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SYDNEY - Australian rugby's drive to recruit National Rugby League players has stepped up a notch with ARU officials doing the rounds with league player managers to discuss their off-contract players.
ARU player performance managers Pat Wilson and the newly appointed Rob Smith will meet with Bulldogs star Sonny Bill Williams' agent Chris Orr on Monday, one of a number of managers the pair plan to speak with.
"We've got a number of players coming off contract and they wanted to see who and what was coming off and then they would then express an interest to us in who and what," Orr said.
"We'd have probably 30 or 40 coming off contract this year.
"I think they've met with numerous management groups.
"I'm actually issuing our off-contract list to them tomorrow so they've got it before the meeting, they can do their own background research on it."
An ARU spokesperson tonight confirmed the series of meetings but denied a Seven Network report that Williams was their target.
"There is no focus on one player," the spokesperson said.
"Sonny Bill Williams is not our focus and not in our plans."
Orr said he was not aware of any specific interest in New Zealand league international Williams, who is also eligible to represent the Wallabies and comes off contract at the end of 2007.
"It's not a Sonny Bill Williams issue," Orr said.
"We haven't even contemplated rugby union at this stage.
"I would be surprised if we rocked there and that's all they want to talk about."
Orr said he would be meeting with the Bulldogs next week.
"We're going to go down the path with the Bulldogs first and if that at any stage doesn't seem to be working out then we'll entertain the options."
Williams, who has repeatedly said he needs to treat his injury-riddled football career as a business, last week refused to rule out a move to union.
"I don't know, there's always a lot of talk contract time," he said.
"You're not sure if it's actually true or not."
The Bulldogs declined to comment on the matter tonight.
- AAP
