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http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,15688209-23214,00.html
By Steve Jancetic
June 21, 2005
OFF-contract Bulldogs star Braith Anasta has been denied permission to negotiate with South Sydney as the NRL club's chances of keeping gun forward Willie Mason appear to be worsening.
Anasta's manager, Greg Willett, tried to accelerate a decision on the 23-year-old's future by bringing forward talks with the Rabbitohs ahead of the NRL's June 30 anti-tampering deadline.
The Rabbitohs are rumoured to be putting together an offer of up to $500,000 a season for the New South Wales pivot.
But Bulldogs media manager Chris O'Brien said the club had rejected Willett's request as the club failed to see how the move would enhance the Bulldogs' chances of re-signing Anasta.
Willett, who said he had yet to personally hear a reply from the club, said the Bulldogs had only delayed the inevitable.
"I am going to go and see Souths about it, so if I have to wait until June 30 to see Souths, that's fine," Willett said.
"I know what Canterbury is offering me but I don't know what Souths are going to offer, so I'm going to wait to find out when I can talk to Souths."
Willett said he spoke to the Bulldogs at a dinner on Friday about talking to the Rabbitohs before June 30.
"I said: Why don't you give me permission ... to go and see Souths and see what it really is?" Willett said.
"They said: Yeah, that's not a bad idea, we'll have a talk about it over the weekend and we'll let you know Monday morning.
"I never heard nothing on Monday morning so I thought, that's fine, that means they're not going to go ahead and do it. I don't have a problem with that."
Negotiations between the Bulldogs and Mason have also reached a standstill after talks broke down yesterday.
Mason, rumoured to be in the sights of the Sydney Roosters and the Sharks, is set to test his value on the open market.
Melbourne is also waiting nervously for a response from one of its stars.
The Storm has tabled offers to halfback Matt Orford and Sydney Roosters backrower Michael Crocker.
The club has asked for responses before the anti-tampering deadline expires.
English Super League clubs have expressed interest in Orford, and he is believed to be in the sights of the Gold Coast franchise for its inaugural team in 2007.
"It is coming towards that crunch time," Storm chief executive Brian Waldron said.
"We will know more about Orford probably tomorrow.
"We told Michael we will come back to him in a week and let him take that time to go and think about it."
By Steve Jancetic
June 21, 2005
OFF-contract Bulldogs star Braith Anasta has been denied permission to negotiate with South Sydney as the NRL club's chances of keeping gun forward Willie Mason appear to be worsening.
Anasta's manager, Greg Willett, tried to accelerate a decision on the 23-year-old's future by bringing forward talks with the Rabbitohs ahead of the NRL's June 30 anti-tampering deadline.
The Rabbitohs are rumoured to be putting together an offer of up to $500,000 a season for the New South Wales pivot.
But Bulldogs media manager Chris O'Brien said the club had rejected Willett's request as the club failed to see how the move would enhance the Bulldogs' chances of re-signing Anasta.
Willett, who said he had yet to personally hear a reply from the club, said the Bulldogs had only delayed the inevitable.
"I am going to go and see Souths about it, so if I have to wait until June 30 to see Souths, that's fine," Willett said.
"I know what Canterbury is offering me but I don't know what Souths are going to offer, so I'm going to wait to find out when I can talk to Souths."
Willett said he spoke to the Bulldogs at a dinner on Friday about talking to the Rabbitohs before June 30.
"I said: Why don't you give me permission ... to go and see Souths and see what it really is?" Willett said.
"They said: Yeah, that's not a bad idea, we'll have a talk about it over the weekend and we'll let you know Monday morning.
"I never heard nothing on Monday morning so I thought, that's fine, that means they're not going to go ahead and do it. I don't have a problem with that."
Negotiations between the Bulldogs and Mason have also reached a standstill after talks broke down yesterday.
Mason, rumoured to be in the sights of the Sydney Roosters and the Sharks, is set to test his value on the open market.
Melbourne is also waiting nervously for a response from one of its stars.
The Storm has tabled offers to halfback Matt Orford and Sydney Roosters backrower Michael Crocker.
The club has asked for responses before the anti-tampering deadline expires.
English Super League clubs have expressed interest in Orford, and he is believed to be in the sights of the Gold Coast franchise for its inaugural team in 2007.
"It is coming towards that crunch time," Storm chief executive Brian Waldron said.
"We will know more about Orford probably tomorrow.
"We told Michael we will come back to him in a week and let him take that time to go and think about it."
