Off the Record: Rugby League Rumour and Gossip #58
Dywer’s stance
Where will Brad Dwyer be playing next year? We’ve been told that the hooker knocked back a new three-year offer from Warrington. Dwyer apparently wanted a bigger contract, but now the deal has been taken off the table. The 23-year old was dropped for the final three games of the season, including the grand final, after being ever-present for the Wire all year. There’s some speculation that Wigan may be interested in signing him, though he has a contract at the Halliwell Jones Stadium for 2017.
Suspended Moore
We broke the news of Scott Moore‘s worrying involvement in a police incident last week, and now here is an update. We’ve heard that Moore has been suspended by Wakefield as the club runs its own investigation, separate to the police one underway. The hooker has employed a solicitor in a bid to save his playing career.
Cherry and Whites
Lots of rumours have been floating around Wigan’s recruitment for 2017. Already Matty Smith has gone to Saints and Dom Crosby to Warrington, with Lee Mossop expected to join Salford. We’ve done some digging, and are pretty confident that Hull KR playmaker Albert Kelly won’t be joining the club next season. They are fine in the halves with Thomas Leuluai arriving. There’s also been talk in some quarters that George Williams could be heading to Warrington. According to our DW Stadium mole, that’s absolute nonsense.
Dodgy figures
Which club has been submitting some strange and unusal attendance figures to the RFL for its home matches? Word comes to us that this club has been naming large crowds when there was anything but at the games. This practice has ticked off some of its close rivals, especially when the gate was supposed to be split in several fixtures.
Donno limbo
Contrary to some reports, Hull KR forward James Donaldson has not re-signed with Hull KR in 2017. The forward, who is currently in Australia, has long held an ambition to play in the NRL. He is in some talks with some Aussies clubs, as we have previously told you, and now those chats may extend to talks with Cronulla and Souths. It’s likely to be a second-tier deal he could be offered, where you impress in the NSW Cup before stepping up to the NRL, and the size of the contract could be the sticking point which keeps Donaldson in the UK.
Wire winger
There has been some talk down under about Manly winger Jorge Taufua joining Warrington next year. Tony Smith has been after a winger for a while, with offers for Denny Solomona rebuffed and a bid for Akilua Uate breaking down. Taufau is a Tongan international and proven finisher, scoring 62 tries in 101 NRL games. The 24-year old played in the 2013 NRL grand final for the Sea Eagles and has also managed two appearances for NSW City.