News 26/5: Gidley in UK sights as Lyon set to return

[jamesgould]

The only other news apart from these three articles is that Brian Carney is in the squad for the test between New Zealand and Great Britain, so might miss a game for us if we release him ...

Gidley in UK sights as Lyon set to return
Brent Read
May 26, 2006
ENGLISH club St Helens is preparing an audacious bid to recruit Newcastle centre Matthew Gidley as a replacement for Jamie Lyon.
Sources confirmed to The Australian that the Super League leader had tabled an offer for Gidley, who is under contract at the Knights for another season.

The move all but confirms Lyon will return to the NRL in 2007, most likely with the Eels.

Lyon's manager George Mimis leaves for England at the weekend armed with a contract offer from Parramatta reportedly worth $900,000 over three seasons.

Gidley, who recently announced his retirement from representative football, has been earmarked as the man to plug the hole in the St Helens side.

The 29-year-old has been a fixture in the Newcastle backline for a decade, playing more than 200 first-grade games as well as 11 Origin games for NSW and 11 Tests for Australia.

"We're aware that St Helens have made an offer to Matt Gidley," Newcastle football manager Steve Crowe said.

"However, Matt is contracted to the club in 2007 and is an extremely valuable member of the team."

Even though Gidley remains one of the game's best centres, the Knights may be prepared to let him go as a reward for his long and distinguished service.

His departure would also free up funds for the club to retain Matthew's brother Kurt, who is in negotiations with the Knights, and other players coming off contract.

A number of clubs have already expressed an interest in holding talks with Kurt should he remain on the market after June 30.

Parramatta was understood to be one of those, although the imminent return of Lyon is likely to put an end to that.

The Eels' incoming coach, Michael Hagan, has pencilled Lyon in to play five-eighth, the position he has filled on an ad hoc basis in his two years at the English club.

His imminent return completes a remarkable reversal for the former NSW and Australia centre, who walked out on the Eels early in the 2004 season.

Lyon was initially thought to be returning to the NRL at Manly.

It's understood the seed for a return to Parramatta was planted by several text messages from his former team-mates at the club.

The Eels subsequently opened negotiations and Lyon is expected to formalise his return within the week.

From: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,19256306-2722,00.html

Origin's walking wounded are prepared to back up
By Glenn Jackson
May 26, 2006

LATE MAIL

Knights hooker Danny Buderus pulled up "better than expected" from Wednesday night's Origin I and is rated a strong chance of backing up tonight against St George Illawarra. But Knights coach Michael Hagan will decide today whether he and Steve Simpson will play. "I think Danny will probably be all right," he said. There is concern over five-eighth Jarrod Mullen, who suffered a broken hand in the Origin curtain-raiser. "We'll just have to assess whether he can play with it," Hagan said. Dragons coach Nathan Brown said his side would be as named, and Mark Gasnier would play.

From: http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/o...ared-to-back-up/2006/05/25/1148524821376.html

Barrett set for one last night of Knights
Margie McDonald
May 26, 2006

AS the clock starts winding down on Trent Barrett's NRL career he is savouring every moment - like the one tonight when he plays for the last time at one of his favourite grounds and against his favourite opponent.
Barrett has no qualms naming Andrew Johns as the most complete player he has encountered.

"It's been great playing against Joey, better to play with him," Barrett said. "He's by far and away the best player that's ever been opposite me or beside me."

St George Illawarra faces Newcastle at EnergyAustralia Stadium and unless the Dragons and Knights meet in the finals series, it will be the last time Barrett plays against Johns.

"It would be even better to win this last one," Barrett said, adding he never considered himself the sentimental kind.

"Not really. I probably won't realise until the end that that's it. But I'll say the season is going very quickly. I'm finding now that I'm one game closer to it all finishing.

"From now on I'm savouring every little thing. I've been here a long time so it'll be hard to leave. So I've got to make every post a winner from here on in."

There is another reason Barrett wants to win tonight: to avenge the result from the last time the sides met.

It was seven weeks ago in round five at WIN Stadium when the Knights won 54-6.

"It's not a thing one bloke or two blokes can stop. If anyone has got the secret of how to stop things once a team starts rolling on you, then I'd love to have it ... especially a team with Johns, (Danny) Buderus and (Matthew) Gidley in it," Barrett said.

Coach Michael Hagan yesterday described it as "just one of those nights where everything went our way".

"They'll come with a different attitude and a very determined attitude," Hagan said.

Hagan said his three players involved in Wednesday night were expected to play: Buderus, Steve Simpson and young five-eighth Jarrod Mullen, who played for the NSW under-19s. Mark Gasnier is the only Dragon backing up.

From: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,19256310-2722,00.html

 

[thanrldiva]

Good to see the Buderus and Simpson will back up from there origin match and that Brian is in the team against NZ. I will pick NZ this time though when they take on Great Britian . Not the other team like i do when the take on the aussies.

I wonder if matt will take it or not. I have not really seen him play so I cant really comment on him

 

[seabass14]

hasnt the nz vs great britian game had its international status taken off?, beacuse the nrl teams wont release half of the kiwi players? (i could be wrong) if so then, whats the point of carney missing a knights game?

 

[jamesgould]

Well I read Selwyn Pearson saying that that was just a rumour and it is a test, but who knows!