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NRL forward in talks with Super League clubs over 2027 move after recent release

An off-contract NRL forward is keen on a move to Super League, having been released from current side Canterbury Bulldogs.

Serious About Rugby League understands that 23-year-old back-rower Zyon Maiu’u is interested in a switch to the UK, having struggled to find a new deal in Australia since learning the ‘Dogs’ no longer required his services.

The Auckland-born talent has one NRL appearance to his name, with that coming for the New Zealand Warriors in 2024. He featured off the bench in a 24-27 defeat to the Gold Coast Titans.

Moving to Canterbury ahead of the 2025 season, Maiu’u featured in pre-season for the club’s first team in both 2025 and 2026, but has failed to make a competitive NRL appearance under Cameron Ciraldo.

Instead, he has been a regular in the club’s reserve grade system, playing 36 games for the Bulldogs’ New South Wales Cup side. There, he lined up alongside a number of current Super League players including Tom Amone, Daniel Suluka-Fifita and Blake Taaffe.

Maiu’u has spoken with multiple clubs in Super League over a switch, but with a number of sides already at full quota capacity, or in some cases over the limit, only a select number of clubs would be able to fit him in.

As it stands, only Bradford Bulls, Huddersfield Giants, Hull KR, Toulouse Olympique, Wakefield Trinity and Wigan Warriors have an overseas spot open. That doesn’t mean any other clubs can’t agree a deal with him, but for that to happen they would need to move on one of their current contingent – as St Helens did with Nene MacDonald earlier this week.

Despite the lack of an offer, the 23-year-old remains interested in a move to the northern hemisphere.

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