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http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8407530
Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan revealed he called Wests Tigers' bluff in a bid to ensure Andrew Fifita would become a Sharks player in 2012.
Having lost key front-rowers Luke Douglas and Kade Snowden to the Gold Coast Titans and Newcastle respectively, Flanagan was desperate to sign experienced replacements.
The Tigers, facing salary cap pressures after agreeing a massive deal for Melbourne's Adam Blair, offered Bryce Gibbs to the Sharks despite the 27-year-old, who won a premiership with the club in 2005, having three years left on his contract.
Although he was more than happy to sign Gibbs, Flanagan admitted he gambled by threatening to pull out of the deal unless the hard-running Fifita was part of the package.
The joint-venture were reluctant to part with one of their best young players, who's one of the most exciting forwards in the game and has been tipped for future representative honours.
But with the threat of the Blair deal not going through, the Tigers agreed to let the 22-year-old move to Shark Park and Flanagan believes his gain is very much the Tigers' loss.
"We did a deal with the Tigers, they needed to free-up some money in the salary cap quickly and they decided to let Bryce Gibbs go," Flanagan told AAP.
"I put it to them that they we could take Andrew. I then told them we wouldn't take one without the other and it was good luck to us that we got him.
"He's an X-factor type of player. He's not a typical front-rower. He can unload and has a good turn of foot and I'm looking forward to him being in our team."
Fifita and Gibbs will be joined by fellow front-rowers Jon Green, Ben Ross and Mark Taufua in the new boys' corner at Shark Park.
They arrive along with Parramatta's grand final halfback Jeff Robson, 2010 Dally M Medal winner Todd Carney and Newcastle hooker Isaac De Gois as Flanagan overhauled his squad in a bid to make the finals for the first time since 2008.
The former Kangaroos assistant coach said his team will be the strongest since he took over from Ricky Stuart midway through the 2010 season, but still looking for reinforcements in his backline.
"I am happy with what we have recruited, next step is to get an Origin or Kangaroos standard back, then we can really threaten," he said.
Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan revealed he called Wests Tigers' bluff in a bid to ensure Andrew Fifita would become a Sharks player in 2012.
Having lost key front-rowers Luke Douglas and Kade Snowden to the Gold Coast Titans and Newcastle respectively, Flanagan was desperate to sign experienced replacements.
The Tigers, facing salary cap pressures after agreeing a massive deal for Melbourne's Adam Blair, offered Bryce Gibbs to the Sharks despite the 27-year-old, who won a premiership with the club in 2005, having three years left on his contract.
Although he was more than happy to sign Gibbs, Flanagan admitted he gambled by threatening to pull out of the deal unless the hard-running Fifita was part of the package.
The joint-venture were reluctant to part with one of their best young players, who's one of the most exciting forwards in the game and has been tipped for future representative honours.
But with the threat of the Blair deal not going through, the Tigers agreed to let the 22-year-old move to Shark Park and Flanagan believes his gain is very much the Tigers' loss.
"We did a deal with the Tigers, they needed to free-up some money in the salary cap quickly and they decided to let Bryce Gibbs go," Flanagan told AAP.
"I put it to them that they we could take Andrew. I then told them we wouldn't take one without the other and it was good luck to us that we got him.
"He's an X-factor type of player. He's not a typical front-rower. He can unload and has a good turn of foot and I'm looking forward to him being in our team."
Fifita and Gibbs will be joined by fellow front-rowers Jon Green, Ben Ross and Mark Taufua in the new boys' corner at Shark Park.
They arrive along with Parramatta's grand final halfback Jeff Robson, 2010 Dally M Medal winner Todd Carney and Newcastle hooker Isaac De Gois as Flanagan overhauled his squad in a bid to make the finals for the first time since 2008.
The former Kangaroos assistant coach said his team will be the strongest since he took over from Ricky Stuart midway through the 2010 season, but still looking for reinforcements in his backline.
"I am happy with what we have recruited, next step is to get an Origin or Kangaroos standard back, then we can really threaten," he said.
