Off-contract feeding frenzy
Article from: The Daily Telegraph
By James Phelps and Josh Massoud
November 29, 2007 12:00am
THE cashed-up Bulldogs are poised to embark on one of the biggest recruitment drives in the club's history with teenage superstar Israel Folau their No.1 target.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal $13.5 million worth of playing talent is coming off-contract at the end of 2008.
And the Bulldogs yesterday declared game on when they revealed they were in the market for a number of "high quality'' players including Folau and Parramatta star Krisnan Inu.
"We are going to be in there boxing with everyone else,'' said Bulldogs recruitment manager Keith Onslow. "Our plan is to be quite active in the market and we are in the hunt for players. I am working through it as we speak. The players you have mentioned are on our list.''
The shock departures of Brent Sherwin and Willie Mason has left the club about $700,000 under the salary cap for season 2008.
But instead of spending the money this season, Onslow yesterday revealed the club will front-load contracts in 2008 in a move which could give the Bulldogs a $1 million war-chest for the following year.
"We are working through it with a few at the moment,'' Onslow said. "The plan is to top-load their contracts. Over the two years they will still be getting the same money but they have to look at their own cash flow situation and make sure they aren't left short in the second year.''
Onslow confirmed the Bulldogs had begun recruitment for 2009. "There are no rules so we have already started,'' Onslow said.
"The players are on the market 24/7 so we have already begun. We are looking at outside backs, inside backs and front-rowers. There is plenty out there and we are working through it at the moment."
The Daily Telegraph understands the Bulldogs have already approached Folau's management about a switch to Belmore. However the giant teenager said he would not make a decision about his future until next year.
"I'm not worrying too much about that,'' said Folau. "I've got one year for Melbourne and I'm going to play that out and hopefully worry about that at the end of the season. All I'm thinking about is training hard, doing my full pre-season with Storm and hopefully I can get another good year.''
Asked if he thought the contract talks could prove a distraction, Folau said: "No, not at all. I've got a lot of good help around me with the coaching staff at Melbourne and also the players and my family. It's not a hassle at all.''
But the 18-year-old destroyer is just one of the many genuine stars of the game who will have the opportunity of testing the 2009 market.
There's Brett Stewart, Jarryd Hayne, Matt Cooper, Kurt Gidley and Benji Marshall. Joining them are NSW and QLD rakes - Danny Buderus and Cameron Smith as well as a wealth of valuable clubmen such as Steve Price, Ruben Wiki, Aaron Payne and Tonie Carroll.
The Gold Coast Titans alone have 17 of their top 25 players off-contract beyond next year.
Leading player managers last night predicted rugby league's biggest game of chess would truly move into gear after Christmas.
High-profile agent George Mimis said clubs were still finalising their cap for 2008 and moving players into the revamped under-20 competition. Currently locked in negotiations with Manly on behalf of Stewart, Mimis sought-after stars would present a challenge to poachers.
"It's quite rare to shop around a marquee player in the first instance, unless they are unhappy where they are,'' Mimis said. "The club's generally have a good idea of their market value.''
But should the likes of Folau and Inu delay their decisions, Mimis predicted ramifications for the entire market. Folau said he does not want to enter negotiations until after the grand final, and therefore looms as the $400,000 missing piece to this year's transfer puzzle.
"We saw the situation last year where guys like Civoniceva, Berrigan, Hodges, Ryles and Hornby weren't put to bed until late May,'' he said. "The market was stalled until they decided what to do. There are some players this year - like Folau - with the same potential.''
The electrifying Matt Bowen was on the list until last week - when the Cowboys roped him in until after 2012. North Queensland CEO Peter Parr said the club was keen to secure Bowen more than 12 months out, safe in the knowledge his form was slump-proof.
"With some of the other guys, we want to see that they are playing reasonable football before we commit ourselves,'' Parr said.
PLAYERS coming off contract next year:
* Option in player's favour: ** Option in Club's favour
BULLDOGS
Luke Patten*, Andrew Ryan, Kane Cleal, Corey Hughes, Cameron Phelps, Willie Tonga
BRONCOS
Tonie Carroll, Corey Parker, Dave Taylor
RAIDERS
Todd Carney, Neville Costigan*, Mick Weyman, Adrian Purtell, Terry Campese
COWBOYS
Ben Farrar**, Carl Webb, Mark Henry, Jacob Lillyman, Aaron Payne, Steve Southern, Sione Faumauina
EELS
Brett Finch, Jarryd Hayne*, Krisnan Inu, Ben Smith
PANTHERS
Luke Lewis, Luke Rooney, Joe Williams, Luke Priddis, Trent Waterhous
SHARKS
Luke Covell, Luke Douglas, Isaac De Gois
TITANS
Matt Petersen, Brad Meyers, Chris Walker
RABBITOHS
John Sutton*, Nathan Merrit, Jeremy Smith, Nigel Vagana*
DRAGONS
Matt Cooper, Josh Morris, Jamie Soward, Rangi Chase, Jason Nightingale
ROOSTERS
Amos Roberts, Craig Fitzgibbon, Danny Nutley, Sam Perrett, Shane Shackleton, Dave Shillington, Anthony Tupou
SEA EAGLES
Brett Stewart, Steve Bell, Steve Menzies*
STORM
Israel Folau, Cameron Smith, Matt Geyer, Jeremy Smith, Dallas Johnson
KNIGHTS
Danny Buderus*, Adam MacDougall
WARRIORS
Steve Price, Ruben Wiki, Michael Crockett, Wrangi Tupou
TIGERS
Benji Marshall, Brett Hodgson, Keigh Galloway*, Ryan O'Hara, Taniela Tuiaki
