the SMH:
Knights poised to snare playmaker immediately
Jake Arthur is tipped to make an immediate switch to Newcastle just before the June 30 transfer window shuts.
The Knights have struggled to settle on a halves combination and Arthur is poised to provide coach Adam O’Brien with another option. Arthur is contracted to Manly until the end of the season and no release agreement has been struck, but the Sea Eagles are unlikely to stand in his way.
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Brad Arthur and son Jake, who is set to move to Newcastle.CREDIT: NRL PHOTOS
The move will reunite Arthur with former Parramatta halves partner Dylan Brown next season, the latter agreeing to a mammoth 10-year, $13 million deal. Arthur will also join his brother, Matt, who has made three appearances for the Knights.
O’Brien is a close friend of Jake’s father and former Eels coach Brad Arthur. The Newcastle coach is the godfather to Charlotte, Jake’s sister.
Arthur came to the Sea Eagles to provide halves cover, particularly when Daly Cherry-Evans is away on State of Origin duty. But now that Cherry-Evans has been dropped as Queensland captain, Arthur is less likely to be required.
Injuries and a lack of opportunity have restricted Arthur to just seven NRL appearances for Manly during the past two seasons.
There are likely to be other transfer moves before June 30. Tigers hooker Tallyn Da Silva has been granted permission to explore his options and has been courted by Manly, Parramatta, Newcastle and North Queensland.