given the nod as yet and would just be disruptive. But if we get the OK from the NRL, we will approach him at the right time and put a very enticing package to him."

'CARDINAL SIN' THAT SAW ROBSON NEWS LEAKED

Reece Robson's signing with the Roosters was the biggest story in league last week - but in reality his mind was made up over a month ago.

This column broke the story in early November that Robson was headed to the Roosters and it was met with stony silence by all concerned at the time.

How did we know so confidently that Robson had decided to leave the Cowboys?

He made the cardinal sin of telling teammates in the Kangaroos camp that he was changing colours - and it was always going to get out from that moment.

FRESH FACES AT RAIDERS

Canberra have picked up a good prospect in Knights SG Ball captain Myles Martin for next season.

The 20-year-old was a standout for NSW under 19s in 2023 and was in hot demand before signing a three-year deal with the Raiders recently.

And while he will be in unknown territory when he makes the move, he will have plenty of familiar faces.

Young Raiders Chevy Stewart, Ethan Strange, Ethan Sanders, Savelio Tamale and Jake Clydsdale were all members of the same NSW under 19 team and will ensure Martin settles in well and is right at home in his new surroundings.