Craig Gower heading to Knights
By BRETT KEEBLE June 4, 2013, 11 p.m.
The Knights have secured the services of the premiership-winning former Penrith captain for the rest of the season to cover the loss of captain Kurt Gidley to a long-term foot injury and lingering doubt over the fitness of veteran hooker Danny Buderus.
Gower was contracted to English club London Broncos until the end of 2014 but he said he had negotiated a release from the Super League cellar dwellers, clearing the way for him to join the Knights as early as next week.
Speaking to the Newcastle Herald from London on Tuesday night, Gower was confident he could still compete in the NRL, despite leaving the Australian game at the end of 2007, and said Knights coach Wayne Bennett would bring out the best in him.
‘‘I asked for a release here and Wayne got in contact with my manager and I got a text from him yesterday morning, so I had Wayne’s number and gave him a call and everything’s gone pretty quickly after that,’’ Gower said. ‘‘I only spoke to Wayne yesterday, I secured the release here last night and pretty much that was it.
‘‘I’ve been away from the game there for a few years, and obviously I’ve been playing footy here. But it’s not like the NRL, so that’s the way I’m approaching it, that it’s going to be one of the biggest challenges of my career.But there’s no one better to do it under than under Wayne, and I’m sure he’ll get the best out of me.’’
The Herald understands the Knights and Gower have agreed in principle and the club is expected to formally announce the deal as early as Wednesday, but gave little away in a statement posted on their website last night.
‘‘Following a number of media enquiries linking Craig Gower to the Newcastle Knights, the club can confirm they are in discussions with his management. Should there be any further developments, the club will provide another update at that time,’’ the statement read.
Gower said he hopes to arrive in Newcastle by next Monday with a view to training on Tuesday, and making himself available to play against Melbourne at AAMI Park on June 16.
It is understood the contract will be for the rest of this season, though there is a possibility it will include an option to allow both parties to reassess the situation at the end of the year with a view to a 12-month extension.
Like Buderus, Gower is 35 and is at the tail-end of his career, but Bennett clearly believes he has something to offer. Buderus has had two operations on his lower back this year and is no certainty to play out the season, and Gidley is not due back until the final third of the season after tearing a tendon in his foot last month.
Sources with knowledge of the Gower negotiations have told the Herald that Bennett wanted to sign him as an insurance policy to cover the possibility of losing one of the Knights’ remaining playmakers or dummy-halves.
Because Gower plays halfback, five-eighth or hooker, he would provide leadership and experience in case the Knights lost Jarrod Mullen, Tyrone Roberts, Travis Waddell or Adam Clydsdale to a season-ending injury.
Gower stepped down as Broncos captain last Thursday, then two days later they squandered a 30-16 lead with 16 minutes remaining against Castleford and had to settle for a 30-30 draw.
Including their 2003 grand final upset of the Roosters, Gower played 238 games for the Panthers between 1996 and 2007. He played 18 Tests for Australia and six Origin games for NSW.
Gower switched to rugby in 2008 and spent four seasons playing in France for Bayonne, which led to 14 Tests for Italy, then he returned to league with London in 2012.
He is expected to represent Italy at the Rugby League World Cup in England and Wales this year.
