BOOM Newcastle five-eighth Chris Bailey has been linked with a move to Wigan as part of a deal that would result in the English Super League club releasing Trent Barrett.
While there is no doubt the former St George Illawarra international will be playing back in the NRL next season, Wigan are yet to grant him a formal release. Warriors chairman Ian Lenagan said in a recent statement that while Barrett would be freed of the final year of his contract on compassionate grounds, the club wanted to be compensated for doing so.
Barrett's agent, Wayne Beavis, has written to Wigan seeking more details about what the club wants, but it is understood Lenagan wants to sign a replacement five-eighth before finalising the release. With Barrett tipped to join Cronulla - the Sharks yesterday agreed to release former Test halfback Brett Kimmorley to the Bulldogs on a two-year deal, starting next season - there has been speculation of a swap with Brett Seymour.
Canberra are also vying for Barrett's services, and Wigan were also known to be keen on the Raiders' Michael Dobson before he left two weeks ago to join Hull KR. The Knights aren't interested in Barrett but Bailey is off contract and has an association with Wigan through elder brother Phil, the former Kangaroos centre, who is now in his second season with the club.
Bailey is also managed by Beavis, who confirmed that Wigan had expressed interest in the 25-year-old. But Beavis said Bailey did not qualify for one of Wigan's three import spots as he has not played 36 NRL matches in the past two years. Assuming he plays, tomorrow's match against Wests Tigers will be Bailey's 18th appearance for the Knights since making his debut at Campbelltown last May.
"They said they might want to take Chris but he doesn't qualify. I told them that," Beavis said.
Bailey, who has also attracted interest from Manly and another NRL club, yesterday said he was leaving the contract negotiations in the hands of Beavis but it is thought that he would be keen to play with his brother if the opportunity arose, and he regularly wears Wigan shorts to training. After a trip to Europe last off-season with teammate Kurt Gidley fell through when the Knights playmaker was chosen for the October Test in Wellington, Bailey went backpacking on his own and spent time with Phil in England.
Wigan, who this week confirmed the signing of Parramatta hooker Mark Riddell, have also made an approach for North Queensland and Kangaroos prop Carl Webb, while the club is trying trying to finalise a deal with Bulldogs centre Cameron Phelps.
Webb's agent, Sam Ayoub, confirmed the interest from Wigan but, after a meeting with Cowboys chief executive Peter Parr on Thursday night, indicated the Maroons forward was likely to remain in Townsville.
After missing out on Kiwis Test prop Adam Blair, who yesterday re-signed with the Storm for a further three seasons, the Bulldogs are also likely to pursue Webb harder, while Gold Coast pair Michael Hodgson and Jamie Stosic are other options.
The Bulldogs yesterday announced the signing of Kimmorley in a move that helps free up space for Cronulla to fit Barrett under their salary cap. But after signing Roosters and Australia second-rower Anthony Tupou, the Sharks are unlikely to be able to afford St George Illawarra prop Jason Ryles.
Ryles has another year to run on his contact with the Dragons, and it is unclear whether the club would be prepared to release him, despite signing Canberra front-rower Michael Weyman and being close to a deal with Melbourne and New Zealand Test forward Jeremy Smith.
The Dragons, who yesterday re-signed halfback Jamie Soward for a further two years, have also been linked to Brisbane hooker Michael Ennis but they may lose utility Rangi Chase, who has attracted interest from a number of clubs in the NRL and Super League, including Cronulla.
In Origin news, Queensland centre Brent Tate and interchange forward Ben Hannant brushed off suggestions they were in doubt for Wednesday night's series opener at ANZ Stadium.
Tate is undergoing treatment for a nagging knee problem but trained with the Maroons yesterday, while Hannant said he would have made the trip to Cronulla with the Broncos today if he wasn't in camp on the Gold Coast, despite having stitches for a nasty facial wound last weekend.
