Dureau's Newcastle ambition on the table as negotiations loom
BY ROBERT DILLON AND BRETT KEEBLE
08 May, 2010 04:00 AM
SCOTT Dureau's chances of re-signing with the Knights firmed after coach Rick Stone said yesterday Newcastle were close to tabling the young halfback an offer.
A free agent at season's end, Dureau's future was clouded after the Knights were linked to some high-profile playmakers at rival clubs, including North Queensland's Johnathan Thurston and Melbourne's Brett Finch.
But Newcastle have since turned their attention to their own off-contract halves, Dureau and Ben Rogers.
Rogers is weighing up a two-year contract extension.
Stone said he expected Newcastle would be in a position to make Dureau a concrete offer soon.
"We're sorting out Scotty with what value we think he's at and he'll possibly have an offer made to him shortly," he said.
"He's at the stage where he's somewhere between a second-string and a first-string [halfback] and that's probably where he's at with his money at the moment . . . I've spoken to Scotty and he's comfortable with where we're at.
"We've had some contact with his manager [David Riolo] this week and he's interested in seeing what we think we're going to do with Scotty.
"We're comfortable with the process we're going through."
Riolo is in England.
Dureau said he would listen to offers from Super League clubs but his preference was to sign again with Newcastle.
"You're always interested to see what other clubs have got to offer but I haven't spoken to him [Riolo] this week," Dureau said yesterday.
"I spoke to him a couple of weeks ago but I'm not sure what he's doing over there.
"My priority is to stay here. That's definitely number one."
The 23-year-old, who has played in 37 NRL games for the Knights since his debut in 2007, said his contractual negotiations were "not playing on my mind too much".
"I'd love to have it sorted out and know what's happening but that will come if I play good footy," he said. "So my focus is on playing footy and the contract will come."
Dureau, who was recalled at the expense of Rogers for last week's 30-22 win against Brisbane, felt his performance was patchy and he would aim to improve in tomorrow's clash with Gold Coast at EnergyAustralia Stadium.
Having been in and out of Newcastle's top side for three years, Dureau believes he is ready to strike a regular scrum-base combination with Jarrod Mullen.
"Hopefully I can stay injury-free and cement my spot for a while," he said.
"I've got my chance now and Stoney has put his confidence in me, so I just have to go out there and repay his faith."
Rogers, who will be rested tomorrow for the second successive game, said he was considering Newcastle's offer but was "still a bit up in the air" about whether to accept it.
The five-eighth has fielded expressions of interest from European rugby union.
"My first priority is obviously to stay here but I've still got to talk to my family about it," he said.
"It will be more likely early next week now but I'd like to get it done as soon as possible. I love the club and the town and it's just a matter of ticking off, crossing the t's and dotting the i's." Newcastle have several other first-grade regulars coming off contract, including Steve Simpson, Ben Cross, Adam MacDougall and Cooper Vuna.
