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Moule to roost with Sea Eagles
By Brad Walter
July 17, 2004
Former Melbourne centre Aaron Moule is considering making an NRL comeback for Manly next season. Moule, who played in the Storm's 1999 premiership-winning side, stunned teammates and club officials when he suddenly quit last year but has since returned to the game in Britain.
The 27-year-old Queenslander is contracted to Widnes for another season but it is understood he has an escape clause and wants to return home.
Manly missed out on Newcastle's Timana Tahu and Canberra centre Joel Monaghan recently, and Sea Eagles executive director Paul Cummings yesterday confirmed the club was interested in Moule.
"We have been advised that he wants to come back to Australia and it is certainly something that we are looking at," Cummings said. "Our intention was always to recruit two forwards and an outside back. We've got Ben Kennedy and Brent Kite but we're still looking for a centre and he falls into that category.
"At the moment, Aaron is out injured but he is still contracted over there, so it's a matter of him getting a release before we can do anything."
Moule, who joined Melbourne from South Queensland in 1998, scored 58 tries in his 104 games for the Storm but was troubled by groin problems towards the end of his stint there.
Widnes announced this week that Moule was likely to miss the rest of the Super League season after he had surgery last Friday to repair a torn knee cartilage.
Meanwhile, NSW Origin centre Mark Gasnier is expected to announce his playing future next week, but St George Illawarra appear resigned that he will take up an offer from Wigan and are eying South Sydney's Lee Hookey as a replacement.
Cronulla are expected to finalise a deal next week with Parramatta to release five-eighth Adam Dykes back to the club where he began his career.
The Sharks held further negotiations yesterday with veteran fullback David Peachey and suspended five-eighth Greg Bird and hope to re-sign both by Tuesday.
The Sydney Roosters yesterday announced the recruitment of Penrith forward Richard Fa'Aoso on a two-year deal. Fa'Aoso, who made his NRL debut two weeks ago in Melbourne, was a member of the 2003 Junior Kangaroos.
Newcastle, who yesterday tabled a three-year deal for Melbourne forward Kirk Reynoldson, re-signed centre George Carmont.
Canberra have been linked to Brisbane winger Craig Frawley, who is being viewed as a centre replacement for Monaghan.
The NRL plans to start accrediting player agents within a month. Under the scheme, applicants would appear before a panel chaired by a solicitor and involving representatives of secondary schools, agents, the players' association and the league.
"Initially being accredited would not be compulsory but the idea is that if you are not accredited, players would eventually be less inclined to employ you," said NRL chief executive David Gallop, who was joined by many agents at the national secondary schools championships at St Marys yesterday.
Gallop has written to Richard Lewis, executive chairman of Britain's Rugby Football League, to lock in the World Club Challenge next February. While the door has been left ajar for it to be held in Australia, Gallop said Britain was a more likely venue.
By Brad Walter
July 17, 2004
Former Melbourne centre Aaron Moule is considering making an NRL comeback for Manly next season. Moule, who played in the Storm's 1999 premiership-winning side, stunned teammates and club officials when he suddenly quit last year but has since returned to the game in Britain.
The 27-year-old Queenslander is contracted to Widnes for another season but it is understood he has an escape clause and wants to return home.
Manly missed out on Newcastle's Timana Tahu and Canberra centre Joel Monaghan recently, and Sea Eagles executive director Paul Cummings yesterday confirmed the club was interested in Moule.
"We have been advised that he wants to come back to Australia and it is certainly something that we are looking at," Cummings said. "Our intention was always to recruit two forwards and an outside back. We've got Ben Kennedy and Brent Kite but we're still looking for a centre and he falls into that category.
"At the moment, Aaron is out injured but he is still contracted over there, so it's a matter of him getting a release before we can do anything."
Moule, who joined Melbourne from South Queensland in 1998, scored 58 tries in his 104 games for the Storm but was troubled by groin problems towards the end of his stint there.
Widnes announced this week that Moule was likely to miss the rest of the Super League season after he had surgery last Friday to repair a torn knee cartilage.
Meanwhile, NSW Origin centre Mark Gasnier is expected to announce his playing future next week, but St George Illawarra appear resigned that he will take up an offer from Wigan and are eying South Sydney's Lee Hookey as a replacement.
Cronulla are expected to finalise a deal next week with Parramatta to release five-eighth Adam Dykes back to the club where he began his career.
The Sharks held further negotiations yesterday with veteran fullback David Peachey and suspended five-eighth Greg Bird and hope to re-sign both by Tuesday.
The Sydney Roosters yesterday announced the recruitment of Penrith forward Richard Fa'Aoso on a two-year deal. Fa'Aoso, who made his NRL debut two weeks ago in Melbourne, was a member of the 2003 Junior Kangaroos.
Newcastle, who yesterday tabled a three-year deal for Melbourne forward Kirk Reynoldson, re-signed centre George Carmont.
Canberra have been linked to Brisbane winger Craig Frawley, who is being viewed as a centre replacement for Monaghan.
The NRL plans to start accrediting player agents within a month. Under the scheme, applicants would appear before a panel chaired by a solicitor and involving representatives of secondary schools, agents, the players' association and the league.
"Initially being accredited would not be compulsory but the idea is that if you are not accredited, players would eventually be less inclined to employ you," said NRL chief executive David Gallop, who was joined by many agents at the national secondary schools championships at St Marys yesterday.
Gallop has written to Richard Lewis, executive chairman of Britain's Rugby Football League, to lock in the World Club Challenge next February. While the door has been left ajar for it to be held in Australia, Gallop said Britain was a more likely venue.
