Morrison joins most wanted
June 19, 2004
Cowboys lock Glenn Morrison is one of a number of players coming off contract who could start a bidding war between clubs, writes Brad Walter.
Country Origin lock Glenn Morrison has been given permission to negotiate with rival clubs after rejecting the latest offer from North Queensland.
Morrison, 28, had been requesting the opportunity to test his value on the open market for two months but the Cowboys wanted him to consider a new three-year deal.
With the June 30 anti-tampering deadline due to expire on Wednesday week, they relented and he is now set to join Melbourne halfback Matt Orford, St George Illawarra prop Brent Kite and Penrith second-rower Frank Pritchard as the most sought-after players on the transfer market.
Cowboys officials insist the club is eager to retain Morrison, who is sidelined for the remainder of the season with two fractured vertebrae, but their priority is likely to be finding a top halfback after Mathew Head re-signed with the Dragons yesterday.
Head, who had been close to joining North Queensland this season, will remain at the joint-venture club until the end of the 2006 season, along with 19-year-old
Hooker Mark Riddell also appears likely to stay put at St George Illawarra after his manager, Daryl Mather, yesterday officially advised Cronulla that he would not be taking up their offer.
Parramatta have also tabled a three-year deal for Riddell.
Kite, however, is widely tipped to return to Canberra, although he is also considering a big-money offer from Manly..
St George Illawarra chief executive Peter Doust said he anticipated finalising negotiations with Ben Hornby and Jason Ryles next week.
The Raiders are also among the clubs bidding for Orford, whose latest round of talks with the Storm stalled again on Thursday.
Orford is seeking a one-year deal from Melbourne, believed to be worth $500,000.
The Storm also have captain Stephen Kearney off contract and are believed to be among those pursuing Kite and Pritchard, whose agent, David Riolo, spoke with the Sydney Roosters this week.
Parramatta and Brisbane have also been linked to Pritchard.
Broncos chief executive Bruno Cullen said yesterday he was confident of reaching agreement with Queensland captain Darren Lockyer and fellow international Brent Tate before June 30.
Brisbane hooker Michael Ryan is also off contract, as is Newcastle's Michael Ennis.
The Knights' priority is obviously re-signing captain Andrew Johns, and chief executive Ken Conway met with the injured playmaker's agent, John Fordham, on Tuesday. Fordham said he was yet to be approached by a group of businessman reportedly trying to raise funds to lure Johns to rugby union.
Newcastle are also trying to ward off an anticipated bid from Manly to snare NSW Origin winger Timana Tahu. Other players linked to the Sea Eagles include Canberra centre Joel Monaghan and second-rower Ruben Wiki.
Aside from Pritchard, Penrith are yet to re-sign Frank Puletua and Danny Galea, while Parramatta have Craig Stapleton and Lee Hopkins unsigned.
South Sydney have given prop Paul Stringer, making his return from a back injury in premier league against Manly tonight, permission to talk to other clubs, and are yet to re-sign Justin Smith.
Greg Bird, Paul Gallen, Jason Kent and Paul Franze are among the Sharks players off contract.
Also on the market are Raiders winger Michael Robertson, Melbourne prop Alex Chan, Wests Tigers utility Luke Covell and prop Jeff Lima, Roosters winger Gavin Lester, Cowboys forwards Kevin Campion and Daniel Strickland and Warriors pair Mark Tookey and Justin Murphy.
Wellington Hurricanes halfback Piri Weepu has been linked with a move to league, possibly with either North Queensland or the Raiders.
ON THE MARKET
The pick of the NRL players coming off contract:
Hazem El Masri (Bulldogs)
Andrew Johns (Knights)
Stephen Kearney (Storm)
Brent Kite (Dragons)
Darren Lockyer (Broncos)
Joel Monaghan (Raiders)
Glenn Morrison (Cowboys)
Matt Orford (Storm)
Frank Pritchard (Panthers)
Mark Riddell (Dragons)
Timana Tahu (Knights)
Ruben Wiki (Raiders)
