The Sydney Morning Herald
GLENN JACKSON
June 22, 2010
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA are edging closer to signing their prodigal son Mark Gasnier -
possibly in time to play Penrith in round 17 - and the final details of the intricate deal with the former Test centre are set to be clinched at today's chief executives' conference.
The meeting between the club bosses, at the NRL headquarters at Moore Park, is likely to prove crucial in finalising the Gasnier deal, said his agent George Mimis.
Mimis, as well as the Dragons, have denied suggestions that a contract has already been lodged with the NRL, awaiting final approval.
Rather, it is believed that the two parties have remained in fairly constant dialogue over the final points of the expected three-year deal.
Mimis said yesterday he wanted to wait until today's meeting of the club bosses - during which some finality may be given to future salary cap changes - before he agreed to any deal for Gasnier, who quit the Dragons to play rugby union with Stade Francais.
''There's been lots of dialogue about the contract structures but no contract's been lodged [with the NRL],'' Mimis said last night.
Asked if today's chief executives' conference could be crucial in finally ending the speculation surrounding Gasnier, Mimis said: ''Correct.''
Mimis, however, admitted the negotiations were being delayed by the protracted discussions with the NRL over third-party deals as well as the issue of how much of Gasnier's contract would have to be included in this year's salary cap.
Asked when he expected the deal to be done, Mimis said: ''That's a question that's better posed to the NRL or the salary cap auditor. We're waiting for them to clarify a few things.''
While some at Wests Tigers even believed Gasnier might sign in time to play in Friday night's blockbuster against the Dragons at Kogarah, a more likely scenario would have the 28-year-old making his club return against the Panthers a week later.
The meeting between the club chiefs, and the discussion over salary cap changes will also have wider implications for rugby league.
With decisions expected on changes to third-party deals, long-serving player concessions, bulked up representative payments and cap increases, the meeting stands to be one of the more crucial in recent times, given the pressure on the NRL to stop the game's stars quitting the competition and even the code.
Wests Tigers chief executive Stephen Humphreys said he expected ''that we would have some reasonable level of agreement on the areas that will be modified in the cap - both in terms of the numbers but also the areas of concessions, how they may work in the future''.
''I'd like to leave the meeting with, if not a definitive idea of where we're going next year, at least a pretty decent idea, so we can all start planning for next year,'' Humphreys said.
''Because the clock's ticking. I'd like to think that we can come out and say we have a way forward that is better than where we are now.''
The clubs are also expected to express their frustration over the stalled independent commission.
Chief executives are also expected to discuss the racial vilification furore surrounding Andrew Johns and the NSW State of Origin camp.
Mimis, meanwhile, will meet with Luke Patten tonight as the Bulldogs fullback weighs up Super League offers. Mimis has received offers from several clubs, including Huddersfield and Patten is considering ending his career with the Bulldogs a year early.
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...-on-meeting-of-club-chiefs-20100621-yscb.html
