Top Wallaby looking at league
By Dean Ritchie
December 04, 2006
AUSTRALIA rugby union winger Mark Gerrard has revealed shock plans to follow Mat Rogers and possibly Lote Tuqiri back to rugby league.
Gerrard, 24, has already been linked to Manly Sea Eagles, a team he supported while growing up in Narrabeen on Sydney's northern beaches.
A star with Super 14 club ACT Brumbies, Gerrard comes off contract with the ARU after next year's World Cup in France.
Rogers will join Gold Coast Titans in 2008, while Tuqiri is also talking about quitting rugby union for the NRL and a return to Brisbane Broncos.
Gerrard, who has played 18 rugby union Tests, played rugby league through his juniors. His management company last night confirmed his interest in rugby league.
Gerrard, who has just returned from Australia's European tour, switched to rugby union in 2000.
Asked would he move to rugby league, Gerrard said: "I can't say no, I can't say yes.
"A couple of (NRL) clubs have been interested in the past as I started off my career with league.
"But I didn't want to leave rugby because I still had a few things to achieve. It's hard to say now."
Gerrard said he would "definitely not" dismiss playing in the NRL.
"I'll sit down early to mid-next year with my wife and weigh up things," he said.
Gerrard, who can play various positions, made his Test debut last year. The Warringah player is all but guaranteed a spot in Australia's World Cup squad.
Manly Sea Eagles chief executive Grant Mayer said his club would be ready to negotiate with Gerrard over a switch back to rugby league.
"We'd certainly sit down and talk if Mark was genuine in his desire to come back to our game," Mayer said.
"Given he is a local junior, we'd be keen to get him back in the fold."
George Mimis, from Gerrard's management company SFX, said his client would be a huge success in league.
"The players I have at Manly say Mark would go very well in rugby league," he said. "He would make a natural transition given he played a lot of league.
"In the current environment, league players look at union and union players - including Mark and given his league background - look at league. Players have an interest in both sports.
"But Mark would also be very mindful of the wonderful opportunities in rugby union given the code's obvious woes."
Gerrard scored two tries in Australia's 44-15 win over Scotland at Murrayfield late last month.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,20864052-23217,00.html
By Dean Ritchie
December 04, 2006
AUSTRALIA rugby union winger Mark Gerrard has revealed shock plans to follow Mat Rogers and possibly Lote Tuqiri back to rugby league.
Gerrard, 24, has already been linked to Manly Sea Eagles, a team he supported while growing up in Narrabeen on Sydney's northern beaches.
A star with Super 14 club ACT Brumbies, Gerrard comes off contract with the ARU after next year's World Cup in France.
Rogers will join Gold Coast Titans in 2008, while Tuqiri is also talking about quitting rugby union for the NRL and a return to Brisbane Broncos.
Gerrard, who has played 18 rugby union Tests, played rugby league through his juniors. His management company last night confirmed his interest in rugby league.
Gerrard, who has just returned from Australia's European tour, switched to rugby union in 2000.
Asked would he move to rugby league, Gerrard said: "I can't say no, I can't say yes.
"A couple of (NRL) clubs have been interested in the past as I started off my career with league.
"But I didn't want to leave rugby because I still had a few things to achieve. It's hard to say now."
Gerrard said he would "definitely not" dismiss playing in the NRL.
"I'll sit down early to mid-next year with my wife and weigh up things," he said.
Gerrard, who can play various positions, made his Test debut last year. The Warringah player is all but guaranteed a spot in Australia's World Cup squad.
Manly Sea Eagles chief executive Grant Mayer said his club would be ready to negotiate with Gerrard over a switch back to rugby league.
"We'd certainly sit down and talk if Mark was genuine in his desire to come back to our game," Mayer said.
"Given he is a local junior, we'd be keen to get him back in the fold."
George Mimis, from Gerrard's management company SFX, said his client would be a huge success in league.
"The players I have at Manly say Mark would go very well in rugby league," he said. "He would make a natural transition given he played a lot of league.
"In the current environment, league players look at union and union players - including Mark and given his league background - look at league. Players have an interest in both sports.
"But Mark would also be very mindful of the wonderful opportunities in rugby union given the code's obvious woes."
Gerrard scored two tries in Australia's 44-15 win over Scotland at Murrayfield late last month.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,20864052-23217,00.html
