Interest from home makes Woolford reconsider his Euro vision
Peter Fitzgerald
Wednesday, 26 April 2006
Canberra hooker Simon Woolford could become the centre of a fierce bidding war between the Raiders, two rival NRL clubs and English Super League club Hull FC. Woolford's contract with Canberra expires at the end of the season and already several clubs in both Australia and England have shown interest in the 31-year-old.
Woolford had always expressed a desire to finish his career in England on a preferred two-year deal once his current contract with the Raiders ended.
But an increased amount of interest from two rival NRL clubs - as well as the Raiders considering offering him a further one-year offer - has the former Canberra skipper re-evaluating his initial aspirations of finishing his playing days abroad.
Woolford has talked with newly-appointed Hull coach Peter Sharp about the possibility of linking with the English club.
Woolford hoped to play for a further two seasons.
"I always wanted to go to England but it might not be my only option now," Woolford said.
"There are no offers on the table from anywhere yet but I do hope to have something finalised in a couple of weeks.
"Peter [Sharp] has only just started [at Hull] and he needs to find his feet and decide what positions he does and doesn't need to look at over there."
Woolford has plenty of reasons to finish his career in Australia.
He has interests in cafe chain Coffee Guru while he has discussed potential media work in Sydney after his football career.
He feared he could become "forgotten" in Australia if he left the country for two years.
"You see some guys go over there then come back after footy and it's like, well what do I do now?" Woolford said.
"Ideally I'd like to play for two more years because I think I'm in the best shape this year as I ever have been fitness-wise.
"I've spoken to [Raiders coach] Matty [Elliott] about it and he agreed that if I don't get bashed around too much now, I've got a good two years left.
"The way the game is being played these days, most hookers are only playing about 60 minutes anyway so if things stay that way, I should be fine."
Canberra general manager Don Furner confirmed the Raiders would consider tabling a one-year deal to Woolford.
Should he stay in Canberra next season Woolford - who has played 219 first-grade games with the club - would eclipse Ruben Wiki, Steve Walters and Laurie Daley to become the second-highest capped Raider behind Jason Croker.
Furner said that while Woolford had been a loyal contributor during his 13 seasons in the national capital, the club could ill-afford to retain its one-time skipper for any longer than one more season.
"It would probably be unrealistic because we've got a lot of quality youngsters coming through who we need to get into first grade," Furner said.
"We haven't spoken too in-depth with Simon yet about staying but it's something we have not and would not rule out for one more year." Woolford hoped to increase his potential value with a string of impressive performances for Canberra, beginning on Saturday night against the in-form Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.
Woolford, who will alternate in the dummy-half role with Lincoln Withers and Alan Tongue, believed the Raiders' versatility in the key position and ability to switch three genuine hookers around gave them a considerable chance of bringing Brisbane's defence undone.
Peter Fitzgerald
Wednesday, 26 April 2006
Canberra hooker Simon Woolford could become the centre of a fierce bidding war between the Raiders, two rival NRL clubs and English Super League club Hull FC. Woolford's contract with Canberra expires at the end of the season and already several clubs in both Australia and England have shown interest in the 31-year-old.
Woolford had always expressed a desire to finish his career in England on a preferred two-year deal once his current contract with the Raiders ended.
But an increased amount of interest from two rival NRL clubs - as well as the Raiders considering offering him a further one-year offer - has the former Canberra skipper re-evaluating his initial aspirations of finishing his playing days abroad.
Woolford has talked with newly-appointed Hull coach Peter Sharp about the possibility of linking with the English club.
Woolford hoped to play for a further two seasons.
"I always wanted to go to England but it might not be my only option now," Woolford said.
"There are no offers on the table from anywhere yet but I do hope to have something finalised in a couple of weeks.
"Peter [Sharp] has only just started [at Hull] and he needs to find his feet and decide what positions he does and doesn't need to look at over there."
Woolford has plenty of reasons to finish his career in Australia.
He has interests in cafe chain Coffee Guru while he has discussed potential media work in Sydney after his football career.
He feared he could become "forgotten" in Australia if he left the country for two years.
"You see some guys go over there then come back after footy and it's like, well what do I do now?" Woolford said.
"Ideally I'd like to play for two more years because I think I'm in the best shape this year as I ever have been fitness-wise.
"I've spoken to [Raiders coach] Matty [Elliott] about it and he agreed that if I don't get bashed around too much now, I've got a good two years left.
"The way the game is being played these days, most hookers are only playing about 60 minutes anyway so if things stay that way, I should be fine."
Canberra general manager Don Furner confirmed the Raiders would consider tabling a one-year deal to Woolford.
Should he stay in Canberra next season Woolford - who has played 219 first-grade games with the club - would eclipse Ruben Wiki, Steve Walters and Laurie Daley to become the second-highest capped Raider behind Jason Croker.
Furner said that while Woolford had been a loyal contributor during his 13 seasons in the national capital, the club could ill-afford to retain its one-time skipper for any longer than one more season.
"It would probably be unrealistic because we've got a lot of quality youngsters coming through who we need to get into first grade," Furner said.
"We haven't spoken too in-depth with Simon yet about staying but it's something we have not and would not rule out for one more year." Woolford hoped to increase his potential value with a string of impressive performances for Canberra, beginning on Saturday night against the in-form Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.
Woolford, who will alternate in the dummy-half role with Lincoln Withers and Alan Tongue, believed the Raiders' versatility in the key position and ability to switch three genuine hookers around gave them a considerable chance of bringing Brisbane's defence undone.
