Blindside: Cap space thwarts Brisbane’s Damien Cook pursuit
Souths hooker Damien Cook appears at long odds to join the Broncos, Cam Munster’s pledge to Melbourne and Wayne Bennett brushes coaches conference. It’s all in this week’s edition of Blindside.
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Souths hooker Damien Cook is at long odds to join the Broncos.
Blindside understands Cook’s potential move to Brisbane will be thwarted by salary-cap pressures at Red Hill.
Cook has privately indicated to Brisbane-bound Souths coach Anthony Seibold that he would be prepared to play under him at the Broncos, but money is a major obstacle.
The Broncos have hooker Andrew McCullough locked in for another three years and will struggle to come up with $800,000-a-season to secure Cook.
MUNSTER CALLS FOR STORM TO SECURE SMITH
Cameron Munster has pledged his future to Melbourne and the Maroons Origin ace has now appealed for the Storm to do everything possible to keep skipper Cameron Smith at the club.
Munster’s multimillion-dollar four-year upgrade has salary-cap implications for Smith, who remains off-contract and has surprised the Storm by requesting a two-year extension.
Smith was expected to retire at the end of 2019, but is now keen to soldier on in 2020, putting pressure on Melbourne to come up with the funds to retain the greatest player in their history.
Munster urged Melbourne to finalise a deal with Smith, saying the loss of the former Test and Origin skipper would be a crushing blow.
“Cam can definitely play another two years,” Munster said.
“He is the glue to our club and having him around the side makes the whole squad calm. When he is not around, training is more frantic and we aren’t as structured.
“He just brings that calm, mellow, Cameron Smith class to the table and he makes everyone look better.
“If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be half the player I am, so I am very lucky to be mentored by him.
“I really hope he can sign another deal with the club and be here for a bit longer. The longer he stays here, the better it is for everyone at Melbourne.”
BENNETT BRUSHES COACHES CONFERENCE
Wayne Bennett’s frosty relationship with the NRL continues.
The super coach was due to attend Thursday’s coaches conference in Sydney but cancelled his flight at the last minute.
Bennett has brushed NRL gatherings numerous times over the past decade but could find himself in Sydney on a regular basis if Souths complete a straight swap with Anthony Seibold in the coming days.
Bennett’s deteriorating relationship with the Broncos is also interesting.
The club issued a statement on Saturday reiterating Bennett would be their coach in 2019.
Chairman Karl Morris was quoted in the statement, however Bennett’s quotes were picked out of a story written by an NRL.com journalist.
LODGE CONTINUES REDEMPTION JOURNEY
Matt Lodge’s journey along his road to redemption continues to gather pace, with his role in the Brisbane Broncos’ community work playing a big part.
Lodge, close to finalising a new deal with the Broncos, visited the Endeavour Foundation on Thursday as every player on the Broncos playing list joined the club’s commercial partners on a city-wide community blitz visiting 10 charities.
Down Syndrome Queensland, Ronald McDonald House, the Children’s Hospital Foundation, Rosies, The Big Issue, and Foodbank were just some of the other charities visited on Thursday.
Sam Thaiday, Justin Hodges, Petero Civoniceva, Lote Tuqiri and Scott Prince joined Lodge and the current players in leaving plenty of smiles on faces.
BRENNAN NOT FINISHED WITH UNIQUE IDEAS
Titans coach Garth Brennan could have some more surprises in store for his players after sending them to work this week.
The entire 31-man Titans squad was out in the Gold Coast community this week, washing cars, digging holes and building houses.
Brennan came up with the idea to give his players a reality check about how good they’ve got it in the NRL.
While it was hard work for some, the concept was warmly embraced by the players.
“I’d rather do this than an army camp,” captain Ryan James said.
James could be in for a shock though. Blindside understands Brennan is plotting some other ideas before the pre-season is finished.
GABBA SET TO BRING THE HEAT
Brisbane Heat players will get a unique way to warm up for the Big Bash League at the Gabba this summer.
A batting cage with a bowling machine is currently being constructed right next to the pool deck at the Gabba.
The cage will be used during Heat matches, allowing batsmen to warm up for their innings by facing some balls.
We could even see players walk straight out of the cage to the pitch when a wicket falls.
CRICKETER’S MUM HAPPY TO ESCAPE THE SUN
Which Queensland Bulls player’s mother joked she was mildly happy her son failed with the bat so she could head home early from the scorching hot Gabba on Wednesday?
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Originally published as Blindside: Cap space thwarts Brisbane’s Damien Cook pursuit
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