Lose Tedesco
Pay 4 mil for Dugan
Sounds fair
It says in this article the Tigers are not pursuing Josh Dugan, but a keeping close eye on Moses Mbye. I'm going to get flamed for this, but I think Mbye could be a good running five-eight in the mold of Blake Austin and Michael Morgan. But he is not a half-back and to be effective he needs to play further away from the ruck. Mbye and Josh Reynolds is a terrible combination, their games are both too similar. I think Mbye with a different pairing to a more play-maker type player could possibly get some better production out of him.
"Wests Tigers’ decision to withdraw contract offers to Aaron Woods and James Tedesco appears to have come too late to give the club a shot at a trio of influential playmakers who could have eased the disappointment of their supporters, headed by St George Illawarra captain Gareth Widdop.
The Tigers late yesterday confirmed Woods and Tedesco had failed to meet a deadline to accept long-term deals with the club, a decision that was widely expected given talk surrounding the future of the duo.
The Tigers now head to the market armed with a war chest in the millions, but a shrinking list of influential players on which to spend the money.
As revealed in
The Australian yesterday, Widdop is expected to sign an extension with St George Illawarra after the club upgraded and extended its contract offer to the skipper.
New Zealand Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson yesterday confirmed he was on the verge of agreeing a deal to stay at the club while Cronulla confirmed Chad Townsend had signed a new three-year deal — removing two other alternatives for the Tigers.
The Tigers still have options to explore and it would be no surprise if they looked to take advantage of Canterbury’s salary cap squeeze by making a play for half Moses Mbye.
It is understood Parramatta are among the clubs keeping a close eye on the situation unfolding with Mbye, who has three years remaining on a lucrative contract but has been identified as a player likely to make way for Canterbury’s recruitment of Kieran Foran.
The Tigers could also benefit from the Roosters’ pursuit of Tedesco, with Blake Ferguson and Daniel Tupou among those potentially squeezed out.
Widdop’s retention at the Dragons could also spell danger for Josh Dugan, although it is understood he is not a player being pursued by the Tigers.
Nor is Gold Coast fullback Jarryd Hayne, who has an option in his favour which he is expected to take up with the Titans in coming weeks.
While Widdop is expected to re-sign with the Dragons, Johnson confirmed he was on target to stay with the Warriors.
“I have obviously been in talks with the club for a while now and we’re getting close,” he said.
“It is hopefully going to be sorted soon. I think walking away — a lot of people have said it is probably what I should do to take my game to a new level at a different club — but it doesn’t make sense to myself.
“I wouldn’t be satisfied with that, I don’t think. Hopefully we can agree on some good terms to stay here and I can achieve what not only myself but this club and organisation wants to achieve.”
Johnson virtually conceded Foran would leave at the end of the season, although Warriors chief executive Jim Doyle insisted the club still held out hope of convincing him to stay."
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spo...s/news-story/1341a2bf80218e16ea9b12b05be3eb10