Trent Merrin offered record deal by St George Illawarra as Dragons await decision on Russell Packer
ST GEORGE Illawarra’s respected recruitment boss Peter Mulholland has opened up about the hunt to sign Russell Packer, declaring if the NRL allows the jailed prop back into the game he could do for the Dragons what Michael Weyman did under Wayne Bennett.
In a wideranging interview, Mulholland also revealed how Trent Merrin has been offered the biggest contract for a forward in the club’s history, while outlining the reasons behind the controversial player clean out.
Dragons fans have been debating the merits of Paul McGregor’s post-season shake-up ever since The Daily Telegraph uncovered that several players were told to find a new home in early September.
But in a series of interviews to be posted on the club’s website this week and sent out to all Red V members on Monday, Mulholland has answered more than 100 questions members put to him — and he makes no apologies for the decision to chase Packer.
Packer was jailed earlier this year after he was found guilty of punching a man on a night out in Sydney and then stomping on the victim as he laid motionless.
It’s been widely speculated Packer has already agreed to a rich three-year contract with the Dragons when he comes up for parole in January.
The NRL is yet to decide exactly when Packer will be allowed back, with talk he could be forced to sit out the first half of the season and undertake rehabilitation courses to prove he deserves another chance.
Some believe after spending a year in prison, away from his wife and young child and having his contract at Newcastle terminated, Packer has already paid a heavy price and should be allowed back next year.
“We’d be very interested in Russell Packer if the NRL (allowed it),” Mulholland said.
“It is in their hands basically whether he becomes available.
“This club has always been about getting the best players they possibly can.
“You remember Michael Weyman coming into the side during Wayne Bennett’s era and what a great effort he put through to help win a premiership.
“Russell Packer would be no different if he was at this club but that is entirely in the NRL’s hands.
“The Russell Packer story has got a long way to go. There is a lot more to it than meets the eye.
“I have known him for a long, long while. I actually took him to the Knights and I have been in close contact with Russ. There is a lot more to that yet. If he becomes available we’d love to have a look at him.”
The NRL said no decision on Packer’s future would be made until a club requested to have a contract registered.
“If a club wanted to register him they would have to prove he is a fit and proper person to be part of the NRL,” a spokesman said.
Meanwhile, Merrin’s future has also created plenty of debate with the star forward indicating he could turn down a reported $1.8 million three-year offer and leave at the end of next year.
Mulholland explained the club hoped for a decision before Christmas.
“It is the best offer the Dragons have ever made a forward,” he said.
“It will make him one of the highest paid middle players in the game.
“We are just waiting for Trent (to decide).”
Mulholland denied changes at the Dragons were any different to what happens at most clubs under any new coach.
“What is happening here is no different to when I arrived at the Knights with Wayne Bennett, when Des Hasler arrived at Canterbury, when Kevin Moore arrived at Canterbury,” Mulholland said.
“You look at the (Wests) Tigers, you look at Brisbane with Wayne Bennett. It is just the fact of life in the rugby league world.
“This club is about success. We have been out of the semis for three years. We want to be in the semis in 2015. Treading water doesn’t cut in this game.”
About the decision to allow Brett Morris to join the Bulldogs, Mulholland offered: “Obviously he has been a great and loyal servant.
“He wanted to play the last part of his career with his brother (Josh).
“I think it has been pretty well documented he was offered a fullback’s money to go to the Bulldogs.”
But he said Jason Nightingale remained a priority and Mulholland was confident the club had the talent to cover Gerard Beale’s move to Cronulla.
On signing George Rose, Dane Nielsen, Kris Keating and Heath L’Estrange, Mulholland said: “Last year the Dragons had one of the youngest squads in the competition and that was something that Mary was very conscious of.
“Rose has won premierships, Nielsen has been an Origin player, Kris Keating has been in a grand final, Heath L’Estrange has been through the Roosters program.
“So that gives us a hell of a lot of experience perhaps during Origin when it is needed or at the back end of the season when our younger players are starting to falter.”
