The Warriors were disappointed to miss out on Jack de Belin, but the blow was softened by the St George Illawarra forward personally calling the club to explain the reasons for his decision.
De Belin was grateful for the interest and the offer, but when push came to shove he couldn’t drag his family across the Tasman, particularly given what he has put them through over the past 18 months.
The Warriors’ offer was the more financially lucrative. The club had pieced together a package that included match payments of $3000 a game on top of his salary in the first year, taking advantage of a loophole in the rules designed for players who haven’t played first grade in the previous year.
That provision allowed them to bump up year one by what would have amounted to upwards of $70,000 on top of the $700,000-plus salary.
The remaining three years were no less attractive, but the Dragons held their nerve and managed to secure a player who has been missed more than any other at the club.
De Belin still has to fight aggravated sexual assault charges, and a guilty verdict will mean his career is over. The Dragons have taken a risk, knowing de Belin could be found guilty when he fronts court in November.
It is a calculated gamble, something chief executive Ryan Webb acknowledged when he spoke to Weekend Read.
“We’re happy he has chosen to stay with us,” Webb said.
“He had other clubs looking. We have supported him this far so it made sense to carry that on. It is such a complicated situation.
“We know what he is bringing to the squad we have. We knew there was two or three other (clubs) at one stage but we were always respectful talking.”
The player market is fluid right up until the deadline for movement between clubs. If de Belin is found guilty, Webb is confident the club won’t be caught short. It is taking steps in the meantime to strengthen its forward pack. It is understood representatives of Brisbane forward Joe Ofahengaue have been contacted and the club has drawn up a hit-list for their incoming coach. It can afford to be patient given rugby league often surprises.
“I think something will present if it needs too,” Webb said.
Scott relying on footage
Video footage from the end of the taser gun used on Curtis Scott is set to play a pivotal role in the Canberra centre’s court hearing next week.
Scott will return to Sydney Downing Centre for a two-day hearing as he confronts a series of police charges emanating from his arrest on Australia Day this year.
Try as he might, Scott’s lawyer, Sam Macedone, hasn’t been able to reach a settlement with the police. All will be revealed next week as Macedone prepares to unleash video evidence, the latest acquired from the taser gun used by police, who claim it was needed to bring Scott under control.
The Raiders centre had a difficult start to life in the nation’s capital, but his form in recent weeks has been resurgent. He has been able to park the police charges and focus on being the player the Raiders hoped he would be.
The matter should be finalised next week and Macedone is counting on the video evidence working in Scott’s favour. As well as the taser gun footage, there is also the footage from the police body camera and the security guard body camera.
Once the footage is shown in court, it is available to become fodder for the public.
No doubt newspapers and television networks will be queuing up to get hold of it. Macedone is confident it won’t reflect poorly on his client. “We’re getting ready to go to court,” Macedone said. “It is full blast ahead. We have tried our best to keep this is out of the public but it is not up to us.”
Faith in Madge
Marina Go is long gone as chair at Wests Tigers but she is better placed than most to shine the light on the reasons for choosing Michael Maguire as the club’s head coach.
“We wanted coach who knew what it was like to win,” Go told Weekend Read.
“I think there was a feeling that there was a shift in culture and attitude that was required. There was a feeling that Madge had the discipline. From what I can see as a fan is it feels like that is what he is trying to do.”
Maguire has been under the microscope again this week amid claims he is losing the dressing room. He has been criticised for his handling of Benji Marshall’s future and there have been claims the players are walking on eggshells, clueless about where they stand with the coach.
Weekend Read was recently contacted by someone close to Maguire who was concerned about the narrative that he was too tough. Our advice — the horse has bolted and Maguire would be better off embracing the narrative, and pointing our that tough teams and tough coaches tend to win premierships. Go, chair when Maguire was appointed, insists he was exactly what the club wanted because they needed to harden up and develop a winning culture. She suggests if players are unhappy, the best bet would be to show them the door, rather than the coach.
“There was a feeling within the club that his kind of tougher style was required,” she said.
“I was there for the first pre-season with him. The players had never experienced anything like it in their life. Every time I hear about whinging I think, would they whinge about Craig Bellamy.
“It is not going to be any easier. They come from the same school. Certainly in my house, where there are definite hardcore Wests Tigers fans, there is a hell of a lot of support for Madge.
“Certainly my son and husband believe he is exactly what the Wests Tigers need. Nobody seems to be saying we need a new coach. I am not reading or hearing that from the fan base.
“They love him and support him — in fact, if anything they want him to go harder. There is a view that our guys need to start playing to their potential.
“Maybe the club needs to get tougher. I am sure in Melbourne if people start to whinge they just get rid of them.”
Long camp for Origin
Queensland officials will hold crucial talks with NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo early next week when they and their NSW counterparts hope to get clarity around this year’s State of Origin series.
It won’t just be a discussion about the location of the three matches, but also squad sizes and how the protocols will be played out.
For Queensland in particular, it shapes as a challenging time given the restrictions that are placed on visitors to the state.
The Maroons are likely to be based in Queensland, meaning their NSW-based players could be forced to go into two weeks of quarantine when they cross the border.
They would then be in camp for up to a month, meaning they could face six weeks or more away from home and their families. The impact could be significant on the likes of Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans, Wests Tigers skipper Moses Mbye, Canterbury prop Dylan Napa and St George Illawarra pair Ben Hunt and Corey Norman.
They are expected to be allowed to leave the biosecurity bubble when their season is over, but will be required to return to the bubble to take part in the Origin series.
Given both states are expected to have expanded squads of up to 27 players, QRL chair Bruce Hatcher is concerned that some players may opt out of Origin.
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