http://www.smh.com.au/news/League/D...p-six-key-stars/2005/01/08/1104832353828.html
By James MacSmith
January 9, 2005
The Sun-Herald
The Bulldogs have been working closely with NRL salary cap auditor Ian Schubert in a bid to keep their premiership-winning side together, but the club admits the challenge of retaining all of their off-contract stars could amount to mission impossible.
The contracts of a host of the Bulldogs' biggest names are up for renewal at the end of this year and club officials will be working furiously in the next few months in an attempt to keep them at Belmore.
Willie Mason, Sonny Bill Williams, Willie Tonga, Andrew Ryan, Braith Anasta and Jamaal Lolesi are all off contract at the end of the season.
Bulldogs football manager Brad Clyde said the defending premiers desperately wanted to retain all six players, but he conceded they would have a tough assignment doing so considering the players available were some of the most sought-after talent in the game.
"Of course we would like to keep all those players at the club," Clyde said.
"And we would like to upgrade the contracts of some of those players, but we have to be mindful of our salary cap position.
"We have approached all players coming off contract. We were very impressed with the form they showed last year and would like to keep all of them together.
"They're all quality players and we're doing our best to get there, but we realise it won't be easy."
The salary cap rorting scandal of 2002 that cost the Bulldogs 37 premiership points and eliminated them from the title race still haunts Belmore. And the club is determined to conduct an open and transparent process as it seeks to shore up its playing ranks for 2006.
"Transparency is absolutely paramount," Clyde said. "We've been in close contact with Ian Schubert and the NRL to ensure that happens. We want to keep our players at the club but also make sure that we stay within the salary cap rules.
"There have been talks with the NRL, player managers and within the club itself to try to make sure. We're doing all we can but we know we face a very tough task trying to keep all of our players."
Teen sensation and Kiwi backrower Williams is one of rugby league's hottest properties, and Clive Churchill medallist and Kangaroo tourist Mason's stocks rose considerably last season.
So did those of Tonga, a relative unknown when he moved from Parramatta to the Bulldogs at the start of 2004 before going on to play for Queensland and then Australia.
International back-rower Ryan was another who ended last season with his reputation enhanced, and Anasta and Lolesi would slot straight into the first-grade line-up at almost any other NRL club.
Anasta was courted by Super 12 rugby outfit the NSW Waratahs in October to fill their troublesome five-eighth position, but negotiations turned sour and it is doubtful whether they would be interested again.
Clyde said the chance to continue playing together at a successful club was a selling point for the Bulldogs that could keep the players at Belmore.
"The fact is the guys are all good mates and they enjoy playing together and that is something they would have to consider giving up," he said. "When you're playing in a winning side, chances are you are enjoying your football and that's something that might not happen if they go elsewhere.
"Most clubs these days, due to the salary cap restrictions, have a turnover each year of around 20 per cent.
"That makes the recruitment of young up-and-coming players even more important and the future is something you always have to keep an eye on.
"But having said that, we would desperately like to make sure we hang on to all our senior players and established stars.
"Time will tell if we do."
By James MacSmith
January 9, 2005
The Sun-Herald
The Bulldogs have been working closely with NRL salary cap auditor Ian Schubert in a bid to keep their premiership-winning side together, but the club admits the challenge of retaining all of their off-contract stars could amount to mission impossible.
The contracts of a host of the Bulldogs' biggest names are up for renewal at the end of this year and club officials will be working furiously in the next few months in an attempt to keep them at Belmore.
Willie Mason, Sonny Bill Williams, Willie Tonga, Andrew Ryan, Braith Anasta and Jamaal Lolesi are all off contract at the end of the season.
Bulldogs football manager Brad Clyde said the defending premiers desperately wanted to retain all six players, but he conceded they would have a tough assignment doing so considering the players available were some of the most sought-after talent in the game.
"Of course we would like to keep all those players at the club," Clyde said.
"And we would like to upgrade the contracts of some of those players, but we have to be mindful of our salary cap position.
"We have approached all players coming off contract. We were very impressed with the form they showed last year and would like to keep all of them together.
"They're all quality players and we're doing our best to get there, but we realise it won't be easy."
The salary cap rorting scandal of 2002 that cost the Bulldogs 37 premiership points and eliminated them from the title race still haunts Belmore. And the club is determined to conduct an open and transparent process as it seeks to shore up its playing ranks for 2006.
"Transparency is absolutely paramount," Clyde said. "We've been in close contact with Ian Schubert and the NRL to ensure that happens. We want to keep our players at the club but also make sure that we stay within the salary cap rules.
"There have been talks with the NRL, player managers and within the club itself to try to make sure. We're doing all we can but we know we face a very tough task trying to keep all of our players."
Teen sensation and Kiwi backrower Williams is one of rugby league's hottest properties, and Clive Churchill medallist and Kangaroo tourist Mason's stocks rose considerably last season.
So did those of Tonga, a relative unknown when he moved from Parramatta to the Bulldogs at the start of 2004 before going on to play for Queensland and then Australia.
International back-rower Ryan was another who ended last season with his reputation enhanced, and Anasta and Lolesi would slot straight into the first-grade line-up at almost any other NRL club.
Anasta was courted by Super 12 rugby outfit the NSW Waratahs in October to fill their troublesome five-eighth position, but negotiations turned sour and it is doubtful whether they would be interested again.
Clyde said the chance to continue playing together at a successful club was a selling point for the Bulldogs that could keep the players at Belmore.
"The fact is the guys are all good mates and they enjoy playing together and that is something they would have to consider giving up," he said. "When you're playing in a winning side, chances are you are enjoying your football and that's something that might not happen if they go elsewhere.
"Most clubs these days, due to the salary cap restrictions, have a turnover each year of around 20 per cent.
"That makes the recruitment of young up-and-coming players even more important and the future is something you always have to keep an eye on.
"But having said that, we would desperately like to make sure we hang on to all our senior players and established stars.
"Time will tell if we do."
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