Newcastle Knights make a play for returning NRL star Mark Gasnier
By Barry Toohey
May 23, 2010
Newcastle have emerged as the number one fall-back option for returning NRL star Mark Gasnier should he fail to come to terms with St George Illawarra.
The Dragons remain favourite to snare his signature and are continuing to work through the process of coming up with a financial package to satisfy the champion centre.
But the NRL front-runners are under severe salary cap pressure and, should they fail to meet Gasnier's asking price, the Knights are ready to pounce.
The Sunday Telegraph newspaper has learned Gasnier was in Newcastle early last week with manager George Mimis to meet club officials and coach Rick Stone.
Gasnier was taken on a tour of the club's facilities and it's understood Newcastle have put a lucrative two- or three-year deal to him.
Knights chief executive Steve Burraston said his club's interest in Gasnier was no secret.
"We've expressed that to Mark and his manager and Mark has been honest with us in relation to St George," Burraston said.
"He's made it clear he is a St George boy and returning to them is his preference, but we have done all we can if that doesn't eventuate.
"We just have to wait and see how it goes."
Mimis on Saturday said the Dragons were "still in the driver's seat" with Gasnier.
"There's been a strong expression of interest from the Knights, but at this stage the ball is firmly in the Dragons' court," Mimis said.
"It is still a work in progress.
"Contractually, Saints are still in the driver's seat until the end of 2011 or 2012, but we would expect something to happen before June 30 one way or another.
"It's just an on-going process. I wouldn't expect anything to happen quickly on it."
Financially, the Knights appear to be in a strong position to make a play for the former Test centre.
They have more than $200,000 left under their salary cap to tempt Gasnier to join them for the rest of this season.
The Dragons, on the other hand, can only afford a second-tier $50,000 payment.
A close look at the Dragons' playing roster suggests finding the money for Gasnier next season and beyond won't be easy either, unless they off-load some of their stars.
They have seven players in their ranks who have represented Australia and three New Zealand internationals.
Six players - Ben Creagh, Matt Cooper, Brett Morris, Michael Weyman, Darius Boyd and Neville Costigan - will all be involved in Wednesday night's Origin showdown at ANZ Stadium.
It is difficult to fathom how they will find a $400,000-plus salary for Gasnier, given the talent already in the squad, and remain under the cap without off-loading some players.
