Woolford weighs up options, but Raiders seem unlikely to be one of them
Peter Fitzgerald
Friday, 12 May 2006
Canberra hooker Simon Woolford will play in the NRL next season, but it is unlikely to be with the Raiders.
Woolford revealed yesterday his initial plan to finish his career in the English Super League competition was no longer a consideration.
He had hoped to play with Hull FC, but the re-signing of its hooker - former Melbourne and Brisbane player Richard Swain - has ruled out any possibility of that.
The Canberra Times believes two rival NRL clubs have offered Woolford deals for 2007 and Raiders chief executive Simon Hawkins confirmed Canberra had not yet tabled a formal offer.
Hawkins also said the club did not expect to do so in the next month.
While Woolford has not ruled out remaining in the national capital beyond this year when his current deal expires, he admitted it was likely he would don a rival club's jersey.
"There's interest from outside and that's about all I can tell you at the moment," the 31-year-old said.
"Hopefully that interest can go on a bit further in the next week or two.
"If things keep going the way they are, I should be able to do that."
Woolford said he had "spoken in general" to Raiders general manager Don Furner regarding the possibility of remaining in Canberra.
But as for any confirmation on an offer, he was still waiting.
"We've spoken, but as far as an offer and talking money and all of that goes, no, there hasn't been at this stage," Woolford said.
Woolford is in his 13th season with the Raiders, but is not ready to call it quits.
While originally looking for a one-year deal in England, the former captain spoke yesterday of his desire to play for a further two years in Australia.
Should the Raiders table him an offer, it would only be a 12-month extension of his current contract.
"It all depends because one club's opinion isn't always the same as the others," he said.
"I thought maybe one year in England, but at this stage overseas is probably out of range at the moment so now, [it's] not necessarily one, [but] maybe two [more years of playing].
"I hope to have it sorted in the next two weeks."
Hawkins said the retention of players was not on the club's priority list at the moment.
"We will certainly look at it in another month or so but probably not before," he said.
Woolford has spent the past two weeks playing off the bench, after returning to the side from suspension.
In those games, coach Matt Elliott opted for Alan Tongue starting at hooker, Jason Croker shifting to lock and Michael Hodgson starting in the second-row instead of the bench. Woolford said he was happy with his different role, but hoped it would not become a thing of the future.
It looks like it won't, with Elliott naming Woolford in the starting dummy-half position for Sunday's home clash against the Cronulla Sharks.
That's where Woolford expects to play.
"Matty's told me I'll be starting this week, so I'm banking on that happening," he said.
"It's worked well with me coming off the bench the last few weeks, but it's not something I want to really get used to."
http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/de...y_id=479856&category=General Sport&m=5&y=2006
Souths...?
