Morrison on market
By ADAM GARDINI
17jun04
STAR North Queensland Cowboys backrower Glenn Morrison could be headed elsewhere next season after being granted permission yesterday to discuss his future with rival clubs.
His manager Wayne Beavis requested the club's permission for Morrison, ruled out for the season with two fractured vertebrae in his back, to enter the open market on Tuesday.
After a meeting between Cowboys coaching staff, chief executive Denis Keeffe and the board yesterday, the decision was made to allow the 28-year-old to talk with other clubs.
"He obviously wants to go out there and see what his market value is," football manager Peter Parr said.
"The best thing for this club is for him to stay but if he thinks he can get a better financial deal somewhere which is better for him and his family, it's his prerogative to find that out."
The Country Origin representative has played 173 first grade games including 90 for the Cowboys since joining the club from the North Sydney Bears in 2000.
Beavis said while the decision meant Morrison would be able to test the market, that task would be made difficult until Beavis could present prospective clubs with an official doctor's report on Morrison's injury.
Parr said the conditions of the agreement were that the Cowboys would receive the last right of reply to match any offers made and that a decision on Morrison's future would be made by June 30.
"Negotiations have gone on for so long that we need a decision as soon as we can," Parr said.
"As much as we want him to stay we can't wait forever.
"If he hasn't accepted our deal by June 30 or told us that he's not going to stay here then we'll reassess things then."
Morrison rejected an initial offer presented by the Cowboys seven weeks ago before recently being offered a second deal -- understood to be a three-year contract provided that he plays a certain quota of games in the first two years.
Morrison said yesterday both parties had been unable to come to an agreement on the offer but hoped he could stay in North Queensland.
"We wanted a three-year deal without the conditions in there. If we can get to that level I'd love to stay here with the Cowboys," Morrison said, adding that he hoped the situation could be sorted out quickly for him and his family.
Morrison had earlier requested negotiations with the Cowboys late last season but the club elected to hold off until he had fully recovered from off-season shoulder surgery.
As well as his current back injury and last season's shoulder reconstruction, Morrison underwent operations to both ankles, hernia and adductor (groin) muscles at the end of 2002.
By ADAM GARDINI
17jun04
STAR North Queensland Cowboys backrower Glenn Morrison could be headed elsewhere next season after being granted permission yesterday to discuss his future with rival clubs.
His manager Wayne Beavis requested the club's permission for Morrison, ruled out for the season with two fractured vertebrae in his back, to enter the open market on Tuesday.
After a meeting between Cowboys coaching staff, chief executive Denis Keeffe and the board yesterday, the decision was made to allow the 28-year-old to talk with other clubs.
"He obviously wants to go out there and see what his market value is," football manager Peter Parr said.
"The best thing for this club is for him to stay but if he thinks he can get a better financial deal somewhere which is better for him and his family, it's his prerogative to find that out."
The Country Origin representative has played 173 first grade games including 90 for the Cowboys since joining the club from the North Sydney Bears in 2000.
Beavis said while the decision meant Morrison would be able to test the market, that task would be made difficult until Beavis could present prospective clubs with an official doctor's report on Morrison's injury.
Parr said the conditions of the agreement were that the Cowboys would receive the last right of reply to match any offers made and that a decision on Morrison's future would be made by June 30.
"Negotiations have gone on for so long that we need a decision as soon as we can," Parr said.
"As much as we want him to stay we can't wait forever.
"If he hasn't accepted our deal by June 30 or told us that he's not going to stay here then we'll reassess things then."
Morrison rejected an initial offer presented by the Cowboys seven weeks ago before recently being offered a second deal -- understood to be a three-year contract provided that he plays a certain quota of games in the first two years.
Morrison said yesterday both parties had been unable to come to an agreement on the offer but hoped he could stay in North Queensland.
"We wanted a three-year deal without the conditions in there. If we can get to that level I'd love to stay here with the Cowboys," Morrison said, adding that he hoped the situation could be sorted out quickly for him and his family.
Morrison had earlier requested negotiations with the Cowboys late last season but the club elected to hold off until he had fully recovered from off-season shoulder surgery.
As well as his current back injury and last season's shoulder reconstruction, Morrison underwent operations to both ankles, hernia and adductor (groin) muscles at the end of 2002.
