Knights Emerge as Frontrunners for Canberra Prop Trey Mooney

As of August 6th, 2025, the Newcastle Knights have firmly positioned themselves as the frontrunners in the race to sign Canberra Raiders prop Trey Mooney. The 23-year-old forward recently visited the Knights' facilities in the Hunter region, indicating the club's strong interest in acquiring his services.

With established middle forwards like Joseph Tapine, Corey Horsburgh, and Morgan Smithies expected to lock down the starting roles for the Raiders next season, Mooney's path to consistent playing time in the nation's capital appears increasingly uncertain. Adding to the complication, veteran prop Josh Papalii, who had been weighing a move to the English Super League, is now expected to re-sign with the Raiders and extend his stay in Canberra through 2026.

The Knights, however, have created an opportunity for Mooney to step into a starting role, thanks to their recent salary cap reset. The club has confirmed the departures of several key players, including Daniel Saifiti, Kai Pearce-Paul, and Leo Thompson, freeing up both roster spots and financial flexibility. Additionally, Jackson Hastings and Adam Elliott are also tipped to leave the Knights ahead of the 2026 season.

This exodus has opened the door for a forward like Mooney to walk straight into a starting role with the Knights, a key factor that has made their pitch particularly compelling to the promising young player. Mooney is understood to have met with head coach Adam O'Brien, assistant Blake Green, and club legend Danny Buderus during his visit, further solidifying the club's interest.

While the Raiders are reportedly happy to retain Mooney should he decide to stay, they will not stand in his way if he opts to move on. The St George Illawarra Dragons and the Parramatta Eels, Mooney's junior club, have also expressed interest in the talented forward, but the Knights appear to hold the upper hand at this stage.