The Roosters have extended Billy Smith on a new three-year deal which will see the strike centre remain at the Tricolours until at least the end of 2027.

Having suffered several injuries since making his debut in 2019, the 24-year-old Bondi boy led a breakout season in 2023, stringing together 15 games and crossing for four tries.

“This extension is testament to the hard work Billy puts in every day,” coach Trent Robinson said.

“He is eastern suburbs through and through, and no one can ever question his dedication to the team, or his resilience, so it’s great to have Billy locked in for another three years.”

Meanwhile, the Dragons have announced the signing of Sea Eagles winger Christian Tuipulotu on a two-year deal, effective immediately.

The 22-year-old was contracted with Manly until the end of 2025 but was granted a release after four years at the club, where he scored 14 tries in 33 NRL games and earned a Test debut for Tonga in 2022.

After the Dragons were dealt a huge blow with 2024 recruit Corey Allan suffering a ruptured ACL at training in early January, coach Shane Flanagan said Tuipulotu will add more depth to the backline.

“Christian is a big body who can add some strike out of the backfield and will be a valuable addition to the club,” Flanagan said.

“We have some good outside backs coming through at the Dragons but having lost Corey Allan for the season it was important for us to add some NRL experience to the backline for this year.”

Parramatta Eels forward Thomas Burgess will return home at the end of the season after signing a three-year Super League deal with Huddersfield.

Burgess is in line to become the Rabbitohs second-most-capped player this season, having played 225 NRL games since making his NRL debut against the Parramatta Eels in 2013.

The 31-year-old won a premiership with South Sydney in 2014 and has also played 33 Tests for England and four Tests for Great Britain, including three World Cups.

“I’m happy to know that my future is sorted but my immediate focus is on winning another premiership with South Sydney,” Burgess said.

“We have a huge eight months ahead of us as we work towards our combined goal of winning our Club’s 22nd premiership.

“I’m excited about what’s ahead here at Souths, and in England after that having the opportunity to take my young family back to the home land, but I won’t be distracted from playing my role in my team throughout 2024.“

”The Broncos have re-signed grand final hat-trick hero Ezra Mam on a five-year deal through to the end of the 2029 season.

The 21-year-old made his NRL debut in Round 11, 2022 against the Knights and now has 38 appearances under his belt.

“Ezra is a born-and-bred Bronco and it’s great that he is staying where he belongs,” said Broncos coach Kevin Walters.

“He is an exciting player but he also likes to get in there and do the tough stuff and to do what needs to be done for his team.

“We have only scratched the surface on what Ez can do – we’ll keep on working with him to improve his game and I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together over the years ahead.”

The Dragons have announced the signing of former Kiwi international Raymond Faitala-Mariner, who has been granted an immediate release from his contract with the Bulldogs.

Canterbury-Bankstown agreed to grant Faitala-Mariner a release so that he could take up the opportunity with the Dragons, who have signed him for the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

The 30-year-old joins the Red V effective immediately, bringing 114 games of first-grade experience across 10 seasons as well as four Test appearances for Toa Samoa and New Zealand.

It comes after the Dragons earlier added to their depth in the halves with the signing of playmaker Jesse Marschke for the 2024 season.

Elsewhere, Wests Tigers granted winger David Nofoaluma a release from the final two years of his contract.

The Tigers released a statement confirming the 30-year-old’s contract had been terminated by mutual agreement.

Nofoaluma made his NRL debut for Wests Tigers in 2013 and played 192 games for the club, scoring 100 tries.