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...n-russell-packer/story-fnp0lyn3-1227140095053
- Paul Crawley
- The Daily Telegraph
- December 01, 2014 12:00AM
ST GEORGE Illawarra’s respected recruitment boss Peter Mulholland has opened up about the hunt to sign Russell Packer, declaring if the NRL allows the jailed prop back into the game he could do for the Dragons what Michael Weyman did under Wayne Bennett.
In a wideranging interview, Mulholland also revealed how Trent Merrin has been offered the biggest contract for a forward in the club’s history, while outlining the reasons behind the controversial player clean out.
Dragons fans have been debating the merits of Paul McGregor’s post-season shake-up ever since The Daily Telegraph uncovered that several players were told to find a new home in early September.
But in a series of interviews to be posted on the club’s website this week and sent out to all Red V members on Monday, Mulholland has answered more than 100 questions members put to him — and he makes no apologies for the decision to chase Packer.
Packer was jailed earlier this year after he was found guilty of punching a man on a night out in Sydney and then stomping on the victim as he laid motionless.
It’s been widely speculated Packer has already agreed to a rich three-year contract with the Dragons when he comes up for parole in January.
The NRL is yet to decide exactly when Packer will be allowed back, with talk he could be forced to sit out the first half of the season and undertake rehabilitation courses to prove he deserves another chance.
Some believe after spending a year in prison, away from his wife and young child and having his contract at Newcastle terminated, Packer has already paid a heavy price and should be allowed back next year.
“We’d be very interested in Russell Packer if the NRL (allowed it),” Mulholland said.
“It is in their hands basically whether he becomes available.
“This club has always been about getting the best players they possibly can.
“You remember Michael Weyman coming into the side during Wayne Bennett’s era and what a great effort he put through to help win a premiership.
“Russell Packer would be no different if he was at this club but that is entirely in the NRL’s hands.
“The Russell Packer story has got a long way to go. There is a lot more to it than meets the eye.
“I have known him for a long, long while. I actually took him to the Knights and I have been in close contact with Russ. There is a lot more to that yet. If he becomes available we’d love to have a look at him.”
The NRL said no decision on Packer’s future would be made until a club requested to have a contract registered.
“If a club wanted to register him they would have to prove he is a fit and proper person to be part of the NRL,” a spokesman said.
Meanwhile, Merrin’s future has also created plenty of debate with the star forward indicating he could turn down a reported $1.8 million three-year offer and leave at the end of next year.
Mulholland explained the club hoped for a decision before Christmas.
“It is the best offer the Dragons have ever made a forward,” he said.
“It will make him one of the highest paid middle players in the game.
“We are just waiting for Trent (to decide).”
Mulholland denied changes at the Dragons were any different to what happens at most clubs under any new coach.
“What is happening here is no different to when I arrived at the Knights with Wayne Bennett, when Des Hasler arrived at Canterbury, when Kevin Moore arrived at Canterbury,” Mulholland said.
“You look at the (Wests) Tigers, you look at Brisbane with Wayne Bennett. It is just the fact of life in the rugby league world.
“This club is about success. We have been out of the semis for three years. We want to be in the semis in 2015. Treading water doesn’t cut in this game.”
About the decision to allow Brett Morris to join the Bulldogs, Mulholland offered: “Obviously he has been a great and loyal servant.
“He wanted to play the last part of his career with his brother (Josh).
“I think it has been pretty well documented he was offered a fullback’s money to go to the Bulldogs.”
But he said Jason Nightingale remained a priority and Mulholland was confident the club had the talent to cover Gerard Beale’s move to Cronulla.
On signing George Rose, Dane Nielsen, Kris Keating and Heath L’Estrange, Mulholland said: “Last year the Dragons had one of the youngest squads in the competition and that was something that Mary was very conscious of.
“Rose has won premierships, Nielsen has been an Origin player, Kris Keating has been in a grand final, Heath L’Estrange has been through the Roosters program.
“So that gives us a hell of a lot of experience perhaps during Origin when it is needed or at the back end of the season when our younger players are starting to falter.”
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...n-russell-packer/story-fnp0lyn3-1227140095053
