Rhinos chase Kimmorley

[G@v]

Leeds Rhinos want to sign Australia’s World Cup halfback Brett Kimmorley if his club, the Northern Eagles, cannot afford to pay what his current contract demands. The Eagles are in dire financial straits after the NRL this week refused a $1.5 million bail-out request.
The merged club is said to be ready to ask all players to take a 12.5 per cent pay cut next season or leave.
Kimmorley’s agent, Sam Ayoub, said Leeds’ chief executive Gary Hetherington telephoned him on Sunday, indicating he wanted Kimmorley as a replacement for Iestyn Harris when he made the expected switch to Rugby Union.
Ayoub said no offers would be considered until it was clear what was happening with the Northern Eagles.

 

[legend]

It seems to me the English clubs have become easy targets for league mercenaries and the ESL clubs come across looking like beggars the way they chase players. The other problem I have seen is the increasing number of Aussie players who are walking out on their contracts willy nilly. I think the latter problem has spawned because of the former problem.

 

[imported_EskimoRichy]

If we get Kimmorley it will be our best ever signing but it will be at a big cost mind!

 

[G@v]

legend, with the NRL salary cap, and the weakness of the Aussie dollar, this is a likely trend for the forseable future. I don't want to see the ESL flooded with Aussies chasing the big bucks, but it's a better alternative than to see them switching to Union.

I'd like to see a few of our big names joining Adrian Morley in the NRL, but that is unlikely at the moment.

 

[legend]

Gav, what is happening in the U.K as far as junior development goes? To me that would be the most pressing issue in the ESL. I would love to see every U.K side for of their own players for thebenfit of the game in the U.K. I would also love to see a powerhouse British Lions take on the Aussies and Kiwis in a triangular series once every second year and alternate the venues between the U.K and Aust/NZ.