Confirmed Signings

Skyhunter · Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2007 2:21 pm Post subject: Confirmed Signings

Confirmed Signings

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Skyhunter · Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2007 2:42 pm Post subject:

Michael Witt signs until the end of 2009

Michael Witt signs new contract with Warriors

In more NRL contract news NZ Warriors half Michael Witt has agreed to new terms and the young ultility will be at the Warriors until the end of 2009. This is a nice boost for the club, which was seen strong improvement in the halves with Witt - something severely missing since Stacey Jones left the fold. Witt has had time at the Eels and Manly and hopefully has found a happy home in NZ.

Source: http://www.nrlnews.com/

This article was first posted on the 26th of April 2007 and has been moved from the NRL forum to this new forum

Skyhunter · Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2007 3:26 pm Post subject:

Jamie Soward signs a two-year deal with the Dragons

May 28, 2007

ST George-Illawarra has signed Jamie Soward after the young halfback was granted an immediate release from NRL club the Sydney Roosters today.

Soward signed a two-year deal with the Dragons and will be available for Friday night's game against Brisbane Broncos at Oki Jubilee Stadium.

Soward has spent the majority of the season playing second-fiddle to teenage halfback Mitchell Pearce at the Roosters, but received a late call-up to replace Pearce against the Sharks on Saturday night.

The 22-year-old supplied the kick for both of the Roosters' tries as the NRL cellar dwellers came from behind to beat the Sharks 13-12 in extra-time.

"Decisions of this nature are always made with the best interests of the player and the club in mind," Roosters chief executive Brian Canavan said.

"We wish Jamie all the best for his future."

AAP
Source: http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,21807625-23214,00.html

This article was first posted on the 29th of May 2007 and has been moved from the NRL forum to this new Forum.

Skyhunter · Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2007 5:56 pm Post subject:

Brent Tate signs with the Warriors until 2010

Brisbane Broncos outside back, Brent Tate has signed with the NZ Warriors until 2010. Tate will now join his brother in law Steve Price; who is married to Tate's sister Jo. Tate's wife is also of New Zealand heritage so the move is a good one for himself and the family. We wish Brent all the best in his new ventures.

Source: http://www.nrlnews.com/

This article was first posted on the 3rd of June 2007 and has been moved from the NRL forum to this new Forum.

Skyhunter · Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2007 6:04 pm Post subject:

Brent Tate is a good signing for the Warriors he will give them alot in attack and he is very strong in defence also he has good pace.

This post was first posted on the 3rd of June 2007 and has been moved from the NRL forum to this new Forum.

Skyhunter · Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2007 6:15 pm Post subject:

Kennedy the $3 man

EXCLUSIVE By Phil Rothfield

June 29, 2007 12:00am

MANLY have secretly signed their former champion forward Ben Kennedy on a $3 contract as an insurance policy against injuries in the run home to the finals.

Sea Eagles CEO Grant Mayer registered the contract with the NRL last night, paving the way for the club legend to make a comeback at any time.

The money is a far cry from the $400,000-a-season he commanded only last year when he was widely regarded as the best and most damaging forward in the NRL.

Mayer told The Daily Telegraph last night that coach Des Hasler had done the deal with Kennedy after weeks of discussions.

"Ben told Des he still misses Manly dearly and would love to play again," Mayer said, "They've been talking about it for a long time.

"He basically said to Des, 'If you're struggling with injuries at any time, don't forget about me'."

Mayer said Kennedy had kept himself in great shape since retiring at the end of last season.

"He hasn't trained a lot but he still looks great," Mayer said.

"I guess you'd have to say it's a 1000/1 chance that he'd play but you never know what can happen in this game. It's fantastic security for us to know he's there as such a great fall-back option."

Hasler said: "Ben's the sort of bloke who could do it, even after a long absence.

"But to be honest, it's unlikely. I've got great back-rowers already and I've got great depth.

"It's a nice safety guard. We've been discussing it for a while actually. It's been quite funny. Ben wanted a $5 deal, I said $1, so we met halfway. Seriously, how loyal is the bloke? He'd come back for sure if we needed him.

"It's all very hypothetical at this stage but who knows what's going to happen down the track?"

Mayer faxed the contract to the NRL's salary cap auditor Ian Schubert late yesterday, just 48 hours before the deadline.

It is a similar move to that of the Melbourne Storm, whose coach Craig Bellamy signed retired forward Robbie Kearns to a $2 contract last year in case he was needed for the finals.

