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Raiders want Orford - without the price tag from bullish Bradford

aussies1st

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Bradford insist Matt Orford will report for pre-season training next month despite renewed speculation linking him with a return to the NRL.

The 32-year-old former Melbourne Storm and Manly No.7, who was the Bulls' marquee signing for 2010, has two years left on his contract but returned to Australia before the end of his first season to undergo shoulder surgery and has found himself in big demand.

Canberra are known to be chasing his services and new Parramatta coach Stephen Kearney, who worked with Orford at Melbourne, revealed a keen interest.

Kearney, who has succeeded Daniel Anderson at the Eels, told reporters at his first press conference that Orford is keen to return to the NRL and warned them to expect developments in the next few weeks.

The loss of Orford would leave a huge hole in the Bradford squad for new coach Mick Potter, who was returning to Australia on Wednesday for a holiday, but the club's chief executive Ryan Duckett said there had been no developments.

"Nothing has changed," he said.

"When Matt went back home to have the operation he told us he was fully committed to the club and he is due back for training at the beginning of November.

"He remains contracted to the club for another two years."

Meanwhile the Rugby Football League in England are to take a pro-active stance to increase the number of British coaches in the Super League.

Bradford's recent appointment of Australian Potter as the successor to England boss Steve McNamara left just three Britons in charge of the 14 clubs, although Harlequins are expected to appoint a British successor to Brian McDermott.

John Kear (Wakefield), Brian Noble (Crusaders) and Richard Agar (Hull) are the trio of home-produced coaches, but the League are to identify 10 current British players and put them on a coaching pathway.

The players will initially be involved with academy and junior teams but the player-to-coach programme will be designed to help them reach the top.

Martin Crick, the RFL's national coach development manager, said:

"We know how important it is to have British coaches involved with British clubs and it is our task to help ensure that we can develop as many first-class coaches as we can who can apply for the top jobs."

http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/...ot-return-to-nrl/story-e6frf3ou-1225935228872

Funny how we went from absolutely no interest in Orford to chasing him.
 
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3,445
Thanks mate. Sounds OK but exactly what we don't need.

Agree with what Aussie said.

But you never know he may kick on under a new system. He has always been at the Raiders.

2008 I thought he played well but this year once McCrone got the nod to be our halfback he seemed to lack passion.

New club , new start may do wonders.
 

Banana

Juniors
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20
Not going to be worse than Orford.

Not a popular bloke at the moment. Not because of what he's done, but the way he's gone about it -really low.
 

Vic Mackey

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25,327
Seriously why the hell would orford go to parra instead of canberra? The eels are a basketcase whereas the raiders have the best front row rotation in the comp an the moat exciting young backline in years. All they need is a halfback and they are a real shot at the title
 

aussies1st

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28,154
Seriously why the hell would orford go to parra instead of canberra? The eels are a basketcase whereas the raiders have the best front row rotation in the comp an the moat exciting young backline in years. All they need is a halfback and they are a real shot at the title

Put simply Sydney.
 

aussies1st

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About time and that would be a very good signing. McCrone will finally get to play in his preferred spot and we can see how he handles that with an experienced halfback. Still getting ahead of myself though.
 

Skitz68

Juniors
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45
Not really all the paper talk and rumours had him signed and sealed for parra.

The tigers picked up Jason Cayless , Wade McKinnon , Tame Toupo all of which were either running on old legs or had a history of recurring injuries and they proved not to be good signings. Signing orford could be a disaster , he's no good on the sideline .
 
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The tigers picked up Jason Cayless , Wade McKinnon , Tame Toupo all of which were either running on old legs or had a history of recurring injuries and they proved not to be good signings. Signing orford could be a disaster , he's no good on the sideline .

Nor is any player. Tate.

Who's to say Orford will get injured again?
 

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