Different Dragons court Gaz
BRAD WALTER AND CHRIS BARRETT
May 20, 2010
Former Test centre Mark Gasnier has received an approach from French Super League club Catalans but St George Illawarra players believe a return to the Dragons remains his preferred option.
Gasnier, who put negotiations with the Australian Rugby Union on hold to explore the possibility of a return to the NRL, has attracted interest from a number of clubs in both codes since it became clear that he was unlikely to remain at Stade Francais next season.
But Gasnier's manager, George Mimis, said he was not talking seriously to any other NRL clubs apart from the Dragons at the moment and St George Illawarra's Origin stars made it clear he would be welcomed back with open arms.
''I hope he ends up here,'' Queensland winger Darius Boyd said. ''He's a great player and I think he wants to come back to rugby league and the Dragons.
''In my first Origin game [in 2008] I was on the left side and he was on the right side at centre for NSW. He's a great talent, obviously one of the best centres going round, so if we could get him it would be a great asset to the team and it'd be good for the game as well.''
NSW centre Matt Cooper said: ''I think he wants to come back so I hope it happens.''
Mimis said it would be at least another week before Gasnier decided his future and revealed that he had been contacted by Catalans coach Kevin Walters. ''Morally and contractually Gaz's prerogative is the Dragons and until that is exhausted he is not considering other clubs,'' Mimis said.
Meanwhile, Cooper and Dragons winger Brett Morris will mark up on the same side of the field as Boyd in Origin I next week. Neville Costigan will also line up for the Maroons, while Ben Creagh and Michael Weyman are in the NSW team.
Of stopping the electric Morris, a task that has appeared nigh on impossible for NRL opposition as the winger compiles tries with apparent ease, the Dragons fullback said: ''You can't let him have too much room, that's the main thing. If you give him too much room he's got the speed to beat everyone.''
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/different-dragons-court-gaz-20100519-vfbe.html
Not exactly an encouraging article
