OT - Riddell is poised to sign with Wests Tigers in 2011

[FROSTY319]

Mark "Piggy" Riddell - one of the great characters in modern-day rugby league - is poised to return to the NRL next season with Wests Tigers.

The one-year deal will be announced this week, with the Tigers planning to use Riddell as a shadow player for classy No. 9 Robbie Farah.
Riddell signed a three-year deal with English giants Wigan in 2009 but has cut short his English deal to return home to be near his mother, who is fighting cancer. It is likely Riddell will be able to celebrate his new deal with Wests Tigers tomorrow, his 29th birthday.
The Tigers see Riddell as a solid and experienced back-up for Farah. But he can also play back-row and kick goals.
"It's likely to happen. We are maybe a day or two away from finalising it," Wests Tigers chief executive Stephen Humphreys said yesterday.
"We have had discussions with Mark and they went very well. It is certainly something we are thinking about.
"We are considering him as a back-up to Robbie Farah."

Asked how Riddell would be squeezed into the Tigers' salary cap, Humphreys said: "If he were to come here, it would be on a second-tier contract. He wouldn't be in our top 25. That is the context with which we are considering him."
Riddell ended his two-year stint at Wigan with a win over St Helens in this year's Super League grand final.
He has previously played with St George Illawarra and Parramatta after starting out with the Sydney Roosters.
After the Super League triumph, Riddell said: "This is No. 1 for me. I have been chasing one of these titles for 11 or 12 years in professional rugby league.
"To finally get one at the end is something special."
Wigan coach Michael Maguire was upset to lose Riddell.
"We knew about Mark's situation in June and we will be sad to lose him but fully understand the reasons behind his decision," Maguire said.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/...-ties-with-wigan/story-fn2mcuj6-1225967369947

 

[Parra Guru]

He will come off the bench as a utility IMO. Handy buy for Wests.

Hope the situation with his Mum improves soon... and I think he's about to become a Dad. Lots happening for him.

Good luck Piggy

 

[eelz47]

But he won't be in top 25?

 

[mrpwnd]

Could be a replacement for Lui, Lui's position is in doubt after bashing his girlfriend or something.

 

[Craig Johnston]

Could be a replacement for Lui, Lui's position is in doubt after bashing his girlfriend or something.

lui was always a fill-in for moltzen

 

[jk13]

jason cayless mach 2

 

[Parra Guru]

Piggy's a Rooster. Can someone change the thread title

http://img.nrl.sportal.com.au/site/_content/photogalleryitem/00017396-Photo.JPG

THE Sydney Roosters last night sneaked under the guard of Sydney rivals Wests Tigers to sign the colourful Mark "Piggy" Riddell.
Tigers officials confirmed their interest in Riddell, who was ready to sign a modest one-year deal at Concord as a back-up No. 9 to Robbie Farah. But the Roosters organised talks with Riddell for yesterday afternoon and quickly nabbed him.

Riddell, 29, signed a one-year deal with the Bondi Junction outfit to cover the loss of North Queensland recruit Anthony Watts, who will be out for most of next season with a leg injury.

The deal is a homecoming for Riddell, who played lower grades at the Roosters in 1999-2000 before being lured to St George Illawarra and then to Parramatta.

Riddell has spent the past two years with English champions Wigan but has returned home early to be alongside his sick mother.

Roosters coach Brian Smith built up a strong friendship with Riddell during their time together at the Eels.

Tigers coach Tim Sheens last week said his club wanted Riddell but indicated the goalkicking hooker could be playing NSW Cup, with Farah a noted 80-minute player.

So with Riddell realising his chances of playing NRL were stronger at the Roosters, and mindful of his strong bond with coach Smith, the deal was struck.

"We had held talks with Mark and we had made an offer," said Wests Tigers chief executive Stephen Humphreys. "But we knew there was interest in Mark from other clubs.

"We aren't [cranky]. If he has decided to go that way [to the Roosters] then good luck to him."

One of the great characters of modern-day rugby league, Riddell will play back-up to grand final hooker Jake Friend at the Roosters.

But he can also play back-row, and is more than a useful goalkicker.

 

[SDM]

Didn't Smith apparantly chuck in the towel becasue of Riddell and Smith turning up to training half cut?