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TinghaExpress
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St George Illawarra fans will rejoice at the news that centre Mark Gasnier and utility Shaun Timmins have re-signed with the Saints for another three years.
The signature ends what can only be describved and long and protracted negotiations with both players. A salary cap concession of $100,000 by the NRL is set to kick in next season for Shaun Timmins as he qualifies as a ten year player. Gasnier on the other hand rejected lucrative offers from other NRL and English clubs to remain a Saint.
The mercurial Nathan Blacklock is set to follow shortly. Blacklock met with Parramatta coach Briabn Smith and despute the Eels offerering significantly more is also set to stay at the club.
Meanwhile, the new poker machine tax is putting fear into the club's around NSW with St George Leagues club revealing it could be the death knell for top class Rugby League in Wollongong.
St George Leagues club chairman Danny Robinson confirmed the worst result could be the dissolution of the joint venture because the Steelers would be unable to maintain, let alone increase the grant they make to the St George Illawarra football club.
Any real impact of the tax is still some way off though many on the predictions being made are a very real possibility if the NSW Goverment gets it's way with the proposed taxes.
The signature ends what can only be describved and long and protracted negotiations with both players. A salary cap concession of $100,000 by the NRL is set to kick in next season for Shaun Timmins as he qualifies as a ten year player. Gasnier on the other hand rejected lucrative offers from other NRL and English clubs to remain a Saint.
The mercurial Nathan Blacklock is set to follow shortly. Blacklock met with Parramatta coach Briabn Smith and despute the Eels offerering significantly more is also set to stay at the club.
Meanwhile, the new poker machine tax is putting fear into the club's around NSW with St George Leagues club revealing it could be the death knell for top class Rugby League in Wollongong.
St George Leagues club chairman Danny Robinson confirmed the worst result could be the dissolution of the joint venture because the Steelers would be unable to maintain, let alone increase the grant they make to the St George Illawarra football club.
Any real impact of the tax is still some way off though many on the predictions being made are a very real possibility if the NSW Goverment gets it's way with the proposed taxes.
