Off the Record: Rugby League Transfer Gossip #17
Knighting Ferres
Nathan Brown’s target of his old club St Helens for players seems to have fallen through, but word comes to us that the coach might make a play for Brett Ferres. There’s no doubting the England international’s ability, and, while his reputation is in the toilet, a move to the other side of the world in the Joel Monaghan mould might do him so good. Newcastle are in need of some beefing up and Ferres would give the Knights pack so punch. Merewether Beach or Wigan Pier? Surely an easy choice.
Wife rage
Still on the Ferres fiasco and we see the forward’s wife had a pointed barb on Twitter recently. Amanda Box, who had been with Ferres since the pair were teenagers but only got married last year, tweeted: “Happy 1st wedding anniversary @BrettFerres11.. oh we didn’t make it, 15yrs together & couldn’t manage 1yr married”. It’s hard not to feel for Box, and Craig Huby, along with the young kids of both families caught up in this situation. If Ferres stays in Super League, when his new team faces Huddersfield next season that is going to one hell of a game. Same with Justin Carney and Salford when they tackle Nathan Massey and Cas on March 13. Don’t miss that one.
Wests new grant
Tim Grant will be the latest casualty at South Sydney, with the front-rower expected to sign with Wests Tigers in the coming days. The Tigers have cap space in abundance while Souths are strapped with the return of Slamming Sam. Grant has ability and has made two appearances for NSW, one for the Prime Minister’s XIII and one for the NRL All Stars in the past. But the 27-year old prop has not set the world alight at Redfern and will be looking for a fresh start at Leichhardt Oval.
Parra trying to pounce
The Parramatta Eels are on the lookout for a class centre after the departure of Will Hopoate to the Dogs. The Eels have missed out on Peta Hiku and James Roberts so far, with Hiku leaving Manly for the Panthers and Roberts likely to link up with the Broncos after exiting Gold Coast, while Dylan Walker also shifted to the Sea Eagles. Parra need some strike in the backs and have been unlucky so far. Unwanted Bronco Dale Copley could be one target for them. At this stage the blue and gold will be forced to pair experienced centre Brad Takairangi with a rookie like Vai Toutai, John Folau or Clint Gutherson.
Aussies away
Ah to be a visa player in Super League. A number of new arrivals to the UK of the antipodean extraction are already back in the land Down Under over Christmas, sunning themselves on Bondi Beach while their teammates are slogging it out in deepest, darkest Yorkshire, Lancashire and anywhere else in the UK which has hills, cold weather and colder rivers to dive into. We hear of at least four veteran stars who have secured a mini-break in the southern hemisphere smack bang in the middle of pre-season. A nice jaunt if you can get it.
Season greetings
Merry Xmas and Happy New Year’s to all from Messrs Mour and Trigue. We hope you have enjoyed our weekly tidbits, goss and pillow talk from the world of rugby league in 2015. We’ll be back with the best inside info from the world of rugby league in 2016. Don’t hit the pints and Christmas puddings too hard over the festive season readers.