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Michael Crocker set to join Souths
By Andrew Webster | May 05, 2009 12:00am
Announcement imminent ... former Storm forward Michael Crocker. Photograph: Colleen Petch / The Daily Telegraph
THIS is the cold, hard proof that stranded back-rower Michael Crocker is on the verge of signing with South Sydney. As club sources insisted an announcement was "imminent", The Daily Telegraph can today reveal a private email to Rabbitohs chief executive Shane Richardson from sponsor McGrath Estate Agents outlining a lucrative third-party offer to Crocker.
The agreement is almost identical to the one involving Craig Wing that has fallen apart and has the Souths star sniffing out alternative deals elsewhere. As revealed in the email sent from McGrath sales manager Stuart Rutherford to Richardson last Friday, Crocker will earn $25,000 a year and has the potential to make more if he attracts new clients.
He would work one day a week - a part of the deal Wing failed to satisfy under the terms of his agreement with McGrath.
Crocker's potential third-party agreement comes on top of a three-year offer, believed to be worth more than $200,000 a season.
While mystified that The Daily Telegraph had obtained the email, Richardson confirmed the external arrangement was part of the offer to Crocker.
"We're definitely chasing Michael Crocker - and we hope we're in with a real chance," Richardson said last night. "Michael has a genuine interest in going into real estate, and we contacted some companies we're associated with - not just McGrath - on his behalf.
"But rumours that it's a done deal are off the mark. I wish it was."
Crocker is still sweating on an appeal to the UK Home Office, which has blocked him from taking up a lucrative three-year deal worth almost $1 million with Hull after he was convicted of affray in 2006.
He has been living in Melbourne and training with his former Storm teammates, and Hull officials are privately resigned to the fact he will not join them.
The Warriors were the only other serious contender for Crocker's signature but it is believed the move to New Zealand was an ocean too far for his partner. If Crocker is to stay in the NRL, he must sign before June 30 - although Souths officials want the deal done as soon as this week.
"We haven't started negotiations with any NRL clubs," Crocker's manager Andrew Purcell said last night. "He is still confident of going to England."
Asked about the third-party agreement with McGrath, Purcell replied after a long pause: "It's all very exciting . . . who told you that? Whoever did, can you ask them to ring me?"
Richardson insisted any deal with Crocker did not hinge on the club releasing Wing, who is struggling financially after losing $600,000 in a Vanuatu property investment gone sour. Souths have room to move under their cap after releasing winger Shannon Hegarty.
"This has nothing to do with Craig Wing whatsoever," Richardson said. "We want Wingy to play for South Sydney for as long as possible."
By Andrew Webster | May 05, 2009 12:00am
THIS is the cold, hard proof that stranded back-rower Michael Crocker is on the verge of signing with South Sydney. As club sources insisted an announcement was "imminent", The Daily Telegraph can today reveal a private email to Rabbitohs chief executive Shane Richardson from sponsor McGrath Estate Agents outlining a lucrative third-party offer to Crocker.
The agreement is almost identical to the one involving Craig Wing that has fallen apart and has the Souths star sniffing out alternative deals elsewhere. As revealed in the email sent from McGrath sales manager Stuart Rutherford to Richardson last Friday, Crocker will earn $25,000 a year and has the potential to make more if he attracts new clients.
He would work one day a week - a part of the deal Wing failed to satisfy under the terms of his agreement with McGrath.
Crocker's potential third-party agreement comes on top of a three-year offer, believed to be worth more than $200,000 a season.
While mystified that The Daily Telegraph had obtained the email, Richardson confirmed the external arrangement was part of the offer to Crocker.
"We're definitely chasing Michael Crocker - and we hope we're in with a real chance," Richardson said last night. "Michael has a genuine interest in going into real estate, and we contacted some companies we're associated with - not just McGrath - on his behalf.
"But rumours that it's a done deal are off the mark. I wish it was."
Crocker is still sweating on an appeal to the UK Home Office, which has blocked him from taking up a lucrative three-year deal worth almost $1 million with Hull after he was convicted of affray in 2006.
He has been living in Melbourne and training with his former Storm teammates, and Hull officials are privately resigned to the fact he will not join them.
The Warriors were the only other serious contender for Crocker's signature but it is believed the move to New Zealand was an ocean too far for his partner. If Crocker is to stay in the NRL, he must sign before June 30 - although Souths officials want the deal done as soon as this week.
"We haven't started negotiations with any NRL clubs," Crocker's manager Andrew Purcell said last night. "He is still confident of going to England."
Asked about the third-party agreement with McGrath, Purcell replied after a long pause: "It's all very exciting . . . who told you that? Whoever did, can you ask them to ring me?"
Richardson insisted any deal with Crocker did not hinge on the club releasing Wing, who is struggling financially after losing $600,000 in a Vanuatu property investment gone sour. Souths have room to move under their cap after releasing winger Shannon Hegarty.
"This has nothing to do with Craig Wing whatsoever," Richardson said. "We want Wingy to play for South Sydney for as long as possible."
