Star hooker at centre of NRL standoff

3 years ago 388

The Raiders ars acceptable to play hardball with the Tigers implicit the aboriginal of English hooker Josh Hodgson.

The Tigers privation Hodgson to springiness them acquisition astir the rucks - but the Raiders privation thing successful instrumentality - promising Tigers hooker Jacob Liddle.

At 24, Liddle is 1 of the champion young hookers successful the NRL and lone injuries person held him backmost successful caller seasons.

But the Tigers can't person 3 hookers successful their apical 20 - Hodgson, Liddle and Jake Simpkin - and this works successful the Raiders' favour.

Canberra has a talented back-up hooker successful Tom Starling, but helium is successful strife for an disconnected tract incidental for the 2nd clip successful 2 years and his aboriginal is nether a cloud.

The Tigers are presently weighing up the pros and cons of signing Hodgson - who turns 32 aboriginal this week and has had wounded problems of his ain - astatine the disbursal of 1 of their brightest young stars.

Several different clubs person besides expressed involvement successful Liddle should the Tigers motion Hodgson.

Manly fable axed

Manly has parted ways with erstwhile nine favourite Matt Ballin.

Ballin was manager of the Sea Eagles' feeder club, Blacktown Workers, but was told past week his services were nary longer required.

READ MORE: Stokes added to Ashes squad

Ballin has paid the terms for the team's mediocre performances successful the COVID-shortened NSW Cup implicit the past 2 seasons.

The erstwhile Queensland State of Origin hooker was a existent mainstay of the Sea Eagles connected the field, playing 9 seasons, implicit 200 games and winning 2 premierships successful a glittering career.

But each that counts for nought if you don't triumph games arsenic a manager successful the ruthless satellite of rugby league.

Blacktown has yet to sanction a replacement but Ballin's adjunct Nathan Hogan is the favourite to instrumentality implicit astatine this stage.

Sea Eagles, Knights combat implicit roar rookie

Manly and Newcastle are progressive successful a tug of warfare implicit a talented 18-year-old extracurricular back.

Fletcher Myers, a flyer who is arsenic astatine location astatine fullback oregon centre, is contracted to the Knights for adjacent play but has asked for a merchandise to articulation the Sea Eagles.

Manly manager Des Hasler has a precocious sentiment of the youngster, who starred astatine fullback for NSW Koori Under-16s a mates of seasons ago.

The Knights privation to clasp Myers and the concern is presently astatine a stalemate… but ticker this space.

Manager walks retired connected player

Which up and coming subordinate was sacked by his ain manager precocious aft signing a woody with a starring NRL club?

Why? Because aft the declaration was agreed on, the player's begetter kept calling the nine nonstop - bypassing the manager - asking for much money!

As a result, the player, who has ability, is present connected the lookout for a caller agent.

For a regular dose of the champion of the breaking quality and exclusive contented from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!