Hopefully this will be sorted out within the next week. From todays Telegraph.
MATT Orford has no club and no training partners - but still the halfback is firming to steal that Buy Of The Year mantle from South Sydney superstar Greg Inglis.
In a mock market framed by TAB Sportsbet, unsigned Orford incredibly sits ahead of every other recruit in the best-buy category bar Inglis, who is favourite at $2.75.
The result is a timely one for the 2008 Dally M medallist, who now looks certain to resolve his contract dispute with English club Bradford and return to the NRL.
"Matt Orford is certainly an appealing player for any club," says Canberra coach David Furner, whose club remains favoured to snare the former Sea Eagles No. 7.
"Halfback is a role where players improve with time, with experience. And Matt has plenty of that. He's won a grand final, won a Dally M Medal, he's a player who knows how to get a job done.
"But right now it'd be wrong to assume too much because he still has some legalities that need to be sorted. It's no secret that we're interested in him but until he gets that other stuff worked out no NRL club can go anywhere near him."
Orford's manager George Mimis was giving nothing away about the future of his star client last night, however sources close to the Central Coast product insist he is close to ending the ongoing dispute over $200,000 with Bradford.
Other standout results of the market include Canterbury boasting three recruits, Trent Hodkinson, Frank Pritchard and Aiden Tolman, in the top dozen while Parramatta fail to rate a mention despite signing a gang of recognised players including Carl Webb, Chris Walker, Reni Maitua, Paul Whatuira and Casey McGuire.
Newcastle back-rower Chris Houston, who only returned to training this week after four drug supply charges against him were dropped, is also firmly in the market at $11."Matt Orford may have his share of knockers but when you look at what he's achieved in the game coupled with his experience, he has the potential to be a great buy," TAB Sportsbet spokesman Matt Jenkins said.
"Canberra will be missing [playmaker] Terry Campese for much of the year so, if Matt does go ahead and sign with the Raiders, a lot of responsibility will fall on his shoulders. Of course, there are plenty of smokys you can throw into the mix too.
"Only today we had someone put $40,000 on the Warriors at $15, so they obviously think guys like Shaun Berrigan and Feleti Mateo will go well."
