http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,22755222-23214,00.html
Storm builds its Mac attack
By Brent Read
November 14, 2007
PREMIER Melbourne has tempered the loss of Matt King and swelled the number of MacDougalls in the NRL to three by signing former Scottish rugby union international Ben MacDougall to a one-year contract.
MacDougall, 30, the brother of Newcastle pair Adam and Luke, will begin training with the Storm next week, marking his return to the club he left in 2004 to switch codes.
He spent three years in Scotland, playing with Edinburgh and Borders, winning two Test caps and squaring off against Jonah Lomu and Jonny Wilkinson.
Midway through last year MacDougall returned to Australia and went close to signing a short-term contract with the Knights, only for the NRL to intervene on salary cap grounds.
MacDougall was contemplating a return to England to play with Harlequins in Super League but that deal fell through. He was then thrown a lifeline by Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy.
Bellamy was on the look-out for depth in the outside backs following King's decision to join English club Warrington.
"I spoke to Craig when Matt King left," MacDougall said.
"We spoke about the possibility of me returning next year. He got back to me a couple of weeks later and we made an arrangement.
"It's going to be a challenge. The advantage for me is I know the systems."
Not surprisingly, the barbs are already flying among the MacDougall clan. Both Adam and Luke play with Newcastle and the sides meet in round nine.
"The banter has already started," Ben said. "They're both injured at the moment, so I already have a head start."
Meanwhile, Canberra will hold contract talks with Todd Carney next month after securing captain Alan Tongue until the end of 2010.
Carney, who comes off contract at the end of next season, is highly regarded by a number of coaches.
Tongue, who doesn't have a manager, negotiated his own deal.
"A lot of contract negotiations are dictated by managers and it can push the boundaries of loyalty," Canberra coach Neil Henry said.
"He has shown some loyalty to the club he came to out of high school, and the club has stuck by him, too - it's a two-way street.
"He's been involved with the club for a long time now, he's been given an opportunity to develop his football and he acknowledges that. He wants to stay here and finish as a one-club man."
Storm builds its Mac attack
By Brent Read
November 14, 2007
PREMIER Melbourne has tempered the loss of Matt King and swelled the number of MacDougalls in the NRL to three by signing former Scottish rugby union international Ben MacDougall to a one-year contract.
MacDougall, 30, the brother of Newcastle pair Adam and Luke, will begin training with the Storm next week, marking his return to the club he left in 2004 to switch codes.
He spent three years in Scotland, playing with Edinburgh and Borders, winning two Test caps and squaring off against Jonah Lomu and Jonny Wilkinson.
Midway through last year MacDougall returned to Australia and went close to signing a short-term contract with the Knights, only for the NRL to intervene on salary cap grounds.
MacDougall was contemplating a return to England to play with Harlequins in Super League but that deal fell through. He was then thrown a lifeline by Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy.
Bellamy was on the look-out for depth in the outside backs following King's decision to join English club Warrington.
"I spoke to Craig when Matt King left," MacDougall said.
"We spoke about the possibility of me returning next year. He got back to me a couple of weeks later and we made an arrangement.
"It's going to be a challenge. The advantage for me is I know the systems."
Not surprisingly, the barbs are already flying among the MacDougall clan. Both Adam and Luke play with Newcastle and the sides meet in round nine.
"The banter has already started," Ben said. "They're both injured at the moment, so I already have a head start."
Meanwhile, Canberra will hold contract talks with Todd Carney next month after securing captain Alan Tongue until the end of 2010.
Carney, who comes off contract at the end of next season, is highly regarded by a number of coaches.
Tongue, who doesn't have a manager, negotiated his own deal.
"A lot of contract negotiations are dictated by managers and it can push the boundaries of loyalty," Canberra coach Neil Henry said.
"He has shown some loyalty to the club he came to out of high school, and the club has stuck by him, too - it's a two-way street.
"He's been involved with the club for a long time now, he's been given an opportunity to develop his football and he acknowledges that. He wants to stay here and finish as a one-club man."
