Manly bank on salary cap increase to retain rising star Hodkinson
CHRIS BARRETT AND GREG PRICHARD
June 3, 2010
Manly boss Graham Lowe admits the Sea Eagles cannot match the cash that Canterbury are throwing at rookie halfback Trent Hodkinson but remains hopeful they can keep the exciting 21-year-old at Brookvale Oval beyond this year.
Hodkinson, who made his City Origin debut last month after playing only six NRL games, has been offered a three-year deal by the Bulldogs valued at a reported $270,000 a season and Canterbury chief executive Todd Greenberg hopes to have an answer this week.
''[An offer of] $270,000 a year is not in our range, that's for sure,'' Lowe said. ''But I think there's a bigger picture to look at. I think there's a lot of things for him to weigh up and I'm sure he'd be the first to recognise the value that Des [Hasler] has been for him. As far as wrapping everything up this week, we're certainly not rushing anything.''
Lowe said the Sea Eagles were anxious to find out if speculation that there would be a significant rise in the salary cap for next season was on the money. It could be a boost to their chances of retaining Hodkinson.
He said the club could not formalise an offer to Hodkinson until it knew what the cap situation would be. ''It's difficult for us at the moment because we need to know exactly what the NRL is doing with the cap,'' Lowe said. ''And I'm sure there are plenty of other clubs who need to get some information on that front. We obviously want to keep Trent and we'll do everything we can to keep him.
''It sounds like Trent has had a fantastic offer from outside and I respect that, but I'm convinced he hasn't done anything yet and that he won't do anything until he finds out what we can do. We just need to find out what's happening with the cap so we can get all of our ducks in a row.''
Greenberg said the signing of Hodkinson would not rule out the Bulldogs retaining veteran halfback Brett Kimmorley for another season.
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...tain-rising-star-hodkinson-20100602-wzvo.html
