Found this in the Canberra Times today, seems Woolford is trying to force management's hand on this which IMO would not be the best move for him... if the offer comes it will come. Then again, if it is true I would like to see management trying a little bit harder to sign up those off-contract players a bit sooner.
Woolford still waiting by the phone to lock in contract
By Peter Fitzgerald Rugby league
Wednesday, 9 February 2005
Canberra Raiders captain Simon Woolford claimed yesterday that the club he has served for 11 years had not yet offered him a substantial deal for next season, despite having voiced his concern of wanting his future settled before the start of the upcoming National Rugby League season.
Woolford's current contract with the Raiders expires at the end of this season but the soon-to-be 30-year-old says he isn't yet ready to retire from rugby league.
Raiders general manager Don Furner, who was yesterday named as co-manager of the NSW Blues for this year's State Of Origin series, claimed Woolford had already rejected a one-year deal recently offered to him by the club, despite the captain saying he had not yet received a "formal" offer.
Furner would not expand as to what specifics of the deal the skipper was believed to be unsatisfied with.
Woolford joins Clinton Schifcofske, Ryan O'Hara and Ian Hindmarsh as senior team members coming off contract at the end of the season but the hooker doesn't want to have any uncertainty about his future still lingering when the Raiders kick-off their season against the Knights on March 19.
In total, seven regular first-graders come off contract at the end of the season.
"I'd hope to have it sorted very quickly whether I'm going to be here or whether I'm not going to be," he said.
"I've always wanted to start my career here and finish it here but albeit, maybe, have a year in England after that but a lot of the times, that doesn't get to be the case.
"I don't know about over in England but I know there'll be a fair bit of interest from other clubs in Australia.
"It's a two-way thing - it's up to the Raiders to make me the right offer too. A lot will depend on that. I just hope to have that sorted in the next few weeks."
Woolford, who admitted the negotiating period was "still in the very early stages", said a decision like this wasn't one that was easily made. Such things as family and which players the Raiders were looking at possibly attracting to the club in the future were two issues worth serious consideration before committing anywhere.
"It's no secret that it is hard to get the really big- name players to Canberra, so I guess a lot of guys [coming] off contract will look to see if we can lure some really big names to the club," he said. "That may have a big bearing on the players already here and their decisions for the future.
"It's probably a small concern but it's only early stages yet and as much as all guys would like to have all their negotiations done early, most of the time it does take a fair bit of time and effort and that's just the way it is."
Meanwhile Woolford, Schifcofske, Jason Croker, Matt Adamson, Tyran Smith and Damon Alley-Tovio will head to the Riverina next week to run clinics for country fans.
The players will spread themselves between Young, Cowra, Cootamundra and Junee next Wednesday and Thursday for two days of visiting schools, holding coaching clinics and attending local rugby league functions.
Woolford, originally from Young, is looking forward to returning to his former home to help out the local kids.
"I guess I'm fortunate I can go back to my home town which will be a lot of fun," he said.
"I think it means a lot to the kids. There wasn't a great deal of opportunity for me to see it when I was a kid because it didn't happen as much so I think it's fantastic we can go back to the country areas and thrill the kids who love the game."
The players will return to Canberra on the Thursday before playing the Bulldogs in Gosford in their first trial match two days later.
http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/de... sport&story_id=369758&y=2005&m=2
