Monaghan looking for NRL home
Brent Read and Margie McDonald | April 08, 2009
Article from: The Australian
MICHAEL Monaghan is as good as on his way back to Australia next season after English club Warrington gave him permission to explore his options in the NRL.
And Monaghan's Warrington teammate Matt King could also be contemplating a return as the new taxation laws in England force clubs to tighten their purse strings.
Warrington is expected to be one of the hardest hit by an investigation into off-shore payments to NRL stars, hence the club's decision to allow Monaghan to leave should he find a suitable offer in Australia.
King is also on a healthy contract, although his manager, George Mimis, said last night he was unaware of any move by the Wolves to allow him to leave. The Australian last week reported the crackdown by Britain's Inland Revenue on tax-free loopholes.
Monaghan, 28, began his first-grade career in Canberra and has already been linked with a return to the Raiders, where his brother Joel plays.
King has had a love-hate relationship with Wolves fans. Late last year he was voted the worst import in Super League history, and the relationship hit rock bottom this year when he was forced to apologise for giving them a one-fingered salute after a loss to Harlequins.
While those two players hope to revive their NRL careers, Michael De Vere is kissing his goodbye for a second time, after just one game.
De Vere, 31, made his return for the Broncos in last Friday night's match against St George Illawarra and, despite the occasion, told coach Ivan Henjak he had lost his motivation. "He ... said that he'd lost the edge," Henjak said yesterday. "That's really important with players who have got really high standards like Mike."
De Vere first retired at the end of 2006 after a glittering career with Brisbane and Super League club Huddersfield, during which he chalked up 198 first-grade games and played in four State of Origin games for NSW and five Tests.
Meanwhile, Sydney Roosters coach Brad Fittler yesterday recalled Nate Myles and Willie Mason for the game against Brisbane at the SFS on Friday night after a one-match demotion for breaking the club's alcohol rules.
However, Fittler retained their replacements from last weekend, Frank-Paul Nuuausala and Shane Shackleton.
Myles is in the starting side -- but not at prop after Nuuausala's strong performance against Parramatta -- and Mason is on the bench.
Shackleton has been switched to lock to allow Myles to move into the back row with Craig Fitzgibbon.
The Warriors take on Newcastle at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Sunday but will again be without captain Steve Price (throat), utility Lance Hohaia (knee) and second-rower Ben Matulino (ankle). Although he did not name winger Manu Vatuvei, coach Ivan Cleary said he was a chance to play.
"We'll see how Manu goes during the week but at this stage he's a chance of being included," Cleary said.
"The one good thing to come out of the match against the Rabbitohs was that we didn't add to our injury list. In fact, we finished a match with a full bench for the first time this year."
In other news, the Bulldogs have left out Jamal Idris for another week.
The club maintains his demotion to Toyota Cup has nothing to do with his anger at being dropped for the Sharks match last round following a punch-up in a hotel car park.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25305554-2722,00.html
