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Goalkicking Bulldogs winger Hazem El Masri is the latest big-name NRL player tempted by a lucrative offer to switch codes - not from the Wallabies, but the French Rugby Union.
El Masri's lawyer, Adam Houda, last night confirmed the Australia and Lebanon international was strongly considering the move after being approached by an agent acting on behalf of the FRU.
Houda said that El Masri had been offered a four-year deal worth $2 million, including a car and accommodation.
"The French think he is the best goalkicker in the world, and goalkicking is very important in rugby union," Houda said.
"People talk about Jonny Wilkinson but they rate Hazem higher than him, and the statistics support that. The guy is worth 10 points a game in league, he's scored over 120 tries for Canterbury and he's played 150 games on the trot, so he's highly durable.
"A lot of people have forgotten about his tryscoring abilities because he's playing on the wrong wing, so he hasn't received much ball. But a few years ago he was one of the leading tryscorers in the NRL."
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Houda was unsure whether El Masri would be eligible to play international rugby union for Les Bleus, saying his preference was to stay in Australia and play for the Bulldogs.
But Houda said the club's latest offer did not come close to the rugby union package put to him and that, at 28, El Masri was obligated to get the best possible deal for his pregnant wife, Arwa, and their 18-month-old daughter, Lamya.
"He's spoken to his wife about it and they're both excited about a possible move to France," Houda said. "He's played over there before with Lebanon, I think that's how they first got to know about him, and they've been keeping a close eye on him since. Ideally, he'd like to stay in Sydney for a couple of years yet.
"[Former Bulldogs goalkicker] Daryl Halligan played until he was 34, and Hazem feels he's got unfinished business with the Bulldogs - he wants to win a premiership.
"The club has been good to him, I know that George Peponis is trying really hard to keep him there, but unless they are able to come up with something better it's hard not to imagine him being on the plane to France as soon as he can."
El Masri's lawyer, Adam Houda, last night confirmed the Australia and Lebanon international was strongly considering the move after being approached by an agent acting on behalf of the FRU.
Houda said that El Masri had been offered a four-year deal worth $2 million, including a car and accommodation.
"The French think he is the best goalkicker in the world, and goalkicking is very important in rugby union," Houda said.
"People talk about Jonny Wilkinson but they rate Hazem higher than him, and the statistics support that. The guy is worth 10 points a game in league, he's scored over 120 tries for Canterbury and he's played 150 games on the trot, so he's highly durable.
"A lot of people have forgotten about his tryscoring abilities because he's playing on the wrong wing, so he hasn't received much ball. But a few years ago he was one of the leading tryscorers in the NRL."
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Houda was unsure whether El Masri would be eligible to play international rugby union for Les Bleus, saying his preference was to stay in Australia and play for the Bulldogs.
But Houda said the club's latest offer did not come close to the rugby union package put to him and that, at 28, El Masri was obligated to get the best possible deal for his pregnant wife, Arwa, and their 18-month-old daughter, Lamya.
"He's spoken to his wife about it and they're both excited about a possible move to France," Houda said. "He's played over there before with Lebanon, I think that's how they first got to know about him, and they've been keeping a close eye on him since. Ideally, he'd like to stay in Sydney for a couple of years yet.
"[Former Bulldogs goalkicker] Daryl Halligan played until he was 34, and Hazem feels he's got unfinished business with the Bulldogs - he wants to win a premiership.
"The club has been good to him, I know that George Peponis is trying really hard to keep him there, but unless they are able to come up with something better it's hard not to imagine him being on the plane to France as soon as he can."
