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[SIZE=-1][/SIZE]Rhys Wesser signs with South Sydney Rabbitohs
By Steve Mascord
PENRITH hero Rhys Wesser has secured an early release and agreed to a two-year deal with South Sydney.
The 29-year-old former Queensland fullback is understood to have reached an agreement with the Rabbitohs yesterday after some last-minute haggling - although club officials were tight-lipped last night.
"We have been talking to Rhys, yes, but as yet there is nothing finalised," said chief executive Shane Richardson.
"If we could get someone on board like Rhys, a member of Penrith's Dream Team and holder of all those tryscoring records, it would certainly assist what we are trying to do at the club.
"Hopefully there'll be some news soon."
Penrith chief executive Mick Leary said: "We have been talking to Rhys and his manager and all our talks have been amicable. I have heard rumours he has decided to leave but I haven't heard anything for certain."
The Daily Telegraph understands Wesser's contract for 2009 will be completely taken over by Souths, who are paying him around $200,000 a season. Richardson and Rabbitohs technical consultant John Lang were Wesser's bosses when the Panthers won the premiership in 2003. The Redfern-bound fullback starred.
Wesser and Lang also share the same agent, SFX Sports Daryl Mather.
Rockhampton-born Wesser joined the Panthers in 1998, making his debut that year against Balmain. To date he has scored 112 tries, including 25 in 2003.
Over the past two seasons Wesser has faced selection challenges from Jarrod Sammut and Lachlan Coote, holding off both to retain his fullback jumper.
He recently said he did not want to leave Penrith and had been kept out of the loop in negotiations to do so.
Leary said the club had room to move under the salary cap regardless of whether Wesser left. The signing is expected to be confirmed by a South Sydney media release this morning.
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegrap...006066,00.html