League: Gasnier proving a double distraction

Dragons centre Mark Gasnier will need a miracle recovery from a hip problem to take the field against the Warriors tonight, according to his coach Nathan Brown.

Gasnier left the field mid-game in the loss to the Sharks last weekend and is described as "very doubtful" for the game in Wollongong.

He remains a distraction for the Dragons in more ways than one, his contract negotiations stalling the re-signing of current squad members and the signing of other players as the Dragons reassess the make-up of their squad.

Neither the club nor the player will talk about the deals. But after confirmation of the departure of Trent Barrett to England at the end of the season, considerable money has now been freed-up.

Channel Nine, which has the free-to-air TV rights deal in Australia, and thus a vested interest in keeping stars in the game, is said to be negotiating with a third-party sponsor who will "employ" Gasnier for work outside his existing commitments to the club in return for a cut-rate advertising deal.

The Dragons are without seven regulars for tonight's game, halfback Matt Head (knee), props Jason Ryles (hand) and Luke Bailey (knee/ribs), wing Wes Naiqama (ankle), bench forwards Ashton Sims (wrist), Corey Payne (eye socket) and Sam Isemonger (knee). Ben Creagh and Ben Hornby have to back up from the City-Country game last night.

A meeting of the 15 club chief executives in Sydney on Wednesday agreed a salary cap increase of 7.5 per cent from A$3.37 million ($4.14 million) to A$3.9m for the top 25 players.

On top of that clubs can pay A$100,000 long service allowance and A$200,000 "sponsorship servicing" allowance.

The NRL and Rugby League Players Association meet next week to ratify the rise and strike a new collective bargaining agreement. The rise will not cost clubs because the NRL also agreed to increase the grant it pays out of broadcasting rights from A$2.7m to A$3.35m.

* The New Zealand Rugby League confirmed yesterday that the Kiwis clash with Great Britain at Knowlsey Rd in June will have test status.

This follows confusion on Wednesday when the league said it would not be a test as NRL players were not involved - despite the match being announced in Brisbane as a test.

Warriors v Dragons
Wollongong Stadium, 7.30 tonight

DRAGONS

Clint Greenshields
Colin Best
Gasnier/Millard
Matt Cooper
Brett Morris
Trent Barrett (c)
Ben Hornby
Justin Poore
Aaron Gorrell
Michael Henderson
Ben Creagh
Dean Young
Shaun Timmins
Interchange: Danny Wicks, Matt Bickerstaff, Charlie Leaneo, George Ndaira, Lee Te Maari.

WARRIORS
 
Brent Webb
Todd Byrne
Tony Martin
Simon Mannering
Misi Taulapapa
Jerome Ropati
Grant Rovelli
Ruben Wiki
Nathan Fien
Steve Price (c)
Awen Guttenbeil
Wairangi Koopu
Sione Faumuina
Interchange: George Gatis, Evarn Tuimavave, Clinton Toopi, Micheal Luck, Manu Vatuvei.