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Ryles, Kimmorley in swap deal
By Brent Read and Margie McDonald
April 23, 2008
ST George Illawarra prop Jason Ryles and Cronulla half-back Brett Kimmorley have emerged as the pivotal figures in a dramatic mid-season switch which would result in former Queensland forward Ben Ross finishing his career in England.
Talks are believed to be under way between the Sharks and Dragons over a potential swap involving former Australia team-mates Ryles and Kimmorley following this weekend.
However, the deal is believed to be contingent on Kimmorley's team-mate Ross leaving for England at the end of the year.
If the deal doesn't go through mid-year the parties will try to complete it by the end of the year.
Ross, whose position at the Sharks has been under scrutiny for the past year, is the subject of interest from Super League side Hull. Importantly, all three players are managed by SFX Sports, something which could help facilitate the deal.
SFX agent George Mimis is scheduled to meet Dragons chief executive Peter Doust to discuss the swap as well as the future of former Test centre Matt Cooper, who is off contract and in demand from England.
Officials from Cronulla and St George Illawarra were unavailable for comment.
Kimmorley has another year to run on his contract with Cronulla but shapes as an ideal fit for the Dragons, who lack experience in the halves.
Incoming St George Illawarra coach Wayne Bennett has been a long-time admirer of the former NSW and Australia No7 and tried to sign him eight years ago when Kimmorley was leaving Melbourne.
At the time Kimmorley flew to Brisbane for talks with Bennett and the Broncos but eventually signed with the Northern Eagles.
Bennett also coached Kimmorley on the 2004 Tri-Nations tour.
Any deal involving St George Illawarra would allow Kimmorley to maintain his house in Sydney's southern suburbs, a significant attraction.
While Kimmorley's prospective move comes as little shock given his tumultuous time under Sharks coach Ricky Stuart, the potential switch of Ryles is a surprise.
The former Test prop has played all his football with the Dragons but has been the subject of strident criticism from the club's fans in recent years.
Despite producing some of the best form of his career in 2008, he is still an enfant terrible in the eyes of Dragons supporters. There is a view in some quarters that a change of scene would be ideal for the 29-year-old.
The wild-card is Ross, whose tenure at Cronulla has been rocky.
His future at the club became all the more tenuous when Cronulla's multi-million dollar signing of Anthony Tupou was revealed.
Tupou's arrival has put the squeeze on the club's salary cap and the repercussions could flow as early as this week, with hooker Isaac de Gois expected to announce he will join Newcastle next season.
De Gois, 23, has been earmarked as the Knights' replacement for hooker Danny Buderus, who will move to English club Leeds in 2009.
De Gois, who has captained the Portuguese national side, has been outstanding for the Sharks but the club was unable to compete with the money on offer at the Knights.
More significantly, Ross has become superfluous given the Sharks' surfeit of quality forwards.
Tupou, Paul Gallen, Reece Williams, Greg Bird, and possibly Ryles, will consume a large amount of the salary cap in 2009 and something has to give.
Hull chief executive Kath Hetherington has been in the country casting her eye over prospective signings for 2009 and it is understood Ross and Ryles are her priorities.
Tupou's arrival will also shake up the Sharks' starting side, with Bird set for a permanent move to five-eighth.
"I see him as a great player and he gives us a different game with his style of attack," Stuart said of Tupou.
"He'd be an attraction for any football team."
Tupou's decision will also have ramifications for South Sydney recruitment for next season.
The club may now has room for prop David Shillington, whose place would have been in jeopardy had Tupou stayed.
Source: Foxsports.com.au
By Brent Read and Margie McDonald
April 23, 2008
ST George Illawarra prop Jason Ryles and Cronulla half-back Brett Kimmorley have emerged as the pivotal figures in a dramatic mid-season switch which would result in former Queensland forward Ben Ross finishing his career in England.
Talks are believed to be under way between the Sharks and Dragons over a potential swap involving former Australia team-mates Ryles and Kimmorley following this weekend.
However, the deal is believed to be contingent on Kimmorley's team-mate Ross leaving for England at the end of the year.
If the deal doesn't go through mid-year the parties will try to complete it by the end of the year.
Ross, whose position at the Sharks has been under scrutiny for the past year, is the subject of interest from Super League side Hull. Importantly, all three players are managed by SFX Sports, something which could help facilitate the deal.
SFX agent George Mimis is scheduled to meet Dragons chief executive Peter Doust to discuss the swap as well as the future of former Test centre Matt Cooper, who is off contract and in demand from England.
Officials from Cronulla and St George Illawarra were unavailable for comment.
Kimmorley has another year to run on his contract with Cronulla but shapes as an ideal fit for the Dragons, who lack experience in the halves.
Incoming St George Illawarra coach Wayne Bennett has been a long-time admirer of the former NSW and Australia No7 and tried to sign him eight years ago when Kimmorley was leaving Melbourne.
At the time Kimmorley flew to Brisbane for talks with Bennett and the Broncos but eventually signed with the Northern Eagles.
Bennett also coached Kimmorley on the 2004 Tri-Nations tour.
Any deal involving St George Illawarra would allow Kimmorley to maintain his house in Sydney's southern suburbs, a significant attraction.
While Kimmorley's prospective move comes as little shock given his tumultuous time under Sharks coach Ricky Stuart, the potential switch of Ryles is a surprise.
The former Test prop has played all his football with the Dragons but has been the subject of strident criticism from the club's fans in recent years.
Despite producing some of the best form of his career in 2008, he is still an enfant terrible in the eyes of Dragons supporters. There is a view in some quarters that a change of scene would be ideal for the 29-year-old.
The wild-card is Ross, whose tenure at Cronulla has been rocky.
His future at the club became all the more tenuous when Cronulla's multi-million dollar signing of Anthony Tupou was revealed.
Tupou's arrival has put the squeeze on the club's salary cap and the repercussions could flow as early as this week, with hooker Isaac de Gois expected to announce he will join Newcastle next season.
De Gois, 23, has been earmarked as the Knights' replacement for hooker Danny Buderus, who will move to English club Leeds in 2009.
De Gois, who has captained the Portuguese national side, has been outstanding for the Sharks but the club was unable to compete with the money on offer at the Knights.
More significantly, Ross has become superfluous given the Sharks' surfeit of quality forwards.
Tupou, Paul Gallen, Reece Williams, Greg Bird, and possibly Ryles, will consume a large amount of the salary cap in 2009 and something has to give.
Hull chief executive Kath Hetherington has been in the country casting her eye over prospective signings for 2009 and it is understood Ross and Ryles are her priorities.
Tupou's arrival will also shake up the Sharks' starting side, with Bird set for a permanent move to five-eighth.
"I see him as a great player and he gives us a different game with his style of attack," Stuart said of Tupou.
"He'd be an attraction for any football team."
Tupou's decision will also have ramifications for South Sydney recruitment for next season.
The club may now has room for prop David Shillington, whose place would have been in jeopardy had Tupou stayed.
Source: Foxsports.com.au
