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CRONULLA have made a huge offer to snare Justin Poore from bitter rivals St George Illawarra to replace luckless prop Ben Ross.
Poore is one of the biggest-name forwards off contract at the end of the season and there are already several clubs vying for the signature of the Illawarra product.
The Dragons are desperate to retain Poore, touted as a representative forward before suffering a hand injury, while Parramatta and the Bulldogs are also circling. The Sharks are the favourites after tabling an offer understood to be worth $900,000 over three years.
The Sharks have re-signed front-rower Kade Snowden for a further two seasons but are looking for a big-name prop to bolster their stocks. And they will have money in their kitty to chase Poore.
Ross has said he wishes to continue his football career despite being just millimetres away from becoming a quadriplegic after a sickening neck injury against Penrith.
But the Sharks, who have repeatedly attempted to offload him from his $400,000-per-season deal, have no interest in renewing his contract when it expires at year's end. That will make room under the salary cap to pursue Poore, who is expected to return from a hand injury against Parramatta on Friday night. The 24-year-old was one of last year's most consistent NRL performers, averaging 115 metres and 27 tackles per game in 19 appearances. He was named the club's players' player of the year and was also drafted into the preliminary 46-man Kangaroos squad for last year's World Cup.
Poore's manager, Todd Buckingham, said several clubs had expressed interest in the Perth-born prop but wouldn't reveal them.
"We're a bit biased, but reckon he'd have to be one of the best and most popular front-rowers coming off contract in the market," he said.
"We haven't done anything at this stage because he's been injured. There's no rush at this stage and his future will become clearer after he gets back on the field."
The Dragons are also in danger of losing another of their local juniors, Brett Morris. Another Steelers junior, he has had only limited opportunities so far this year and is also off contract at the end of the season.
The son of legendary Dragon Steve "Slippery" Morris, the 22-year-old scored a crucial try in the upset win over Brisbane on Friday night.
He is yet to cement a first-grade position in a squad with a plethora of outside backs including Wendell Sailor, Darius Boyd, Beau Scott, Jason Nightingale, Matt Cooper and occasional fullback Ben Hornby. The Dragons lost Brett's twin Josh to the Bulldogs last year and the brothers have made no secret of their desire to play together.
"There would be a lot of interest in a quality outside back like Brett," said Morris's agent, David Riolo. "He'd love stay at the Dragons, as his brother wanted to, but Josh was forced out. Hopefully history isn't repeating but it doesn't look good.
"He'll try to take every opportunity that he gets and show that he's good value to the club."
Morris said his preference was to remain at the joint-venture club.
"I'm really happy at the Dragons and I hope I get some opportunities to show my worth," Morris said.
In all, the Dragons have 14 of their top 25 players off contract, including Dean Young, Ben Creagh, Mathew Head, Luke Priddis, Beau Scott and Wendell Sailor. The situation will allow coach Wayne Bennett to make significant retention and recruitment changes that will put his stamp on the team.
In other news, Trent Barrett's bid to make a miracle return from injury today has been in vain, the Sharks playmaker ruled out of the ANZ Stadium clash with the Bulldogs.
Barrett suffered a neck injury last week against the Dragons and club doctor David Givney recommended an extra week of recovery time.
Blake Green, who played alongside Barrett last week, will partner the returning Brett Seymour in the halves.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/lhqnews/poore-to-get-rich-quick/2009/04/04/1238832408792.html
If he signs with the scum..........that will piss me off. St george players should never go to the scummers. EVER.:x
I dont think he will stay. If he is chasing the $$$$$$ then we wont offer him 300k. Bennett never pays a forward that sort of money unless they are game breakers. Poor is a great forward, but not a game breaker. Hope we can sort out these off contract players soon.
Poore is one of the biggest-name forwards off contract at the end of the season and there are already several clubs vying for the signature of the Illawarra product.
The Dragons are desperate to retain Poore, touted as a representative forward before suffering a hand injury, while Parramatta and the Bulldogs are also circling. The Sharks are the favourites after tabling an offer understood to be worth $900,000 over three years.
The Sharks have re-signed front-rower Kade Snowden for a further two seasons but are looking for a big-name prop to bolster their stocks. And they will have money in their kitty to chase Poore.
Ross has said he wishes to continue his football career despite being just millimetres away from becoming a quadriplegic after a sickening neck injury against Penrith.
But the Sharks, who have repeatedly attempted to offload him from his $400,000-per-season deal, have no interest in renewing his contract when it expires at year's end. That will make room under the salary cap to pursue Poore, who is expected to return from a hand injury against Parramatta on Friday night. The 24-year-old was one of last year's most consistent NRL performers, averaging 115 metres and 27 tackles per game in 19 appearances. He was named the club's players' player of the year and was also drafted into the preliminary 46-man Kangaroos squad for last year's World Cup.
Poore's manager, Todd Buckingham, said several clubs had expressed interest in the Perth-born prop but wouldn't reveal them.
"We're a bit biased, but reckon he'd have to be one of the best and most popular front-rowers coming off contract in the market," he said.
"We haven't done anything at this stage because he's been injured. There's no rush at this stage and his future will become clearer after he gets back on the field."
The Dragons are also in danger of losing another of their local juniors, Brett Morris. Another Steelers junior, he has had only limited opportunities so far this year and is also off contract at the end of the season.
The son of legendary Dragon Steve "Slippery" Morris, the 22-year-old scored a crucial try in the upset win over Brisbane on Friday night.
He is yet to cement a first-grade position in a squad with a plethora of outside backs including Wendell Sailor, Darius Boyd, Beau Scott, Jason Nightingale, Matt Cooper and occasional fullback Ben Hornby. The Dragons lost Brett's twin Josh to the Bulldogs last year and the brothers have made no secret of their desire to play together.
"There would be a lot of interest in a quality outside back like Brett," said Morris's agent, David Riolo. "He'd love stay at the Dragons, as his brother wanted to, but Josh was forced out. Hopefully history isn't repeating but it doesn't look good.
"He'll try to take every opportunity that he gets and show that he's good value to the club."
Morris said his preference was to remain at the joint-venture club.
"I'm really happy at the Dragons and I hope I get some opportunities to show my worth," Morris said.
In all, the Dragons have 14 of their top 25 players off contract, including Dean Young, Ben Creagh, Mathew Head, Luke Priddis, Beau Scott and Wendell Sailor. The situation will allow coach Wayne Bennett to make significant retention and recruitment changes that will put his stamp on the team.
In other news, Trent Barrett's bid to make a miracle return from injury today has been in vain, the Sharks playmaker ruled out of the ANZ Stadium clash with the Bulldogs.
Barrett suffered a neck injury last week against the Dragons and club doctor David Givney recommended an extra week of recovery time.
Blake Green, who played alongside Barrett last week, will partner the returning Brett Seymour in the halves.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/lhqnews/poore-to-get-rich-quick/2009/04/04/1238832408792.html
If he signs with the scum..........that will piss me off. St george players should never go to the scummers. EVER.:x
I dont think he will stay. If he is chasing the $$$$$$ then we wont offer him 300k. Bennett never pays a forward that sort of money unless they are game breakers. Poor is a great forward, but not a game breaker. Hope we can sort out these off contract players soon.
