Sharks bait Hewat to make the switch
www.smh.com.au
By James MacSmith
Thursday, April 20, 2006
In an escalation of the cross-code poaching war between rugby union and rugby league in-form Waratahs utility Peter Hewat has been approached by NRL club the Cronulla Sharks about switching codes.
With rugby's public courtship of Kangaroos centre Mark Gasnier dominating recent headlines, the Sharks' interest in the dynamic back, who is possibly on the verge of a Wallabies call-up, could be seen as league returning fire.
But there is one problem - Hewat is on contract until the end of the 2008 season and NSW coach Ewen McKenzie says the Waratahs have no intention of letting him go.
"We've heard there has been an approach but we're not concerned because we've got him contracted for another couple of years," McKenzie said. "In a way we see it as a bit of a compliment because we gave him a chance and he's really taken it up and they obviously see a bloke with a fair bit of ability.
"We know he has had an approach from a European club as well. He has had a slow start to the year but now he's displaying the form he showed last year. Pete is playing with less risk and more maturity this year and every game he is enhancing his prospects of playing at a higher level."
When contacted yesterday Hewat, who played rugby league as a schoolboy in Inverell, confirmed the interest from the rival code and reaffirmed his desire to play for the Wallabies.
"I have received an approach through my manager Ben Williams and I'm flattered by the interest but I'm really enjoying my football with the Waratahs and I'm very happy where I am - that's all I really want to say," Hewat said.
Cronulla chief executive Greg Pierce said Hewat's name had come up in club discussions about recruitment for the 2007 NRL season.
"We have been looking at a number of options for outside backs and his name came up," Pierce said. "Apparently he played league as a kid and he's a good goalkicker, which would make him more attractive, but we have not made any formal offer."
Sharks recruitment manager Theo Burgess added: "Peter Hewat was one of about six or eight names that we tossed up and if he was off contract or looking at switching codes we would be interested in him. But that would be a bit of a way down the track."
Hewat has been one of the Waratahs' best players this year and is a good chance to make his Wallabies debut this year.
After battling for years in Queensland club rugby, Hewat made a stunning Super 12 debut last season in which he was named rookie of the year and was the Waratahs leading pointscorer and tryscorer. After a slow start to 2006 he has continued that form this season, performances not lost on rugby league officials.
Wallabies coach John Connolly is looking at blooding Test debutants in the June Tests and Hewat is considered a good chance of making his international debut in the second Test against England in Melbourne or the Test against Ireland in Perth.
Waratahs boss Fraser Neill, who met with Gasnier on Tuesday and is close to tabling an offer to the Dragons star along with the ARU, said he expected the offer to Hewat to lead to increased cross code poaching attempts.
"I can fully understand why they are after a player of Pete's calibre but he's not going anywhere - he wants to play on the big stage," Neill said.
www.smh.com.au
By James MacSmith
Thursday, April 20, 2006
In an escalation of the cross-code poaching war between rugby union and rugby league in-form Waratahs utility Peter Hewat has been approached by NRL club the Cronulla Sharks about switching codes.
With rugby's public courtship of Kangaroos centre Mark Gasnier dominating recent headlines, the Sharks' interest in the dynamic back, who is possibly on the verge of a Wallabies call-up, could be seen as league returning fire.
But there is one problem - Hewat is on contract until the end of the 2008 season and NSW coach Ewen McKenzie says the Waratahs have no intention of letting him go.
"We've heard there has been an approach but we're not concerned because we've got him contracted for another couple of years," McKenzie said. "In a way we see it as a bit of a compliment because we gave him a chance and he's really taken it up and they obviously see a bloke with a fair bit of ability.
"We know he has had an approach from a European club as well. He has had a slow start to the year but now he's displaying the form he showed last year. Pete is playing with less risk and more maturity this year and every game he is enhancing his prospects of playing at a higher level."
When contacted yesterday Hewat, who played rugby league as a schoolboy in Inverell, confirmed the interest from the rival code and reaffirmed his desire to play for the Wallabies.
"I have received an approach through my manager Ben Williams and I'm flattered by the interest but I'm really enjoying my football with the Waratahs and I'm very happy where I am - that's all I really want to say," Hewat said.
Cronulla chief executive Greg Pierce said Hewat's name had come up in club discussions about recruitment for the 2007 NRL season.
"We have been looking at a number of options for outside backs and his name came up," Pierce said. "Apparently he played league as a kid and he's a good goalkicker, which would make him more attractive, but we have not made any formal offer."
Sharks recruitment manager Theo Burgess added: "Peter Hewat was one of about six or eight names that we tossed up and if he was off contract or looking at switching codes we would be interested in him. But that would be a bit of a way down the track."
Hewat has been one of the Waratahs' best players this year and is a good chance to make his Wallabies debut this year.
After battling for years in Queensland club rugby, Hewat made a stunning Super 12 debut last season in which he was named rookie of the year and was the Waratahs leading pointscorer and tryscorer. After a slow start to 2006 he has continued that form this season, performances not lost on rugby league officials.
Wallabies coach John Connolly is looking at blooding Test debutants in the June Tests and Hewat is considered a good chance of making his international debut in the second Test against England in Melbourne or the Test against Ireland in Perth.
Waratahs boss Fraser Neill, who met with Gasnier on Tuesday and is close to tabling an offer to the Dragons star along with the ARU, said he expected the offer to Hewat to lead to increased cross code poaching attempts.
"I can fully understand why they are after a player of Pete's calibre but he's not going anywhere - he wants to play on the big stage," Neill said.
