Heres a story from a Canberra Newspaper.
Canberra turns to Kidwell and Pritchard
By Bevan Hannan
Friday, 25 June 2004
Hard-tackling Melbourne Storm lock David Kidwell and promising Penrith back-rower Frank Pritchard emerged as new targets for the Canberra Raiders yesterday.
Club management also edged closer to extending the contract of rising half-back Todd Carney in another busy lead-up day to the National Rugby League's mid-year trading period.
While the retention of star forward Ruben Wiki stands as a major battle for the Raiders at the fall of the June 30 anti-tampering deadline, there were a number of new developments yesterday including:
Local junior Matt Gafa poised to sign an upgraded and extended deal that will tie him to the Raiders until 2006.
General manager Don Furner said the Raiders had positive discussions with Carney's manager on a bid to lock-up the teenager until 2008.
Canberra signalled a play for 20-year-old Panther Pritchard, who was named as 18th man in the Kiwi ANZAC Test squad earlier this year. Pritchard is likely to remain in Sydney although the Raiders are more confident of luring fellow Kiwi, and former Rooster's premiership player, Kidwell from Melbourne.
Six NRL clubs are queueing for the services of boom Raiders' centre Joel Monaghan.
Rising forwards Alan Rothery and Kris Kahler are yet to be made offers by the Raiders.
A leading player manager described the frenzied player market as "Super League-style of bidding".
Furner said the Raiders had made a decision to adopt a youth policy with its recruitment strategy, rather than paying inflated prices for established players. While Canberra would register expressions of interest with quality centres Brent Tate (Brisbane), Ryan Cross (Roosters) and Timana Tahu (Newcastle), Furner said it would be difficult for the Raiders to compete with offers inflated by interest from both rugby codes.
As a result Furner and coach Matt Elliott are sifting through the names of players who will become available on 1 July, while foundation coach Don Furner snr, and former great Mal Meninga are playing talent-spotting roles interstate.
"There are a lot players coming on to the market after 30 June," Furner, jnr, said. "We will be looking at 20 to 21-year-olds who can bring long-term value to the club."
Goulburn junior Carney is clearly central to the plans, while the Raiders are also seeking to sign winger Michael Robertson in the next week. Furner said the Raiders had every intention of keeping Rothery and Kahler, and were aiming to make offers before 30 June.
It is understood gifted goalkicker Gafa has all but signed a two-year deal. But the Raiders will have to overcome significant competition to keep prolific tryscorer Monaghan.
Manager Jim Banaghan said Monaghan would wait and see who the Raiders had on their books plus weigh up offers from six NRL clubs he expected to field next week. However, Banaghan made an ominous warning about the imminent bidding war.
"Joel wishes to be at a strong club, going forward and having the best opportunity he can to win a premiership and play representative football," Banaghan said.
"He has had a good couple of years and for some reason this year we are entering into the Super League domain of bidding.
"There is a good bunch of premium players on the market. There is also a number of clubs in the last couple of years who have been holding back and are cashed up."
Canberra CEO Simon Hawkins did not agree that overall player prices had returned to Super League days, but did admit he was surprised with the size of the bids at the top end of market. Banaghan also said Wigan chairman Maurice Lindsay arrived in Australia yesterday. The duo had a telephone conversation but were not expected to sit down and discuss an offer for Wiki until early next week.
So, Kidwell, Prichard, Brent Tate (Brisbane), Ryan Cross (Roosters) and Timana Tahu (Newcastle), are all being targeted by the raiders according to their own management. Monaghan is being targeted by 6 other clubs. Yet all we here about is the Roosters.
:lol: 
