Tongue keen to stay in green

[aussies1st]

ALAN Tongue’s contract at the Canberra Raiders expires this season, and the captain wants his future with the club secured before the NRL season gets underway in mid-March.

The skipper wants a three year extension, but the Raiders are yet to hold serious talks with the 29-year-old about playing on in the lime green.

Instead the club has focused on signing up its plethora of young talent, which includes several members of the 2008 Toyota Cup premiership-winning team.

Raiders chief executive Don Furner said Tongue remained an important part of Canberra’s future, but the versatile back-rower can’t help but feel a little anxious to begin contract talks.

In Tamworth celebrating Christmas and the new year with his extended family, Tongue hoped negotiations about extending his Raiders career would begin as soon as possible.

‘‘In a perfect world you’d like to have it done before footy starts, I would really like to get my mind fully focused on the job at hand,’’ Tongue said. ‘‘I’d like to think I could keep playing for a couple, three years yet and we’ve just got to see where the Raiders are sitting.

‘‘These young kids are here, we’ve spoken about the framework of the club which I’m really excited about.

Hopefully we can get something nutted out and I don’t have to move on.’

For more, pick up a copy of Today's Canberra Times

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/new...gue/tongue-keen-to-stay-in-green/1717077.aspx

 

[Raidersrawesome]

The offer will come , the priority was to sign the juniors. They are the ones more likely to leave. Now thats done they can sign the players who are less likely to leave ie Alan Tongue.

The offer should be 2 years with a 3rd in Tongues favour , giving him the chance to play in the ESL for his retirement fund.
There should also be a position for him on the coaching/support staff when his playing days are over.

Tongue is his own manager , this story isnt much more than a way for Tongue to talk promote himself a little.

 

[Baron Vo Mandor]

Two year deal at the most with his playing style, injury will really start to impact him shortly.

The amount of work he does is ridiculous.

 

[dubby]

A two year deal is all he will get, and I think all he wants. After nearly 200 NRL games, all of which he has played his guts out, I think to retire at 31 will suit him.

 

[Green Evil]

My bet is that the club will push for a one year deal and after him shopping himself around a little they will give him a 2 year deal and he will probably retire back to the farm in Tamworth after that. Im pretty certain they will need him around over the next couple of years mainly to show the young guys the type of work ethic it takes to play NRL. Besides that heres hoping the young guys take over on the field and Tonguey becomes our bench utility.

 

[legend]

I expect the young guys to step up this year and IMO our forward pack is close to the best in the NRL.

At least three rep players in Tom LL, Shillington and Harrison, throw in Galea, Miller and Tongue and we can match any pack. Only Souths and Parra look stronger on paper.

 

[aussies1st]

If Thurling gets back to his best then I would say we are even with Souths. Probably about even with the Eels on paper.
2 years for Tongue seems fair for his loyalty, if he still playing well we can then look at extending it.

 

[shear_joy9]

2 years for Tongue seems fair for his loyalty

canberra have been pretty loyal themselves to tongue. Not many rated him as a footballer but canberra have stuck by him for 10years.

I'd only offer him a 1-year contract based on last season's form, just for his experience. If he plays anywhere but lock or backrow I don't want him.

 

[legend]

I guarantee you he will start the year at hooker with Waddell coming off the bench.

IMO, our forward pack will look like this:

Shillington
Tongue
Tom LL
Harrison
Galea
Miller

 

[legend]

I guarantee you he will start the year at hooker with Waddell coming off the bench.

IMO, our forward pack will look like this:

Shillington
Tongue
Tom LL
Harrison
Galea
Miller

 

[matt]

Yes,I would prefer Thom played prop he goes missing on the edges,the guy is built like an axe,Use the f**king thing.

 

[aussies1st]

Tongue will definitely be at hooker, Waddell isn't ready for 80 so the best way is benching him for the first 20.

TLL is just as effective at prop, obviously won't be on the edges as much but if Thurling gets back to his best then he can move than cover that.

 

[gorilla with a shotgun]

tbh id rather see the raiders extend J.Thompson's contract before tongues'

 

[Bobby DIGital]

^Agreed, and I'd rather see him in the starting line up than Galea tbh.

 

[aussies1st]

They probably are looking into JT, no way they would let him go. I'm guessing the only reason they aren't so keen is his behavior.

 

[Green Evil]

If Galea is in our starting forward pack for next year ill hand back my membership. It will be more like
Shillington
Tongue
Tilse
Harrison
Learoyd-Lahrs
Miller

 

[Raidersrawesome]

If Galea is in our starting forward pack for next year ill hand back my membership. It will be more like
Shillington
Tongue
Tilse
Harrison
Learoyd-Lahrs
Miller

agree this will probably be the starting line up.

And boy does it look good.

edit: I dont agree with handing my membership in. I think galea will be a handy player for us as the season unfolds.

 

[dubby]

I guarantee you he will start the year at hooker with Waddell coming off the bench.

IMO, our forward pack will look like this:

Shillington
Tongue
Tom LL
Harrison
Galea
Miller

Shillington
Tongue
Tilse
Harrison
TLL
Miller

Galea off the bench with JT.

 

[Green Evil]

I think Galea will be a handy bench utility and may start a couple of games during the year but when everyone is fit i dont think he should be anywhere near the starting team. He is basically a second rower that can play a bit in the backline and i think TLL, Harrison, Joel Thompson, Thurling and hopefully Picker if he can get himself playing to his potential are better than him for back row and Joel Thompson is a better option to cover centre off the bench as well.

Really looking forward to the green machine having a big year in 2010. We have the makings of a really good football team if they can put it together.

 

[shear_joy9]

Galea is easily a better player than thurling and picker; both will probably start the season with sl.

I wonder how many scoreless opening 20min games they will be before furner agrees tongue cannot play hooker. Sure the theory behind the move sounds good, but he is least effective hooker in the comp.