Canberra Raiders in push for Corey Harawira-Naera but they have alternative plan if they miss
Canberra Raiders are having two throws at the stumps in an effort to land a big name from Canterbury Bulldogs, and if they miss Corey Harawira-Naera they have another player firmly in their sights.
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If we can’t sign one then we’ll go after the other.
Canberra has identified Bulldogs second-rower Corey Harawira-Naera as the club’s middle forward replacement for English-bound John Bateman.
Yet if denied by the Bulldogs, the determined Raiders will then target another Canterbury back-rower — Adam Elliott.
Either way, the Raiders are determined to pinch one of the pair.
Canterbury management and Harawira-Naera held an 11am meeting on Monday to try and settle his future at Belmore.
Sources close to the meeting suggest Harawira-Naera reiterated his desire to leave Belmore.
It is understood Harawira-Naera and Canterbury are considering all options with both parties expected to reach a decision by Wednesday.
It remains highly likely Harawira-Naera will seek and be granted a release to Canberra, effective immediately.
Put simply, Harawira-Naera wants out of Belmore. Should Canterbury refuse Harawira-Naera a release, Canberra will take one step to the left and target Elliott.
If released and cleared by the NRL, Harawira-Naera could play in the Raiders match against Souths at GIO Stadium this Saturday night.
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Harawira-Naera remains angry at the club’s decision to tear up his contract after he and fellow Bulldog, Jayden Okunbor, were deregistered by the NRL following a pre-season incident involving two schoolgirls in Port Macquarie.
Both players were reinstated through appeal last week and are now officially Bulldogs players again.
Canterbury signed centre Dragons centre Tim Lafai on Monday, effective immediately, but a mooted player swap between Lafai and Harawira-Naera failed to eventuate.
Harawira-Naera’s revised suspension ends this week and he is available for Canterbury’s match against Newcastle at McDonald Jones Stadium this Sunday. It is highly unlikely he will be selected when the team is announced at 4pm on Tuesday.
Winger Okunbor still has another month remaining on his suspension.
The Bulldogs may be reluctant to release Harawira-Naera until the club’s new coach — expected to be Trent Barrett — has arrived.
Canberra officials were not commenting on Monday but friends of Harawira-Naera claim he wants to become a Raider immediately.
Barrett and Harawira-Naera do enjoy a strong relationship through their time together as an assistant coach and player at Penrith.
Harawira-Naera was shocked to be reinstated and told he was a Bulldogs player again.
Okunbor is said to be content remaining with Canterbury but cannot return from suspension until round 14.
Barrett is expected to be named Canterbury coach within the next 24 hours.
Dragons coach Paul McGregor revealed why he allowed Lafai to leave mid-season.
“We have been pleased with the recent performances of Euan Aitken and Zac Lomax while Brayden Wiliame is close to returning from injury.
We are also comfortable that Jackson Ford and Tyrell Fuimaono are capable of playing there if ever required,” said McGregor.
“Another factor the club considered was the long-term trajectory of Max and Mat Feagai, who have impressed since joining the NRL development squad this year.”
ANALYSIS: BARRETT WILL SURELY PAY HIS DUES TO AXED COACH
By David Riccio
Trent Barrett has received his official contract offer to take over as coach of Canterbury, with only minor details to be signed off on within the next 48 hours.
And if the Bulldogs’ effort to battle on after $1 million playmaker Kieran Foran was fouled out of the game by the shoulder of Dragons forward Tariq Sims is anything to go by, Barrett could ink the deal much sooner.
Because even from his lounge room on the south coast, Barrett saw what we all saw on Saturday afternoon: light at the end of the kennel.
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Yes, the Dragons pinched a six-point victory after the Dogs led 22-12, but the capitulation also coincided with Foran’s departure from the game in the 38th minute.
There was enough fight in Canterbury’s performance to suggest the result could’ve been much different if Sims’ shoulder hadn’t collected Foran’s head — rubbing him out of the game.
Sims now faces an anxious wait from the NRL match review committee.
When Barrett does officially take over, he’ll know that there’s enough character in the walls for him to work with.
And being the type of bloke Barrett is, you can see him giving Dean Pay a call.
Barrett doesn’t have to say thanks for anything in particular, but the call would be a sign of recognition for the foundation Pay has provided for the current Penrith assistant to now run with.
Canterbury were down 10-0 after seven minutes, appearing loose, unorganised and off the pace.
Imagine what the Broncos would’ve done from here?
Yes, they eventually got beat by a wayward pass and intercept by Corey Norman, but there’s a spirit in the Dogs that Barrett would know Pay has instilled.
As for the departed coach, Pay watched the team he coached for two-and-a-half years from his sofa at home also, which again says a little something about the man he is.
It would’ve been so easy for Pay to feel nothing but animosity towards the Bulldogs, given he was made to feel unwanted after doing all the heavy-lifting.
At 3pm on Saturday, Pay could’ve started the lawnmower, gone fishing or been excused for watching the Lions beat the Giants in the AFL.
But instead he sat there and watched many of the players he helped develop including Lachlan Lewis, Jeremy Marshall-King, Nick Meaney and Renouf To’omaga.
They were club debutants under Pay. Under Barrett they’ll be 30-, 40- and 50-game NRL players.
And when it comes to winning and losing matches in the final 60 seconds, like the Dogs did the latter on Saturday, that first-grade experience is often the difference.