Off-contract Brisbane centre Tate sparks Warriors interest
Sunday April 29, 2007
The Warriors may have a fight on their hands if they want to secure the services of Brisbane and Kangaroos centre Brent Tate.
The 25-year-old is one of a handful of high-profile Broncos coming off contract and has sparked the interest of the Warriors.
Top-line centres are hard to come by, so a host of clubs is likely to bid for Tate. The Knights have been mentioned and Tate has been sounded out about rugby union.
Justin Hodges and Shaun Berrigan are also coming off contract.
Brisbane chief executive Bruno Cullen has told George Mimis, agent for Tate and Hodges, to see what money he could get for them before reporting back.
Hodges' worth on the open market is hard to gauge, while Berrigan is tipped to continue his career in the UK Super League in 2008.
Meanwhile, Cullen quashed concerns some of the club's stars are thinking more about contracts and money than about playing football after the Broncos tumbled to their fifth loss in seven games at the hands of the Storm on Friday night.
"We're giving those players due respect," Cullen said when asked about contract negotiations.
"Tate and Hodges are probably looking at the biggest contracts of their lives and at their ages, it could be their last, although Hodges probably has a few more years."
Tate (hip flexor) is in doubt for Friday night's home match against South Sydney, with coach Wayne Bennett again facing some selection decisions after Melbourne put the blowtorch to Darren Lockyer in his new halfback role.
While Lockyer and Berrigan were effective in the halves against Newcastle, the Storm were much better at pressuring Lockyer.
