League: Warriors playing catch-up

The Warriors are unlikely to be able to match Super League offers to Brent Webb. Picture / Kenny Rodger

South Sydney and the Warriors are at opposite ends of the salary cap as the annual player trade steps up to top gear.

While Souths did not spend anywhere near the A$3.6 million ($4.3 million) allowable this season, the Warriors are committed to paying more and therefore have to defer payments to 2007.

So Souths remain heavily in the market for players as the expiration of the June 30 anti-tampering deadline approaches, whereas the Warriors will buy possibly two key players to balance their squad.

One will be a fullback because it appears certain Brent Webb will receive far better offers than the Warriors can afford to make after his manager, Jim Banaghan, went to England recently to talk to Super League clubs.

The second should be at five-eighth because the Warriors still need one - even if Jerome Ropati keeps developing in the role, there are questions over back-up.

Much of the Warriors' problems stem from the fact that the previous management unbalanced the squad by failing to secure a five-eighth and then let halfback Stacey Jones go to France a year before his contract was up. It has taken the new halves until mid-season to find some direction on the field. Off-field, the management is now taking a view not just of 2007 but of where they will be in relation to the salary cap of 2008 and 2009.

The cap goes up to A$3.9 million for next season. Despite the departure of Richard Villasanti (Sharks) and Clinton Toopi (Leeds 2007) the Warriors' projected payments for 2007 will take them right to the edge of what they are allowed, after subtraction of the extra from this year, because of upgrades written into the contracts of others.

After securing Evarn Tuimavave, the obvious successor to Ruben Wiki, they have only Webb, Awen Guttenbeil, George Gatis and Epalahame Lauaki of the current squad off contract at season's end and able to look elsewhere from July 1, plus George Tuakura who is yet to make his debut.

Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah said Tuimavave was "a big one to get across the line". He faced big offers elsewhere but was the type of local prospect the Warriors wanted to hang on to.

"We want to improve the development a lot. Every year we want several players to come out of the development squad and up to the NRL."

That would free up money to allow the club to go after a marquee player in a specialist position, Scurrah said.

The club owners, Eric Watson and Mark Hotchin, have been in discussions with management this week regarding the playing squad, the development squad and the future. They were committed to spend to the limit of the cap in 2007, Scurrah said.

They wanted to put succession planning in place so when a top player was coming off-contract, there was someone to replace him.

There were perhaps five spots still left open for 2007, he said. And his comments from there on indicated they did not expect quick signings.

"The hard part of the jigsaw is the last four or five pieces and you get to the stage where perhaps you are better off waiting until after June 30."

Player agents were sending out lists of those off-contract on a daily basis.

To the comment that fans would react badly to the departure of Webb, Scurrah posed a question: "Do they want us to have another salary cap scandal or do they want us to develop our own players and keep them here?"

Souths have half their squad coming off-contract. Adam MacDougall, who was paid over the odds, has been told he won't be required. His brother Luke has indicated he will test the market from June 30. Also yet to be re-signed and allowed to negotiate elsewhere from June 30 are Manase Manuokafoa, Anthony Minichiello, Luke Stuart, Shane Rigon, Ben and Shane Walker, Joe Williams and Todd Polglase.

The new management have shown how serious they are about resurrecting the fortunes of the foundation club by securing Kiwis David Kidwell from the Storm for three years and Nigel Vagana from the Sharks for two. They are chasing Bulldogs prop Roy Asotasi and he and his wife were given a presentation from part-owner Russell Crowe.

After that they need a fullback safe in defence, another attacking centre and a tough prop. Souths have lots of promising juniors - their problem for many years now has been hanging on to them in the face of big offers elsewhere. And because they lose a lot they have had trouble attracting class players or end up paying too much for them.

Crowe and businessman Peter Holmes a Court took control of the club this month after achieving 76 per cent approval from the 8000 members at a vote in March where they offered A$3 million for a 75 per cent stake.

When they formally accepted the reins, Holmes a Court said he had listened to numerous football club members and supporters, the current management and directors and past directors.

"Neither Russell nor I underestimate the job ahead, which will include the most challenging elements of turning around a business with an era of underperformance, against the backdrop of the ruthless toughness of rugby league. The South Sydney Rabbitohs are now a unique partnership: on the one hand Russell and I have management control and on the other, members have true protection and control of our key heritage elements.

"We believe we can create a winning football club, change our community for the better, provide proof it can be done against the odds and change the lives of thousands of Australian kids."

Rabbitohs chief executive Shane Richardson outlined A$500,000 worth of improvements to the training base at Erskineville Oval and A$19.5 million being spent by the Sydney Council on Redfern Oval.

"We will learn from other codes and implement positives that we can gain from those sports."

Richardson and the owners have studied the Sydney Swans and Collingwood AFL clubs which turned their fortunes around after investing despite being badly in debt. Already the new owners have spent big on back-up staff, seeking to match that of other clubs and other codes. They have recruited Parramatta assistant and fill-in head coach (since Brian Smith left) Jason Taylor and the Bulldogs development officer Mark Hughes. They have signed the Cowboys' noted fitness conditioner, Billy Johnstone, and the Australian cricket team's physiotherapist for 22 years, Errol Alcott.

* The next monthly meeting of club chief executives will discuss an NRL plan to scrap the anti-tamper system. Most have indicated they are in favour because of the disruption the uncertainty of switching clubs causes to performance on the field.

ON THE MOVE

To The Gold Coast Titans: Luke Bailey (Dragons), Scott Prince and Anthony Laffranchi (Tigers), Preston Campbell, Frank Puletua and Luke Swain (Panthers), Matt Petersen (Eels), Brian Carney (Knights), Nathan Friend and Steve Turner (Storm), Michael Hodgson (Raiders) Brad Meyers (Bradford), Richard Mathers (Leeds).

Club-to-club: David Kidwell (Storm, Souths), Nigel Vagana (Storm, Souths), Anthony Quinn (Newcastle, Storm).

To Super League: Clinton Toopi (NZ Warriors, Leeds), Glenn Morrison (Eels, Wigan), John Skandalis (Tigers, Huddersfield), Phil Bailey (Sharks, Huddersfield), Matt Sing (Cowboys, Hull).

To rugby: Ryan Cross (Roosters, Western Force).