where did we get the salary cap room to make an offer for Lewis?

[fletch]

apparently yesterday we put in a $500k+ a season offer for Lewis, my question is where did this salary cap space come from.

its pretty clear he is either going to the Sharks/Tigers which shows how far we have fallen in the pecking order of the games elite players.

was it a situation of if we got Lewis we would of released Pearce to the Dragons.

[Guest]

Lewis will be at the dogs 2013

[Guest]

apparently yesterday we put in a $500k+ a season offer for Lewis, my question is where did this salary cap space come from.

its pretty clear he is either going to the Sharks/Tigers which shows how far we have fallen in the pecking order of the games elite players.

was it a situation of if we got Lewis we would of released Pearce to the Dragons.

That's nuts

Where did you hear that

[Guest]

apparently yesterday we put in a $500k+ a season offer for Lewis, my question is where did this salary cap space come from.

its pretty clear he is either going to the Sharks/Tigers which shows how far we have fallen in the pecking order of the games elite players.

was it a situation of if we got Lewis we would of released Pearce to the Dragons.

You've either misunderstood the article or whoever told you the above has.

[fletch]

Lewis's manager wanted all bids for his services by last night, we definately met with his manager yesterday

[Guest]

The Wests Tigers and Cronulla Sharks lead the hunt for Luke Lewis
by: David Riccio From: The Sunday Telegraph July 15, 2012 12:00AM

AFTER being given the keys to Test cricketer Shane Watson's million-dollar waterfront home in the Sutherland Shire, Luke Lewis sat on the balcony last weekend thinking how easily he could get used to this.

Watson's Burraneer Bay pad is a short walk from Cronulla Beach. It is just around the corner from some of the biggest names in sport - Ricky Stuart, Ian Thorpe, Andrew Etttingshausen, Ricky Ponting. And, as The Sunday Telegraph learned yesterday, Lewis, the NSW Origin star, could be moving in too.

Lewis' big decision is down to two clubs - the Sharks and Wests Tigers.

Newcastle, Canberra, Parramatta, Melbourne and the Roosters are all in there swinging. The Roosters met with Lewis' manager Greg Willett yesterday while the Raiders will submit their final offer today.

But, in reality, it remains a race in two with Lewis planning to make a decision within the next 48 hours.

But the dilemma is this: does Lewis uproot from his home for the past 28 years at Penrith and commute to Concord to play with the Tigers? Or does he make a sea change to the Shire and join the Sharks?

Both camps put in their offers yesterday, with Willett, an interested onlooker at last night's Tigers-Penrith match at Campbelltown. The Sharks and Tigers are believed to be offering around the $500,000 mark for the next three years.

Lewis would prefer an extra year on the deal and the Sharks have not ruled out the prospect of signing the NSW Origin and Test back-rower until the end of 2017.

The Tigers were re-assessing their salary cap space last night.

Lewis is said to be torn between both clubs.

On Friday, a phone call from Origin teammate Robbie Farah left Lewis thinking how perfectly he would fit into the Tigers squad following the departure of English back-rower Gareth Ellis at the end of this season.

Lewis also has huge respect for Tim Sheens, who has coached the 28-year-old in the green and gold since 2009. But then Lewis' emotions stewed again as he enjoyed dinner overlooking Cronulla Beach with close mate and the Sharks' stand-in captain Wade Graham.

Lewis also chats almost daily with the Sharks' most influential figure, Paul Gallen.

Lewis has made it known he isn't interested in signing with a club in a rebuilding phase.

The Tigers and Sharks both fit the bill.

Both teams look bound for the finals with strong rosters and healthy recruitment for next season.

At Cronulla, Lewis would hardly walk in as a stranger.

Aside from close mates Graham and Gallen, Lewis has played with Todd Carney, Ben Ross and incoming Panthers winger Michael Gordon during his 208-game career.

He has also worked under coach Shane Flanagan with the Blues, where the Sharks mentor was an assistant coach to Craig Bellamy.

Pulling Lewis back to the Tigers is the chance to remain in Penrith, where he's currently building a house.

He would need to sell that property to move to the Shire and join the Sharks.

Lewis has considered buying property in the Shire previously, his wife Sonia a close friend of Watson's wife and TV presenter Lee Furlong.

The star couple regularly offer their house to Lewis and Sonia. Whether they become neighbours will be revealed this week.

[Guest]

The whole rebuilding phase rules us out.

As well as our club being a basket case in general.

[Guest]

His manager said we were one of the four clubs not to make a play for him

[Guest]

His manager said we were one of the four clubs not to make a play for him

It says we met him just yesterday...

[Guest]

What of Braith if Lewis goes to the tigers. 5/8th?

Does that put Curtis Sironen on the market? He's got potential.

More than Pearce at least.

[ism22]

Myles, Conn, Carney, Blair, Rules, Piggy, Perrett, Mitchell... et. al.

It's no secret that we have a LOT of space left.

[Guest]

What of Braith if Lewis goes to the tigers. 5/8th?

Does that put Curtis Sironen on the market? He's got potential.

More than Pearce at least.

it'll certainly put jacob miller on the market.... but ive never seen him play so i cannot judge. maybe someone will know how good he is..

[Guest]

If you look at our squad, even with SBW, you'd think we have plenty of space left?

[Rooster_6]

What of Braith if Lewis goes to the tigers. 5/8th?

Does that put Curtis Sironen on the market? He's got potential.

More than Pearce at least.

Sironen isn't a half.

[ism22]

Sironen isn't a half.

He just plays 5/8 aside Benji Marshall every week...