Josh Addo-Carr considering Tigers backflip to stay with NRL champs for one final season

Josh Addo-Carr could be on the verge of backflipping on his planned Sydney switch, with reports suggesting the Storm have convinced the speedster to see out his contract.

Wantaway NRL speedster Josh Addo-Carr seemed all set to trade southern purple for Tigers orange and black in the 2021 offseason, after revealing he wants to return to Sydney to reunite with his family.

The Storm had already given Addo-Carr the tick of approval to waive away the final year of his two-year deal, after the Blacktown star revealed he was homesick. “The Fox” then agreed a deal with the Tigers, which would also see him switch to playing fullback at Leichardt Oval next year.

That’s all up in the air, however, after reports Melbourne have convinced Addo-Carr to see out his bumper two-year Storm contract before finally making the switch back north in 2022.

The news, first reported by Channel Nine’s Danny Weidler on Twitter, suggests Addo-Carr had told his manager, Mario Tartak, that he was “open to staying with the Storm for another season” to see out the second half of his current deal.

Addo-Carr has already has a heads of agreement with the Tigers, meaning his backflip would leave them in the lurch. The Bulldogs have also been chasing the speedster’s signature, though there’s been no formal offers tabled to lure him to Canterbury-Bankstown just yet.

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The wantaway Storm star has also kept relatively quiet about the whole affair. In the build-up to the NRL grand final — which Melbourne went on to win 26-20 — he said he didn’t want to detract from the team’s preparation.

Now that he’s in Origin camp, ready to star for the Blues, it’s more of the same too.

“No update, my manager has told me just focus on what’s happening today, and that’s being in this Origin side. Like I said, I haven’t really spoken to my manager since the start of the finals,” Addo-Car told gathered NRL media at the Blues camp on Monday morning.

Everyone knows my wishes, but there’s not much more I can say. I’ve got a good support base behind me in the Storm, in my manager, my family, so I’m just tuning out the outside noise.

Read: The rise of Papenhuyzen: How far can Melbourne’s fullback go?

“My biggest focus moving forward is Origin, and winning with the Blues. It’s a big three weeks ahead of me, I just want to play some good footy. If I can put my best foot forward, great.”

Is Addo-Carr delaying for finals-bound club?

One reason Addo-Carr may be considering a backflip for 2021 could be the teams currently in the hunt for his signature. After a glittering run with Melbourne (1st, 4th, 2nd, 1st, 2nd, going back in order), a switch to the Tigers or the Bulldogs might not be so appetising for the Fox.

If he stalls the switch a year, his name goes right into the impending 2021-22 swap-mania.

In terms of fullbacks, James Tedesco (Roosters), Matt Dufty (Dragons), Matt Moylan (Sharks), and Corey Allan (Rabbitohs) all come to the end of their deals. Wingers like Dane Gagai, Reuben Garrick, Edrick Lee, Josh Mansour, David Nofoaluma, Maika Sivo, Daniel Tupou, and more also become free agents.

The Fox has carved out his name as one of the best wingers in the NRL in the past five years, scoring 73 tries in 96 games for the Storm, and he’s sure to command a huge fee for any interested Sydney club.

Potential suitors like the Rabbitohs, Dragons, and Sea Eagles are already sniffing around too. Perhaps with that added interest, Addo-Carr has decided he can wait out the year for a finals-bound club.

Read: Harry Grant confirms he won’t be at Tigers for 2021 season

If Addo-Carr does backflip, the Tigers and Bulldogs may eye off James Roberts or Josh Mansour.

Both top-class wingers have been told they are surplus to plans at their current clubs, the Rabbitohs and Panthers respectively, and will be chasing contracts with new teams heading into the 2021 season.

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