RichieS wrote:
Exactly what I heard, he told the players/staff and friends at Salford that his main aim is a return to his family in Australia, he didn't feel like with the way Salford was financially setup he would be able to "showcase" his abilities to the highest level of club in the NRL by staying another year at Salford. Wests made him an offer for 2020 along with the Rhinos and us whilst Salford stayed out of the bidding as they couldn't compete, he had their blessing to move on. What has changed...he has reached the Grand Final and won M.O.S playing for Salford, he has now placed himself well and truly on the radar of the bigger clubs in the NRL and I guess he is feeling like he doesn't need to turn his back on Salford anymore. Salford will be more than happy to have him next year and allow him to negotiate a much better deal to return to the NRL.
There is also a unknown quantity which I am told is to do with funds made available to Salford Assuming that Wigan no longer do mega-deals like this on handshakes and now hold Hastings under contract, and given the club-destroying potential of something going wrong with the Hastings signing, if what you say is true I'd expect IL to demand the kind of transfer fee that would make even the good Doctor Koukash cringe.
Just because people want something to happen doesn't mean it will. Sometimes you have to factor in the possible trouble it would cause for others before you assume they'll just accept it.
I'd also be very surprised if anyone has decided yet that Salford are the future. Getting to the Grand Final is not the same as winning it. If they are humiliated, the picture won't look as rosy.