Ex-skipper Woolford happy to stand by Schifcofske as Raiders' main man
Doug MacDougall
Tuesday, 11 July 2006
Former Canberra Raiders skipper Simon Woolford yesterday slammed suggestions Clinton Schifcofske should stand down as captain if, as it is growing increasingly likely, he decides to take up an offer to join the Queensland Reds.
Shifcofske's switch to rugby union is almost complete, with his manager saying he's "nutting out a deal" for his client to join the Queensland Reds.
Despite being tied to the Raiders until 2008, Schifcofske has a clause in his contract which allows him to leave the club when coach Matthew Elliott joins Penrith next season.
Schifcofske met with Queensland Reds coach Eddie Jones about a possible cross-code switch on Friday, with the former Wallabies mentor "90 per cent" confident he will join the Super 14 franchise on a three-year deal.
Incoming Raiders head coach Neil Henry said the club would "move on" if Schifcofske opted to leave Canberra, but was reluctant to point to a replacement skipper.
Woolford was adamant Schifcofske's impending decision on whether to join former ACT Brumbies and Wallabies coach Jones at the Reds should have little consequence on the rest of his season.
"No, I don't think he should stand down at all," Woolford said of Schifcofske.
"He's done a great job this year, we've got eight weeks to go and there's no reason why - if he does decide to leave - that he should stand down as captain.
"Everyone respects him for the job he does and that won't change, no matter what his decision. I don't think it will even be an issue for the club."
Henry, who will join the Raiders on November 1, downplayed the impact of Schifcofske's departure.
"It's of some concern because he's an integral part of the club [and] of course we're going to miss him because of his experience," Henry said.
"He's a valued player, the club captain, and a leader, so he's certainly part of the future of the club.
"But at the moment, [Schifcofske joining the Reds] is speculation and I can't do much about that.
"He's a valued part of the club this year and we're hopeful he'll be a valued member of the club for the next couple of years for the term of his contract.
"But [if Schifcofske leaves] the club will move on."
Woolford suggested an experienced player should take over from Schifcofske.
"Maybe if Jason Croker still hangs around for next year he'd be an obvious choice," Woolford said.
"But he's looking at moving to England at the moment.
"So I guess you'd have to look at someone like Alan Tongue or Lincoln Withers, someone who's been here long term and could be a long-term captain."
Henry, however, indicated one of the Raiders' younger members could "step up" as captain.
"No one stands out as an obvious choice," Henry said.
"I know that Matt Elliott has got a young leadership group at the club, and it might be one of these young guys that steps up to the mark if, hypothetically, [Schifcofske leaving] was to happen.
"But at the moment whether or not [Schifcofske] leaves is all speculation."
Schifcofske's manager Steve Gillis said yesterday he was in the process of working on a deal with the Reds.
"I think there's now a very realistic chance he's going to go," Gillis said.
"[Clinton's] spoken to some people about where he's at and what he wants to do and he's serious about it."
In other NRL contract news, Parramatta and UK club Salford have dropped out of the race for Melbourne five-eighth Scott Hill, with Super League clubs Castleford or London Harlequins set to pip the Storm for his signature.
