Tweet
Pearce will be here in 2013. The issue is where he will be in 2014 and beyond. Chances are high that it will be at another club. Hooray for the youth policy.
-
Who said 13 was an unlucky number? 13th Premiership in yr 13 on our 100th anniversary of our 1913 premiership. -
We now know that Pearce will see out his contract.... Zerotackle had an article posted today how both the Bulldogs and Dragons want him. It went on to say that Steve Price had a meeting with Pearce recently and that even though the Bulldogs just resigned Kris Keating they still will chase Pearce for 2014.Comment
-
-
Yeah,lets scrap it and bring back our highly successful transit lounge policy...Originally posted by Rocky Rhodes View PostPearce will be here in 2013. The issue is where he will be in 2014 and beyond. Chances are high that it will be at another club. Hooray for the youth policy.
Comment
-
-
It wouldnt worry me too much if junior decided to move on in 2014.Hes a competent 1st grade halfback at best hes no world beater he has never reached anything near the hype that a few people have put on him.Give me Johnstone,cherry evans,cronk,Renolds orThurston in my side any day over junior.Comment
-
Canterbury-Bankstown to keep Sydney Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce in their sights
Canterbury-Bankstown halfback Kris Keating has agreed to a new two-year deal with the Bulldogs but his retention is unlikely to stop the club's anticipated pursuit of Sydney Roosters and NSW star Mitchell Pearce.
Keating is understood to have agreed to a one-year deal with a one-year option, giving the parties some freedom to part ways should Pearce or another high-profile No 7 - North Queensland's Johnathan Thurston is also on the market - arrive in 2014.
The Bulldogs have been linked with Pearce for months, although they aren't the only club casting admiring glances in his direction. St George Illawarra coach Steve Price made personal contact with the Blues playmaker this year, indicating the Dragons are likely to be in the race for his signature.
The Roosters will also be reluctant to let him go at the end of next season, although their capacity to retain Pearce is likely to hinge to a large extent on the coaching situation.
The club is expected to make a play for Melbourne's Craig Bellamy when he comes off contract at the end of 2013, although so are the Dragons.
The competition for Bellamy is expected to drive his price beyond $1 million, bringing him in line with the game's other elite coaches Wayne Bennett and Des Hasler. Keating's new deal is not in that ballpark, although it is a reward for his determined fightback from NSW Cup.
The 23-year-old started the year in reserve grade but won a reprieve when close friend Trent Hodkinson injured a shoulder. Since then, he has been an integral member of the club's 11-game winning streak.
His decision to stay comes as he prepares to lock horns with Wests Tigers superstar Benji Marshall at ANZ Stadium on Friday night. While Keating was happy to spruik his new deal on Wednesday, Bulldogs officials remained tight-lipped. It wasn't the only subject that was taboo.
Players were instructed to dead-bat questions over the brilliant form of fullback Ben Barba. Instead, they set about talking up the Tigers and their dangerman, Marshall.
"They're a dangerous side," captain Michael Ennis said.
"They have strike all over the park. They're a very dangerous football team. There are guys throughout the competition that can do things very few others can do. He (Marshall) falls into that category.
"When he has the ball in his hands, you need to be aware."
While Barba was off limits at the Bulldogs, it was open slather in Melbourne. Storm fullback Billy Slater lavished praise on his fellow Queenslander, who is expected to take his mantle as the Dally M player of the year.
So impressive has Barba been, one betting agency on Wednesday paid out on him taking the game's most prestigious honour despite there being three more rounds before the voting is completed.
"Ben Barba's got his own unique talents," Slater said.
"He can do things that I certainly can't do. He's a tremendous player and I, like everyone else, enjoy watching him play.
"He's had a great season, he's been a tremendous excitement machine for our game."Comment
-
If junior is to move we should get Thurston and move him back to halfback. Imagine him and Maloney in the halves with RTS at fullback coachec by Bellamy.
Before the rort instead of the nig 3 it was the big 4 with GI, Slater, Smith and Cronk. Under Bellamy he could easily turn Friend into a competitive hooker and RTS into a superstar up there with the legends and Maloney and JT in the halves along with Moga and future Blue Cordner and SKD in the centers and JWH. Brings a tear to my eye.Comment
-
Zerotackle is a website that has NRL and ESL news. zerotackle.com.auComment
Comment