Mark Gasnier the bargain Dragon
CHAMPION centre Mark Gasnier will return to St George Illawarra for the remainder of the NRL season at the bargain-basement price of $50,000, plus match payments.
The Dragons can only fit Gasnier into a second-tier cap designed for players outside the top 25 squad at each club - but his contract will be dramatically upgraded to around $400,000 in 2011 and $550,000 in 2012 with the possible addition of third-party payments.
The fact he is even considering playing for just $50,000 this year is the best indication he is returning for the right reasons - to win a premiership at the Dragons - and not just to build his bank balance.
On top of the $50,000 sign-on, the Dragons would pay him $4000 a game.
As excitement builds in the St George Shire and in Wollongong, Gasnier, 28, yesterday confirmed he is keen on an NRL comeback and said he would make an announcement "in good time".
Gasnier has returned to Sydney to be with his wife, Claudine, and her father, who has been diagnosed with cancer.
"I'll be able to talk about [my football future] soon," Gasnier said yesterday.
"Now isn't the right time. It's been good to get back, but obviously it's been under difficult circumstances."
St George Illawarra CEO Peter Doust said the Dragons were obviously keen to secure the services of their local junior and former captain.
"We have always said that we would be interested in having Mark back at the Dragons if he was ever to return to the NRL," Doust said.
"We have had discussions with his manager George Mimis and the NRL about the details of his possible return given his contract in France was finishing. It is a very complicated negotiation, the details of which have to remain commercially in confidence.
"Mark left our club on good terms and, as such, he agreed to a clause in his deed of release at that time about returning to the Dragons if he came back to the NRL, and we have always kept in contact with him since he left.
"In saying all this, however, an athlete of Mark's status and experience commands significant salary expectations and we are aware that he is attracting interest from several NRL and rugby union clubs."
Australian Rugby Union officials do not appear concerned about Gasnier turning his back on an opportunity to play for the Melbourne Rebels in the Super 15s, where he would have partnered Stirling Mortlock in the centres in a high-profile backline to launch the new franchise in Victoria."We've had no contact at all with Mark Gasnier's manager for over a week," spokesman Peter Jenkins said.
"We're quite comfortable with any decision he reaches."
Gasnier was guaranteed only $220,000 a season to play for the Rebels and would have to play in every Test for the Wallabies to make over the $400,000 mark.
