More news on this, this time from the The Daily Telegraph,
Sharks circle Dykes
By James Hooper
July 23, 2004
UNSETTLED Parramatta five-eighth Adam Dykes may be lured home to the Sharks next season after Cronulla tabled him an offer to return to the shire.
Sharks chief executive Steve Rogers is confident Dykes will walk away from the final year of his deal with the Eels to accept a new three-year contract under Stuart Raper.
For the move to happen, Parramatta chief executive Denis Fitzgerald must agree to the terms of release on the remaining 12 months of Dykes' current deal.
Dykes, 27, has experienced another mixed season with the Eels - he was dumped to Premier League at one stage - and appears uncomfortable at Parramatta.
"I'm pretty confident it's going to happen. It's just a matter of when," Rogers said.
"I was disappointed to lose Adam in the first place. It would be great to get him back again.
"If he gets back to the kind of form we know he's capable of he could prove a real asset.
"I've done everything I can at my end. I can't contract him because obviously he's still at Parramatta.
"We've had discussions with his management and should he be released he'll be returning to the Sharks."
Parramatta football manager Tony Zappia admitted last night that Dykes was interested in returning to the Sharks but said the deal was a long way from being finalised.
Parramatta claim they are waiting for details of the release to be formally tabled by player manager George Mimis, who handles the negotiating for Dykes.
Mimis has confirmed the offer from the Sharks and is in the process of working through fair conditions of release with Parramatta.
"We've had discussions with the Parramatta club in relation to a potential release," Mimis said.
"If the opportunity for Adam to go home to the Sharks in the right circumstances arose he would consider that as an opportunity."
Dykes joined the Eels from the Sharks at the end of season 2001 when he was regarded among rugby league's elite playmakers.
He won the 2001 Dally M five-eighth of the year award after his most consistent season.
Since linking with Parramatta his form has fluctuated.
He has struggled to regularly reach the level of consistency previously displayed in the shire.
Player manager Mimis said he hoped to have the issue resolved by the end of next week."
Strange how the Parramatta football manager states that the deal is a long way from being finalised whereas Dykes manager, George Mimis, says he wants to have the issue resolved by the end of next week!
I wonder which is more accurate?