Kennedy would not accept phone calls last night, but told one club official: 'I still love the club, I love all the players and always will. I'm still very loyal to them. If they need me I'm there."

NRL boss David Gallop confirmed the contract had been registered last night.

"It's a legitimate contract and it's been done before with Melbourne," Gallop said.

"Any match payments he earns would go into their cap for next year."

Kennedy may initially struggle if he returns from a nine-month break but one source had no doubt he would be capable of again holding his own in the NRL.

"Lots of players spend nine months on the sidelines with injuries and come back," one Manly official said. "A lot of people think Ben retired one year too early, anyway."

Source: http://www.news.com.au/dailyteleg.../0,22049,21986661-5001023,00.html

This article was first posted on the 30th of June 2007 and has been moved from the NRL forum to this new Forum.

Skyhunter · Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2007 6:24 pm Post subject:

I think most manly fans would have BK back in a heartbeat with his damaging runs for the line. He was one of the best attacking forwards in the game some would say he left the game one or two years to early. One thing for sure Bk would give Manly a big boost and a good chance of making it seven grand finals for the club. As for Bk playing for the Eagles again this year that remains a mystery ?.

This article was first posted on the 30th of June 2007 and has been moved from the NRL forum to this new Forum.

parragirl · Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2007 5:05 pm Post subject:

JARRYD HAYNE RE-SIGNS

12 December 2007
Jarryd Hayne has re-signed with the Pirtek Parramatta Eels, ensuring he remains at the Eels for the 2008, 2009 and 2010 seasons.

Source:
http://www.parraeels.com.au/news/news1672.asp
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parragirl · Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2007 5:19 pm Post subject:

That's great news im so happy Jarryd has re-signed with the Eels. It was a worry for awhile that he may go to souths but im happy he has decided to stay with Parra. Now all Parra needs to do is to re-sign Krisnan Inu.
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parragirl · Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2007 5:25 pm Post subject:

Payne re-signs with Cowboys

December 14, 2007 12:00am

NORTH Queensland vice-captain Aaron Payne has re-signed with the NRL club for another four years.

Cowboys boss Peter Parr said securing Townsville junior Payne until the end of the 2011 NRL season was a major coup.

"We are delighted to have extended Aaron's tenure at the club,'' he said.

The 25-year-old hooker made his NRL debut at the Cowboys in 2002 and was one of the first players to come through the club's development system.

Cowboys coach Graham Murray said Payne's re-signing was a "significant move'' for the club.

"To have a player of his calibre who is an integral part of the team re-sign is a big plus leading into the new season,'' he said.

Payne has played 110 first grade games for North Queensland.

Source:
http://www.news.com.au/dailyteleg.../0,22049,22923735-5006066,00.html
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parragirl · Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 1:26 am Post subject:

Kouparitsas signs until 2010

December 21, 2007 12:00am

BULLDOGS forward Nick Kouparitsas has re-signed with the NRL club for another two years.

The 23-year-old, who's previous deal ended next season, has now secured his future in blue and white until the end of 2010.

"There is no doubt that Nick has got better and better with each season," said Dogs coach Steve Folkes.

"He is now a genuine running backrower who also makes an impact in defence.

Kouparitsas made his NRL debut in 2006 before establishing himself as a regular first grader last season, playing 18 games.

"I've had a great go at the Bulldogs over the last couple of years and there was no hesitation in extending for a couple more," Kouparitsas said.

"I really feel at home at the Bulldogs and I can't wait for season 2008 to start."

http://www.news.com.au/dailyteleg.../0,22049,22958780-5006066,00.html
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parragirl · Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2007 9:39 pm Post subject:

Boom rookie not sure about life in the big city

Multi-talented ... new Roosters signing Lachlan Hall. Photograph: Glenn Barnes

By Robert Craddock
December 28, 2007 12:00am

THE Sydney Roosters have outbid the Broncos to sign a boom young halfback from Ipswich - but he has signed only a one-year deal because he's unsure he'll like life in the big city.

Lachlan Hall, a 17-year-old who represented Queensland Schoolboys at rugby union last season, resisted an approach from the Broncos to join the Roosters on a one-year deal.

He has already been training with the Roosters for the past five weeks. "I have only signed for one year because I wanted to see whether I liked it down there," Hall said.

"I also felt like a bit of a change. The Broncos have said they could be interested in me if I come back. So far I have enjoyed it. They are a professional club yet quite relaxed and Brad Fittler is a good coach."

