McLinden London-bound, Canberra's salary cap eases (SMH)
By Steve Mascord in Warrington
November 10, 2004 - 2:07AM
Less than 72 hours after flatly denying he would head to England, Canberra utility Mark McLinden has agreed to terms with London.
The move will free up valuable salary cap space for the Raiders and intensify speculation they are to swoop for Bradford and Great Britain prop Stuart Fielden, but chief executive Simon Hawkins said: "I can categorically guarantee Stuart will not be here in 2005."
McLinden was first touted as a replacement at the Broncos for Wigan-bound Denis Moran late last week, but when contacted by the Herald on Saturday said: "Simon Woolford and Clinton Schifcofske have both been the subject of speculation like this lately, and both of them were to do with England.
"There was nothing in either of those rumours. There's nothing in this." Asked if he would be staying at Canberra for the remainder of his contract, he said: "Yes.
"You are the first person to mention it to me."
But sources in Britain say McLinden was offered to British clubs for £100,000 a season as recently as last Wednesday night. Wigan could not afford him.
He told his team-mates at a 3pm training session in Canberra yesterday and the club made a public announcement an hour later.
Asked about London's imminent announcement, McLinden's manager Steve Gillis said yesterday: "He looks like he's going there. It's going to be done today.
"He has had a clause in his contact for four years allowing him to go to England and he was an inch away from joining Castleford last year. It's always been on the agenda.
"It is not ideal because the season is about to start but Canberra were good enough to acknowledge the clause was there."
Fielden - who was coached by Raiders boss Matthew Elliott at the Bulls - has repeatedly stated his desire to play in the NRL but has played down talk of suspending his deal with the Yorkshire club for a year to dip his toes in the water down under.
New Zealand halfback Thomas Leuluai still hasn't secured a release to join Parramatta. It is understood the Warriors want $50,000 in compensation for him and the Eels are only willing to pay $20,000.
But Eels coach Brian Smith said: "It's my understanding that a fee was requested and we agreed to pay that fee."
Warriors spokesman Richard Becht added: "He is still our player. Negotiations are still in progress. As you know, our intial preference was that he find a club in England."
Becht said he could not comment on the details of negotiations.
n yeah, we coudda bought someone valuable or kept wiki :x This totally sux..n it doenst look like fielden is coming either :evil:
