Talent worth $16m hits market
By David Riccio | April 19, 2009 12:00am
THIS is the shopping list every NRL coach, chief executive, player agent and supporter has wanted to see.
It's a complete list of every player, from all 16 clubs, who will come off contract at the end of the season. NRL teams will be formulating their recruitment and retention plans for 2010 over the next two months - and there is $16million worth of talent up for grabs.
Heading the list are Brisbane duo Darren Lockyer and Karmichael Hunt, Manly pair Matt Orford and David Williams and St George Illawarra forward Justin Poore. All would be considered blue chip signings, but the challenge for any potential suitor would be fitting them under the salary cap.
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Some of the 150 players on the list are talents their clubs will fight tooth and nail to keep. Others have already been told to start looking elsewhere. Broncos prop Dave Taylor is wanted by Souths, while the Bulldogs are keen to reunite the Morris twins, Brett and Josh.
St George Illawarra have seven players off contract, including stars Poore, former Test forward Ben Creagh and Brett Morris.
Both Poore and Morris have fielded offers from several rival clubs, while it is understood Creagh is eager to extend his future at the Dragons.
St George Illawarra chief executive Peter Doust confirmed this by claiming "they are all a work in progress''.
Premiers Manly are in a similar position, with the future of halfback and captain Matt Orford, Test winger David Williams and underrated hooker Heath L'Estrange also undecided.
Negotiations with Williams and L'Estrange have stalled while their manager David Riolo visits France. Riolo also looks after Hunt and Sydney Roosters fullback Anthony Minichiello.
Orford is eager to extend his time at Brookvale, but sizeable offers from the UK Super League represent a wildcard. Mimis, who also manages Orford, failed to rule out the prospect of the Manly halfback moving on.
"There is progress, but it's all very slow,'' Mimis said.
"Ox (Orford) has actually had a lot of interest overseas, but we're quite focused on Manly.
"We'll continue to do what we're doing and try to work for an outcome. Failing which, we'll start to look elsewhere.'' Cronulla could become the heavy hitters in the marketplace with 13 of their top 25 players coming off contract. It gives them room to manoeuvre, both with keeping players and bringing in new ones.
"The coaching staff have identified that speed out wide is an area that we need to try and resolve,'' Cronulla chief executive Tony Zappia said.
"There's opportunities in the top 25 and that could be a combination of recruiting from within and external players, so that's not ruling out any players at the club.''
After five rounds, club officials are already setting up teams for 2010. You can't afford to stand still