Hall's signing shows how aggressive the Roosters have been recruiting at both ends of the player spectrum. His friends joked yesterday that the Roosters had now signed the big three - O'Meley, Mason . . . and Hall.

The young Queenslander has formed a close bond with another rising Roosters halfback in Mitchell Pearce, son of former international Wayne. "Even though we play in the same position I get along really well with him," he said.

Hall has set himself the goal of consolidating a position with the Roosters' under-20 side next season.

A multi-skilled sportsman who also excels at cricket, Hall has been playing at the Queensland Country Week cricket carnival this week.

Ipswich Grammar School has a distinguished history of producing quality footballers, including the Walters family.

http://www.news.com.au/dailyteleg.../0,22049,22978015-5006066,00.html
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parragirl · Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 2:47 pm Post subject:

Storm snatch promising junior

Family men ... Storm recruit James Woolford and his uncle Simon Woolford. Photograph: Mark Graham

By James Hooper
December 30, 2007 12:00am

NRL premiers Melbourne have completed a major signing coup by poaching promising Canberra junior James Woolford, the nephew of former Raiders captain Simon Woolford.

Tagged with the unfortunate nickname 'Bacteria' to compliment his uncle's moniker of 'Germ', Woolford junior's first choice was to remain with the Raiders.

The blue-blood pedigree hooker, 17, will complete his Year 12 studies in Melbourne after signing a three-year contract with the Storm.

The Raiders' SG Ball and NSW under 17s hooker last season, Woolford has been snapped up by the Storm to ply his trade in the new national under-20s competition as the understudy to Kangaroos hooker Cameron Smith.

"To be honest, he wanted to stay in Canberra because he's only young and he was a little bit sceptical about moving so far away,'' Woolford Sr said.

"At the end of the day the Raiders probably expected him to stay, but then other clubs came out and showed more interest in him so the decision was basically made for him.

"I know he was a little bit disappointed in the level of interest Canberra showed in him as opposed to the Storm and the Dragons.

"But it's good that it's worked out the way it has. I don't want to talk him up too much but he has got a fair bit of ability and I know he's certainly got the attitude to be successful.

"He could do a lot worse than going to the Storm for the next three years, where he'll be coached by Craig Bellamy and have Cameron Smith teaching him all the tricks of the trade.''

A Young junior who is the son of Simon's brother Stephen, Woolford's new teammates were quick to tag him "Bacteria''.

It was Bellamy who first came up with "Germ'' when he coached Woolford Sr in the Canberra juniors in the early 1990s.

"The boys have given me Germ, Virus and Bacteria, I didn't really get a choice in the matter,'' James Woolford said.

"To be honest, Simon and I are very similar. I've learned plenty of stuff from him and he's always only too happy to give out a few pointers.

"Melbourne was actually my last preference, I really wanted to stay in Canberra because it was close to home.

"But then the Melbourne offer was much better and the more I thought about it, the opportunity really appealed.''

Bellamy described the family similarities as uncanny.

"James has certainly got Simon's confidence but he hasn't quite got his brashness, which is a nice change.''

Canberra general manager Don Furner said while the Raiders were interested in keeping Woolford the Storm offer was simply too lucrative.

"He's a good kid but we just can't go paying that sort of money,'' Furner said.

http://www.news.com.au/dailyteleg.../0,22049,22985208-5006066,00.html
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parragirl · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 5:35 pm Post subject:

Inu signs on for two more years

Contract extension ... Krisnan Inu

January 22, 2008 12:00am

YOUNG Parramatta star Krisnan Inu has signed a two-year contract extension that will keep him at the NRL club until the end of 2010 season.

The Kiwi international said he believed the club would be a strong contender for grand finals in the coming seasons after losing to eventual premiers Melbourne in last year's preliminary final.

The signing is a further boost for the Eels after stitching up a deal to keep fellow backline young gun Jarryd Hayne at the club.

http://www.news.com.au/dailyteleg.../0,22049,23090822-5006066,00.html
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parragirl · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 6:40 pm Post subject:

This is great news for Parramatta first Jarryd Hayne re-signs and now Krisnan Inu. I admire their loyalty they have shown to the Parramatta club by taking a pay cut as they could of easily taken more money from other clubs like Souths Sydney who were keen on getting Jarryd Hayne and The Sydney Roosters, Bulldogs, Gold Coast, Brisbane and Cronulla who all showed interest in Krisnan Inu. But it's great news they didn't go to any of those other clubs and are remaining with Parramatta for a further two years.

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