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I just read the following article in the Canberra Times
Moon sizes up move to Raiders
BY LEE GASKIN
02 Jun, 2011 08:49 AM
Off-contract Warriors utility Joel Moon is open to an offer from the Canberra Raiders, but his manager admits centre isn't his favoured position.
Moon has been touted as one of the Raiders' main recruiting targets as the club looks to sign an experienced centre for next season.
Right centre is an area in which the Raiders lack depth.
Joel Thompson has filled the role during the past two seasons, but he is just as damaging as a wide-running back-rower.
Moon has spent the bulk of his six NRL seasons shuffled between the centres, lock and halves.
His manager, Daryl Mather, said lock was the 23-year-old's best position.
''That's part of the Joel Moon dilemma,'' Mather said. ''He's a prodigious talent, on his day he's phenomenal. But he's a manufactured centre.
''At five-eighth he's failed to dictate the terms of a game like [Terry] Campese does for the full 80 minutes.
''At lock he gives a nice balance. He plays a quasi lock/five-eighth role and he can express himself in attack and he's an aggressive defender.
''Lock is ultimately where he'll play his best football.''
Moon's opportunities in the No13 jersey would be limited in Canberra, with Shaun Fensom earmarked as the Raiders' long-term lock forward.
''That could make it difficult, because [the Raiders] probably see [Moon] as one of the other two positions and [Moon] may have to play there,'' Mather said.
''But I think long-term lock is probably his best outcome.''
Since joining the Warriors in 2009 Moon has played mostly in the centres. He played the first three rounds of this season in that position before being dropped.
New Zealand's stellar form since has made it difficult for Moon to regain his place in the top grade.
In 2008 Moon rejected an offer to join the Raiders from the Broncos, instead joining the Warriors on a three-year deal.
Mather insisted his client would listen to another approach, but the Raiders were yet to make contact.
''Canberra haven't rung me to date,'' Mather said. ''He [Moon] is probably feeling it's not working out at the Warriors, so we are endeavouring to bring him back to Australia. ''We're in the process now of looking at potential suitors for him and I'd like to hear from everybody that is interested.''
I think we need to be looking at who is available in the outside backs following the whole Monaghan saga. We do have Vidot (who is a centre in my opinion) and a couple of guys in the Under 20s who we seem to be grooming for centre like Haydon Hodge but we lack a bit of depth.
This article is an attempt by Moons manager to get people interested in him cause he has been forgotten about a little butu if he isnt a better centre than berrigan and the second rowers the warriors are playing in the centres we dont want him. He says lock is his position anyway and in my eyes we are well served in that area. I would have been trying to get Esi Tonga before he signed with the Eels or maybe having a crack at Joseph Tomane who is off contract and the Titans have already signed up their centres for next year.
Does anyone have any other thoughts on who we could be looking at to supplement the people we currently have?
Moon sizes up move to Raiders
BY LEE GASKIN
02 Jun, 2011 08:49 AM
Off-contract Warriors utility Joel Moon is open to an offer from the Canberra Raiders, but his manager admits centre isn't his favoured position.
Moon has been touted as one of the Raiders' main recruiting targets as the club looks to sign an experienced centre for next season.
Right centre is an area in which the Raiders lack depth.
Joel Thompson has filled the role during the past two seasons, but he is just as damaging as a wide-running back-rower.
Moon has spent the bulk of his six NRL seasons shuffled between the centres, lock and halves.
His manager, Daryl Mather, said lock was the 23-year-old's best position.
''That's part of the Joel Moon dilemma,'' Mather said. ''He's a prodigious talent, on his day he's phenomenal. But he's a manufactured centre.
''At five-eighth he's failed to dictate the terms of a game like [Terry] Campese does for the full 80 minutes.
''At lock he gives a nice balance. He plays a quasi lock/five-eighth role and he can express himself in attack and he's an aggressive defender.
''Lock is ultimately where he'll play his best football.''
Moon's opportunities in the No13 jersey would be limited in Canberra, with Shaun Fensom earmarked as the Raiders' long-term lock forward.
''That could make it difficult, because [the Raiders] probably see [Moon] as one of the other two positions and [Moon] may have to play there,'' Mather said.
''But I think long-term lock is probably his best outcome.''
Since joining the Warriors in 2009 Moon has played mostly in the centres. He played the first three rounds of this season in that position before being dropped.
New Zealand's stellar form since has made it difficult for Moon to regain his place in the top grade.
In 2008 Moon rejected an offer to join the Raiders from the Broncos, instead joining the Warriors on a three-year deal.
Mather insisted his client would listen to another approach, but the Raiders were yet to make contact.
''Canberra haven't rung me to date,'' Mather said. ''He [Moon] is probably feeling it's not working out at the Warriors, so we are endeavouring to bring him back to Australia. ''We're in the process now of looking at potential suitors for him and I'd like to hear from everybody that is interested.''
I think we need to be looking at who is available in the outside backs following the whole Monaghan saga. We do have Vidot (who is a centre in my opinion) and a couple of guys in the Under 20s who we seem to be grooming for centre like Haydon Hodge but we lack a bit of depth.
This article is an attempt by Moons manager to get people interested in him cause he has been forgotten about a little butu if he isnt a better centre than berrigan and the second rowers the warriors are playing in the centres we dont want him. He says lock is his position anyway and in my eyes we are well served in that area. I would have been trying to get Esi Tonga before he signed with the Eels or maybe having a crack at Joseph Tomane who is off contract and the Titans have already signed up their centres for next year.
Does anyone have any other thoughts on who we could be looking at to supplement the people we currently have?
