https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...s/news-story/d2d1c81b628ff6772c6a21df29eba1e3
CANBERRA coach Ricky Stuart admits his club can’t match the big-money offers on the table for representative forwards Junior Paulo and Shannon Boyd.
The Raiders have the bulk of their forward pack off contract at the end of this year, most notably big men Boyd, Paulo and Queensland State of Origin star Josh Papalii.
Paulo has long been linked to Parramatta on a deal worth as much as $700,000 per season, while Gold Coast coach Garth Brennan declared his interest in Boyd this week.
And Stuart conceded after his team’s 32-18 defeat of the Titans he wouldn’t be able to match offers like that.
“They are off contract and I want to keep everyone. But I can’t pay the huge money that is being offered to these boys,” Stuart told reporters after the win
“If Junior and Boydy are getting this astronomical money from offered to other clubs, they go with my best wishes.
“It’s going to affect our club, I want to keep them here while I’m coaching here. Because I know they will get me success at some stage.
“But we can’t go paying that kind of money because I won’t have a football team.”
Boyd’s performance was particularly impressive on Saturday as he scored a crucial second-half try, as well as two linebreaks and six tackle busts from 12 runs.
Brennan admitted after the match that Boyd was the kind of player he would like in his squad, but Stuart offered advice to his rival coach.
“The Gold Coast, there was talk all week about the huge money for Shannon,” Stuart said.
“They’ve got a number of other blokes up there they should be having a look at as well.
Because they are in their squad right now.
“And you can understand why a young bloke like (Jarrod) Wallace would be disgruntled with where he is at. He’s off contract and is an Origin player as well.”
Meanwhile Stuart was more confident he would be able to keep Papalii at the club on a “good deal”, which he expected an answer on “very soon”.
It's all about the players for stick:
“
It’s going to affect our club, I want to keep them here while I’m coaching here. Because I know they will get me success at some stage.
