Clubs chase Laurie as Tigers stand him down from firsts
WESTS TIGERS cult figure Daine Laurie is considering seeking a release from the final year of his contract after being constantly overlooked for NRL selection.
As many as six clubs are believed to have expressed interest in the potentially devastating prop, who turns 25 today, including Wayne Bennett’s Dragons, who have lost Justin Poore to the Eels next season.
Laurie has played just 10 of a possible 18 matches this year and is unlikely to return to the NRL within the next four weeks after being sanctioned for failing to show up to a training session last month.
Laurie’s manager, Chris Haddad, met with coach Tim Sheens on Friday where it’s understood he requested an upgrade of Laurie’s bottom-tier, $45,000-a-year contract to remain. But a source close to the Tigers’ camp said the club was reluctant to do so because he’s yet to prove himself as a regular first-grader.
The Tigers have said they want to develop him into a back-rower next season, but a source close to Laurie said he was disappointed by the club’s stance and was considering asking for a release in coming weeks.
When contacted by The Sun-Herald, Laurie said he was a ‘‘frustrated’’ spectator but declined to comment on his contract situation. ‘‘Tim said Daine definitely has a future at the club and that he wants to keep him, but he wants him to play NSW Cup to learn how to play second row,’’ Haddad said.
‘‘Daine’s happy at the club but he wants to be playing first grade on a regular basis. He considers himself NRL standard. There are quite a few clubs interested in him but we’ll hold talks with the Tigers again in a few weeks before we look in to that.’’
Laurie is believed to be excited at the prospect of being coached by Bennett after seeing how he transformed Michael Weyman from a fringe first-grader into a State of Origin star in the space of an off-season.
Laurie was expected to return for tomorrow night’s clash with the Sea Eagles after being dropped for the past fortnight for failing to show to a training session last month.
Laurie is believed to have texted Toyota Cup coach Peter Gentle to explain he was staying at home, sick, rather than fronting training or calling Sheens, leading Tigers officials to believe he may have been hungover after players were given the all clear to have a rare drink on the Sunday.
He was then allegedly told he’d be stood down for the remainder of the season if he didn’t produce a doctor’s certificate – which he did – leading to discussions between his manager and the club.
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