Friendships with Paul Gallen and Robbie Farah could sway Luke Lewis' tough decision

STATE of Origin friendships have given Cronulla and Wests Tigers a decided edge in the race to sign Luke Lewis.

Lewis Farah

STATE of Origin friendships have given Cronulla and Wests Tigers a decided edge in the race to sign Luke Lewis, which already featured 10 contenders last night.

Outside fellow Panthers players, Lewis's closest mates in the Blues team are respective Sharks and Tigers skippers - Paul Gallen and Robbie Farah.

The Daily Telegraph can even reveal that Lewis spent last weekend recovering from Origin III with Gallen in Cronulla.

Toyota Park will also be home to former Panthers teammates Wade Graham and Michael Gordon next year, making a permanent return to the Shire even more desirable for Lewis.

Cronulla already boast one of the competition's best back-row combinations, but the speculation continues to suggest that Kiwi hardman Jeremy Smith could move elsewhere in 2013.

Influential in campaigning for the signature of Todd Carney last year, Gallen could again push coach Shane Flanagan to snap up Lewis as an ideal replacement.

Likewise for Tigers rake Farah, who was comforted by Lewis at his mother's funeral last month.

Lewis, 28, is also close to Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens from Australian Test duty.

"I think he'll draw a lot of interest," Sheens said last night.

"I'm not saying we can put him in there or afford him, I'm just saying we'll be interested.

"We lose (Gareth) Ellis, but we've picked up Eddy Pettybourne and Bodene Thompson, so we have a bit in that (back-row) area. But we will be interested in Lewis as soon as he comes on to the market. I think a few clubs will be. We'll be one of many."

The Concord-based Tigers also enjoy a geographical advantage over Cronulla, given Lewis has just purchased a new family home in the Penrith area.

Desperate for a strong-running back-rower, Parramatta would be an even better fit in that department.

An intermediary approached Eels officials about signing Lewis last month, when his disappointment over losing the Panthers captaincy was most acute.Having missed out on Tony Williams, Beau Scott and Graham, Parramatta are still keen for strike on the edges and have deeper pockets than most of the suitors. Canterbury might have matched them had Krisnan Inu and Sam Perrett not been signed on mid-season transfers.

The Bulldogs also discussed making an approach to Lewis a month ago, but no longer have the necessary cap space after re-signing two members of their current forward pack and making a call to retain in-form halfback Kris Keating.

St George Illawarra are still in the hunt for a marquee signing and, like Parramatta, can afford to splash out after negotiations with Cooper Cronk and Brett Stewart were aborted.

Bankrolled by millionaire owners Nathan Tinkler and Russell Crowe, Newcastle and Souths cannot be ruled out either.

Crowe went within a whisker of personally wooing Lewis to Redfern in 2008, while Knights insiders confirmed an approach would be made as they seek to inject more aggression in the forwards next year.

THE CONTENDERS

Sharks ($2.50): Lewis spent last weekend with Cronulla skipper Paul Gallen. He would also adapt well in the Shire, alongside former Panthers team-mates Wade Graham and Michael Gordon next year. The only question mark is the distance he’d have to travel to training.

Tigers ($3): Last month, Lewis travelled 50km to attend the funeral of Robbie Farah’s mother Sonia. The pair are incredibly tight and starring together in Origin would have fuelled a desire to do so at club level. Lewis is also a close mate of Tigers and Kangaroos coach Tim Sheens, who customarily nominates the utility as being one of the first players picked for Australia.

Eels ($4.50): In targeting Tony Williams, Beau Scott and Wade Graham, Parramatta exposed their desire to recruit a hard-running back-rower. There’s no better customer in that department than Lewis and the cashed-up Eels will be out to sign him ASAP.

Rabbitohs ($6): Co-owner Russell Crowe wined and dined Lewis to within an inch of defecting to Redfern in 2008. Only an eleventh-hour change of heart convinced Lewis to backflip. He’s only excelled as a player since, but Crowe has already signed Ben Te’o to fill Dave Taylor’s shoes.  

Dragons ($8): Have more space under next year’s cap than most of their rivals, after missing out on marquee buys Cooper Cronk and Brett Stewart. They will be another club throwing big bucks at Lewis from the outset.

Knights ($8): Like Parramatta, Newcastle has lacked raw intimidation in the forwards this year. Beau Scott’s arrival will address that, but Lewis would go a much bigger step further should Wayne Bennett not re-sign Chris Houston.

Roosters ($15):  With 2013 recruits Sonny Bill Williams and James Maloney adding almost $1 million to next year’s cap, the Roosters won’t find it easy to fit Lewis in a pack bursting with promise. The 28-year-old’s age also exceeds the club’s youth recruitment policy.

Bulldogs ($26): Were extremely interested a month ago, but the mid-season recruitments of Sam Perrett and Krisnan Inu have squeezed their 2013 cap.