Remember his call to all his teammates to take paycuts to stay together? Then his hasty reassessment when it looked like Barrett might go to England? Now this...
http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,18269754-23214,00.html
Gasnier sets up ARU meeting
MARK Gasnier's manager will this week contact Wallabies coach John Connolly in the first definitive sign the Dragons ace is contemplating a daring "now or never" switch to rugby union.
And Connolly is not opposed to any ARU attempt to woo Gasnier, claiming the NSW and Test centre would be a sensation in the code.
Despite months of speculation over Gasnier's future, the two parties have not held preliminary talks, with the ARU instructing Gasnier to make the first approach only if he is genuine.
Now Gasnier is ready to up the ante. His manager George Mimis will speak to Connolly this week to discuss opportunities in rugby for Gasnier, who is off-contract at the end of this season.
"I'd definitely like to get some feedback from the national coach on where he sees Gaz's ability from a rugby perspective," Mimis said. "Gaz is only 25 but if he was to make a serious move to rugby, it would have to be now or never.
"Mark hasn't closed the door on rugby. We haven't had any formal or informal discussions with the ARU, but that is not to say we won't. Gaz hasn't played rugby at any high level but if there are people in rugby who think he could make the transition, a discussion with John Connolly is worth having."
Connolly said Gasnier is such a rare talent he could make a near seamless transition to rugby and be a backline option for the 2007 World Cup.
"Mark would be a great player in rugby, no doubt," Connolly said. "If we got a firm and serious offer from his manager, there would be an interest. I would certainly support the ARU in that regard. League players who cross over [to rugby] in their prime have proven to have a good impact in our game. Look at Mat Rogers and Lote Tuqiri. Every year that Mark stays in league will make it harder for him to succeed in rugby. But if he wanted to move now I have no doubts he would adapt to the game quickly."
While Gasnier is content at the Dragons and his preference is to stay there, several critical factors make rugby an attractive option.
A World Cup berth aside, Gasnier could earn at least $200,000 a season more if he pledged his future to the ARU.
Mimis said discussions with the Dragons, who are keen to tie up Gasnier for another three years, remain a "work in progress".
"We're still working on a package," he said. "We have been throwing numbers around but we're not at the level where we can discuss the length of the deal yet. Trent [Barrett, who is considering a move to England in 2007] has an influence on matters too, not in terms of whether he's there or not but more how it means the Dragons are placed under the salary cap."
Mimis insists Gasnier's interest in rugby is not a publicity stunt to increase his value
lol: :roll: )
"Rugby league is his preferred sport, no doubt about that," he said. "But if we can't put together a deal that is amenable with the Dragons, he will seriously consider rugby."
http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,18269754-23214,00.html
Gasnier sets up ARU meeting
MARK Gasnier's manager will this week contact Wallabies coach John Connolly in the first definitive sign the Dragons ace is contemplating a daring "now or never" switch to rugby union.
And Connolly is not opposed to any ARU attempt to woo Gasnier, claiming the NSW and Test centre would be a sensation in the code.
Despite months of speculation over Gasnier's future, the two parties have not held preliminary talks, with the ARU instructing Gasnier to make the first approach only if he is genuine.
Now Gasnier is ready to up the ante. His manager George Mimis will speak to Connolly this week to discuss opportunities in rugby for Gasnier, who is off-contract at the end of this season.
"I'd definitely like to get some feedback from the national coach on where he sees Gaz's ability from a rugby perspective," Mimis said. "Gaz is only 25 but if he was to make a serious move to rugby, it would have to be now or never.
"Mark hasn't closed the door on rugby. We haven't had any formal or informal discussions with the ARU, but that is not to say we won't. Gaz hasn't played rugby at any high level but if there are people in rugby who think he could make the transition, a discussion with John Connolly is worth having."
Connolly said Gasnier is such a rare talent he could make a near seamless transition to rugby and be a backline option for the 2007 World Cup.
"Mark would be a great player in rugby, no doubt," Connolly said. "If we got a firm and serious offer from his manager, there would be an interest. I would certainly support the ARU in that regard. League players who cross over [to rugby] in their prime have proven to have a good impact in our game. Look at Mat Rogers and Lote Tuqiri. Every year that Mark stays in league will make it harder for him to succeed in rugby. But if he wanted to move now I have no doubts he would adapt to the game quickly."
While Gasnier is content at the Dragons and his preference is to stay there, several critical factors make rugby an attractive option.
A World Cup berth aside, Gasnier could earn at least $200,000 a season more if he pledged his future to the ARU.
Mimis said discussions with the Dragons, who are keen to tie up Gasnier for another three years, remain a "work in progress".
"We're still working on a package," he said. "We have been throwing numbers around but we're not at the level where we can discuss the length of the deal yet. Trent [Barrett, who is considering a move to England in 2007] has an influence on matters too, not in terms of whether he's there or not but more how it means the Dragons are placed under the salary cap."
Mimis insists Gasnier's interest in rugby is not a publicity stunt to increase his value
lol: :roll: )"Rugby league is his preferred sport, no doubt about that," he said. "But if we can't put together a deal that is amenable with the Dragons, he will seriously consider rugby."
