Baron Vo Mandor
Coach
- Messages
- 16,034
Media reports claim Mark Gasnier is set to return to NRL with the Dragons
By Phil Rothfield
May 11, 2010 Former St George Illawarra centre Mark Gasnier is poised to make a return to the NRL this season, according to media reports in Sydney.
The Daily Telegraph has reported Gasnier has cut short a holiday in France, where he has been playing rugby for Stade Francais, to rush back to Australia with his wife Claudine.
Claudine's father was diagnosed with cancer late last week. The pair spent much of Monday at Royal North Shore Hospital.
Despite not quoting the former Test centre, The Telegraph has reported Gasnier is keen to return to his former club St George Illawarra or a rival NRL club before the June 30 deadline for signing players this season.
Gasnier will only join another club if the Dragons are prepared to relax a clause in his 2008 release that he can't play for another NRL club before 2012.
Dragons boss Peter Doust has met with NRL boss David Gallop and salary cap auditor Ian Schubert to investigate ways of squeezing him into this year's cap and back-ending the deal.
A Dragons source said: "We've worked out it (a deal with Gasnier) can be done if his price is right".
Gasnier's manager George Mimis did not give much away when asked what his client's next move would be.
"Mark and his wife are seriously considering not just the next football contract but the next part of their lives," Mimis said.
"Whatever decision they come to will be a significant one. They are taking their time with it because they have other things on their minds."
Mimis refused to rule out the possibility of Gasnier playing for Melbourne Rebels in the Super 15.
Gallop said Gasnier would be a huge boost for rugby league given the current controversy over low player wages.
"Geez, that would be terrific," he said. "I hope it happens."
The fillip that a Gasnier comeback would give rugby league was not lost on NRL marketing boss Paul Kind.
"Mark was a prominent part of our 2008 marketing for the centenary year because we understood what a great asset he was," Kind said.
"It would be a great bonus for rugby league to get a player of his talent and profile back.
"Just having that name Gasnier on a rugby league jersey again would be really, really special for the fans."
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,27106291-5018866,00.html
If this is in any way true and his after a contract right away, we need to table a $350k 3 year deal ASAP.
His worth probably 2,000 extra bums on seats every week, tonnes of coverage in the media which is only good for attracting sponsors.
And if we can sign him and have another $700k or so we can easily jag 2-3 more decent players.
By Phil Rothfield
May 11, 2010 Former St George Illawarra centre Mark Gasnier is poised to make a return to the NRL this season, according to media reports in Sydney.
The Daily Telegraph has reported Gasnier has cut short a holiday in France, where he has been playing rugby for Stade Francais, to rush back to Australia with his wife Claudine.
Claudine's father was diagnosed with cancer late last week. The pair spent much of Monday at Royal North Shore Hospital.
Despite not quoting the former Test centre, The Telegraph has reported Gasnier is keen to return to his former club St George Illawarra or a rival NRL club before the June 30 deadline for signing players this season.
Gasnier will only join another club if the Dragons are prepared to relax a clause in his 2008 release that he can't play for another NRL club before 2012.
Dragons boss Peter Doust has met with NRL boss David Gallop and salary cap auditor Ian Schubert to investigate ways of squeezing him into this year's cap and back-ending the deal.
A Dragons source said: "We've worked out it (a deal with Gasnier) can be done if his price is right".
Gasnier's manager George Mimis did not give much away when asked what his client's next move would be.
"Mark and his wife are seriously considering not just the next football contract but the next part of their lives," Mimis said.
"Whatever decision they come to will be a significant one. They are taking their time with it because they have other things on their minds."
Mimis refused to rule out the possibility of Gasnier playing for Melbourne Rebels in the Super 15.
Gallop said Gasnier would be a huge boost for rugby league given the current controversy over low player wages.
"Geez, that would be terrific," he said. "I hope it happens."
The fillip that a Gasnier comeback would give rugby league was not lost on NRL marketing boss Paul Kind.
"Mark was a prominent part of our 2008 marketing for the centenary year because we understood what a great asset he was," Kind said.
"It would be a great bonus for rugby league to get a player of his talent and profile back.
"Just having that name Gasnier on a rugby league jersey again would be really, really special for the fans."
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,27106291-5018866,00.html
If this is in any way true and his after a contract right away, we need to table a $350k 3 year deal ASAP.
His worth probably 2,000 extra bums on seats every week, tonnes of coverage in the media which is only good for attracting sponsors.
And if we can sign him and have another $700k or so we can easily jag 2-3 more decent players.
