Cronulla Sharks plotting to lure Michael Jennings away from the Sydney Roosters

CRONULLA are secretly plotting a late bid for Michael Jennings to stop him from signing a four-year $2 million deal to join the Sydney Roosters.

CRONULLA are secretly plotting a late bid for unwanted Panther Michael Jennings to stop him from signing a four-year $2 million deal to join the Sydney Roosters.

The Sunday Telegraph can reveal Cronulla pose the only threat to the Roosters announcing the prize signature of Jennings within the next seven days.

Pivotal to the negotiations is Penrith general manager of rugby league Phil Gould, whose patience with Jennings' poor attitude towards training and repeated behavioural issues has worn out at the foot of the mountains.

If Gould and Jennings' representatives from Titan management group can strike a fair and reasonable release fee from his $690,00-a-season Panthers contract, Penrith are expected to allow Jennings to walk away from his contract three years early.

The Sharks' last-ditch bid to lure Jennings away from the Roosters is based around using their ex-Panthers triumvirate of Luke Lewis, Michael Gordon and Wade Graham to entice him to the Shire.

NSW Origin captain Paul Gallen has also been identified as a key behind-the-scenes player in the approach, with the pair playing all three games for the Blues together last season.

The Roosters recruited club legend Brad Fittler, the last big-name player to switch from Penrith to Bondi Junction back in 1996 when Gould was still coaching, who personally called Jennings in a bid to convince the West City Tigers junior to switch allegiances.

Like Jennings, Fittler began his career with the Panthers as a 17-year-old schoolboy sensation before making the sea change east and captaining the Roosters to a 2002 premiership.Sydney Roosters chief operating officer of football Brian Canavan confirmed the Roosters remained interested in luring Jennings.

"We're in no rush. We will let discussions between Penrith and Michael Jennings' management transpire," Canavan said. "Then if there is a resolution there, then obviously we're interested."

Jennings' agent Isaac Moses, currently serving a six-month suspension for his role in the Melbourne Storm salary cap scandal, remains the other central figure in the discussions.

With Moses still sidelined due to his suspension and also holidaying on the Gold Coast last week, his cousin Stephen will be the conduit handling the negotiations.

The Sunday Telegraph has been told the Panthers became so frustrated with Jennings' attitude towards training and the club in general he was told he did not need to report to pre-season training after Christmas with the club intent on moving him on.

If the Panthers do successfully negotiate a release with Jennings, it will provide the club with valuable salary cap room to target Queensland and Australian halfback Johnathan Thurston, who is off contract with the North Queensland Cowboys at season's end.