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http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/cr...174389016.html
After they missed out on the signature of St George Illawarra second rower Ben Creagh, Manly has staged a desperate bid to convince captain Ben Kennedy to play on for for one more NRL season.
Creagh today re-signed with the Dragons for a further three seasons, despite the fact the Sea Eagles were ready to weigh in with a huge offer at the expiry of the June 30 anti-tampering laws.
With a dearth of backrowers on the open market, Manly is hoping Kennedy will reconsider his decision to retire at season's end.
"We have had some conversations with him," acting Manly chief executive Paul Cummings said tonight.
"Things will become more clear over the weekend ... we'll keep things in mind and get some more strategy done tomorrow and Monday."
Kennedy has been in career-best form this season and the money Manly had set aside to lure Creagh could be used to convince the 32-year-old to delay his premiership swansong.
In other contract news, Parramatta is the latest club to join the race for the signature of Bulldogs prop Nate Myles, making him the most in-demand player on the market.
The Eels join Melbourne, Gold Coast, Canberra, Souths, Brisbane, Sydney Roosters and North Queensland in the queue for the Queensland forward, with the Bulldogs unable to match the rival offers.
The Storm today confirmed interest in Myles, CEO Brian Waldron saying: "Our intentions are to have a chat to him at the right time."
Myles' Bulldogs teammate Daniel Conn is also in demand and is being pursued by Canberra, Wests Tigers, North Queensland, Gold Coast.
New Zealand forward Roy Asotasi will definitely be leaving the Bulldogs, South Sydney his most likely destination.
"(The Bulldogs) won't be able to make him an offer ... Roy will give me his instructions after the weekend," Asotasi's manager Mark Rowan said after a meeting with the Belmore club today.
Parramatta is hopeful centre Brett Delaney will stay - particularly after Melbourne's Jake Webster signed with the Gold Coast today - although with Timana Tahu and Ben Smith also in the three-quarter line, they are looking to shift him to lock if he re-signs.
Several clubs have expressed interest in Delaney, including Cronulla, Newcastle and North Queensland, with the Gold Coast desperate for him to fill its void in the centres.
The Eels are also hoping to lure Scott Hill from Melbourne following the loss of John Morris to Wests Tigers, while the Roosters, Titans, Bulldogs, Broncos, Panthers, Knights and Titans are all after in-form Cronulla frontrower James Stosic.
Brisbane's Tame Tupou has also generated plenty of interest, although he is tipped to remain at the Broncos, while promising teammate Fraser Anderson is being courted by the Sharks, Roosters, Raiders, Cowboys, Titans and Storm.
Storm youngster Smith Samau, described as a cross between Greg Inglis and Benji Marshall, has been identified as a major talent and is being chased by the Raiders, Roosters, Sharks and Cowboys.
The Bulldogs are likely to drop out of the race for former Kangaroo Richard Villasanti, with Cronulla needing to head off a challenge from the Roosters to re-sign him.
Incoming Knights coach Brian Smith initially showed some interest in South Sydney's Mark Minichiello, although the backrower is more likely to join the Titans.
Penrith pair Danny Galea and Michael Gordon are still a chance to re-sign with the club, although the Titans are interested in Gordon and the Sharks and Tigers are interested in Galea.
And former Maroons three-quarter Chris Walker is also attracting attention from the Rabbitohs, Titans, Knights and Tigers.
After they missed out on the signature of St George Illawarra second rower Ben Creagh, Manly has staged a desperate bid to convince captain Ben Kennedy to play on for for one more NRL season.
Creagh today re-signed with the Dragons for a further three seasons, despite the fact the Sea Eagles were ready to weigh in with a huge offer at the expiry of the June 30 anti-tampering laws.
With a dearth of backrowers on the open market, Manly is hoping Kennedy will reconsider his decision to retire at season's end.
"We have had some conversations with him," acting Manly chief executive Paul Cummings said tonight.
"Things will become more clear over the weekend ... we'll keep things in mind and get some more strategy done tomorrow and Monday."
Kennedy has been in career-best form this season and the money Manly had set aside to lure Creagh could be used to convince the 32-year-old to delay his premiership swansong.
In other contract news, Parramatta is the latest club to join the race for the signature of Bulldogs prop Nate Myles, making him the most in-demand player on the market.
The Eels join Melbourne, Gold Coast, Canberra, Souths, Brisbane, Sydney Roosters and North Queensland in the queue for the Queensland forward, with the Bulldogs unable to match the rival offers.
The Storm today confirmed interest in Myles, CEO Brian Waldron saying: "Our intentions are to have a chat to him at the right time."
Myles' Bulldogs teammate Daniel Conn is also in demand and is being pursued by Canberra, Wests Tigers, North Queensland, Gold Coast.
New Zealand forward Roy Asotasi will definitely be leaving the Bulldogs, South Sydney his most likely destination.
"(The Bulldogs) won't be able to make him an offer ... Roy will give me his instructions after the weekend," Asotasi's manager Mark Rowan said after a meeting with the Belmore club today.
Parramatta is hopeful centre Brett Delaney will stay - particularly after Melbourne's Jake Webster signed with the Gold Coast today - although with Timana Tahu and Ben Smith also in the three-quarter line, they are looking to shift him to lock if he re-signs.
Several clubs have expressed interest in Delaney, including Cronulla, Newcastle and North Queensland, with the Gold Coast desperate for him to fill its void in the centres.
The Eels are also hoping to lure Scott Hill from Melbourne following the loss of John Morris to Wests Tigers, while the Roosters, Titans, Bulldogs, Broncos, Panthers, Knights and Titans are all after in-form Cronulla frontrower James Stosic.
Brisbane's Tame Tupou has also generated plenty of interest, although he is tipped to remain at the Broncos, while promising teammate Fraser Anderson is being courted by the Sharks, Roosters, Raiders, Cowboys, Titans and Storm.
Storm youngster Smith Samau, described as a cross between Greg Inglis and Benji Marshall, has been identified as a major talent and is being chased by the Raiders, Roosters, Sharks and Cowboys.
The Bulldogs are likely to drop out of the race for former Kangaroo Richard Villasanti, with Cronulla needing to head off a challenge from the Roosters to re-sign him.
Incoming Knights coach Brian Smith initially showed some interest in South Sydney's Mark Minichiello, although the backrower is more likely to join the Titans.
Penrith pair Danny Galea and Michael Gordon are still a chance to re-sign with the club, although the Titans are interested in Gordon and the Sharks and Tigers are interested in Galea.
And former Maroons three-quarter Chris Walker is also attracting attention from the Rabbitohs, Titans, Knights and Tigers.
