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I dont care what team he plays for i just wanna see him playing Union,and eventually for the Wallabies.
Theres talk of him becoming the highest payed player in either code..... if he decides to play real Rugby there saying he could be paid close to $800,000 a season......... not bad work if you can get it.
Rugby makes a move on Gasnier
By Brent Read and Stuart Honeysett
March 17, 2006
THE Australian Rugby Union last night confirmed Wallabies coach John Connolly had met Mark Gasnier, fuelling speculation the St George-Illawara centre was poised to receive a massive offer from the rival code.
The meeting sent shockwaves through the Dragons camp, with chief executive Peter Doust sounding out NRL boss David Gallop over ways to help keep the Test centre in rugby league.
ARU chief executive Gary Flowers last night confirmed that Connolly and ARU talent scout Michael O'Connor had already met Gasnier and his manager, George Mimis.
However, Flowers denied an offer had already been tabled amid reports Gasnier could receive an offer which could make him the highest-paid player in either code.
"There was a meeting at Gasnier's instigation," Flowers said last night.
"Both parties have gone away to think about it for a few weeks. There is no offer on the table."
Speculation of talks and a potential offer prompted Doust to seek out Gallop last week to find out whether the game's governing body could help fend off the ARU.
The NRL has helped its clubs retain elite players in the past, most notably in 2004 when it approved third-party agreements with the Nine Network and News Limited (publishers of The Australian) to help keep Newcastle captain and Test halfback Andrew Johns away from rugby union.
"I have talked to the NRL about the fact I was reasonably confident that the ARU were going to make a bid for him," Doust said.
"I wanted to hypothetically discuss with the NRL what their position might be. I certainly don't know anything about any signing."
Doust said he was moved to talk to the NRL after a meeting with Mimis.
"He (Mimis) hadn't heard from them up to that point last week but he believed they were going to come forward with something," Doust said.
"I talked to David in those circumstances. He talked about what the rules allow and won't allow."
Gallop confirmed he had met with Doust and said the NRL was more than happy to help the Dragons out, but only to a point.
The NRL boss reiterated the game's governing body wouldn't make exceptions to its rules to retain Gasnier.
"We had a conversation about if he (Gasnier) got an offer from rugby, what would we do?" Gallop said.
"They're similar avenues to what we explored with Andrew Johns and Braith Anasta or would explore with anyone else who would get an offer from rugby union.
"We want Mark Gasnier to play rugby league but it's not fair on the other clubs and the other players in the competition if we start making exceptions to the rules."
News of the ARU's targeting of Gasnier came a day after reports that the NRL's delay in setting next year's salary cap had left the clubs open to raids from English clubs and rugby union.
Gallop yesterday responded to that criticism, prompted by the start of talks between the NRL and players' union over the game's next Collective Bargaining Agreement.
"There is a clear timetable that the committee which includes four club representatives is working towards," Gallop said yesterday.
"Clubs will be heavily involved in any decision on a cap increase as their ability to afford it is a huge factor.
"We are all conscious of the need to try to get a result by June 30 and at a recent CEO's meeting all clubs were comfortable with that."
The latest developments on Gasnier came on a mixed day for the club.
Gasnier's centre partner, Matt Cooper, was ruled out of Sunday's game against Penrith with a hamstring injury, allowing Daryl Millard to make his first-grade debut.
Dragons utility Shaun Timmins will also miss the match after undergoing knee surgery on Wednesday.
However, Timmins - whose career has been littered with knee problems - has spoken of his relief at being cleared of serious injury.
Club doctor Martin Raftery yesterday confirmed the injury was not the same as that which had threatened Timmins' career.
The former international admitted last night he harboured concerns going into the operation.
"I wasn't too confident," Timmins said.
"It was good to come out and get some good news instead of bad."
Additional reporting by Bret Harris
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I dont care what team he plays for i just wanna see him playing Union,and eventually for the Wallabies.
Theres talk of him becoming the highest payed player in either code..... if he decides to play real Rugby there saying he could be paid close to $800,000 a season......... not bad work if you can get it.
..if its money ya want then unions the place
