Super Cronk
27-01-06, 06:09 PM
NRL's Tigers set to release McGoldrick
SMH.com.au
English club Castleford appears to have won the tug of war with the Wests Tigers over the former NSW Waratah and Cronulla Shark Ryan McGoldrick.
Castleford announced on December 30 that it had signed McGoldrick for 2006, only for the Wests Tigers to reveal they had stitched up a 12-month deal with the centre months earlier.
After several lengthy phone calls, Wests Tigers recruitment manager Warren McDonnell on Friday said it was "more than likely" the NRL club would release McGoldrick barely a week before the English season kick-off.
"We are still talking but it is more than likely we are going to release him," he said.
"We are coming to an agreement with Castleford, nothing is finalised yet but that's the way it is heading."
McDonnell said McGoldrick's release could be organised in the "next couple of days", allowing the centre to join Castleford just before its English Super League season opener.
It would also enable McGoldrick to fly out in time to watch Wests Tigers' WCC clash against English champs Bradford at Huddersfield next Saturday (AEST).
The Wests Tigers fly out to England on Sunday to prepare for the WCC showdown.
"We'll get it sorted out over the phone over the next few days hopefully," McDonnell said.
Castleford this week unveiled an initial 22-man squad for the 2006 English Super League season that did not include McGoldrick.
But Castleford official David Smart left the door open for McGoldrick's inclusion.
"We are still hopeful of adding Ryan McGoldrick to our squad and negotiations have continued throughout the week," he told the Castleford website.
"We are pushing hard to conclude the deal and hope to do so as soon as possible.
"The prospects of bringing him to the Jungle (Castleford) are improving ... we are working hard to try and bring the situation to a conclusion."
New Castleford coach Terry Matterson this week said he would add "two or three" names to his official squad before their season-opening clash against Hull on February 10.
The Castleford squad includes McGoldrick's former Sharks teammate and Queensland Origin prop Danny Nutley as well as dumped Dragons backrower Willie Manu.
SMH.com.au
English club Castleford appears to have won the tug of war with the Wests Tigers over the former NSW Waratah and Cronulla Shark Ryan McGoldrick.
Castleford announced on December 30 that it had signed McGoldrick for 2006, only for the Wests Tigers to reveal they had stitched up a 12-month deal with the centre months earlier.
After several lengthy phone calls, Wests Tigers recruitment manager Warren McDonnell on Friday said it was "more than likely" the NRL club would release McGoldrick barely a week before the English season kick-off.
"We are still talking but it is more than likely we are going to release him," he said.
"We are coming to an agreement with Castleford, nothing is finalised yet but that's the way it is heading."
McDonnell said McGoldrick's release could be organised in the "next couple of days", allowing the centre to join Castleford just before its English Super League season opener.
It would also enable McGoldrick to fly out in time to watch Wests Tigers' WCC clash against English champs Bradford at Huddersfield next Saturday (AEST).
The Wests Tigers fly out to England on Sunday to prepare for the WCC showdown.
"We'll get it sorted out over the phone over the next few days hopefully," McDonnell said.
Castleford this week unveiled an initial 22-man squad for the 2006 English Super League season that did not include McGoldrick.
But Castleford official David Smart left the door open for McGoldrick's inclusion.
"We are still hopeful of adding Ryan McGoldrick to our squad and negotiations have continued throughout the week," he told the Castleford website.
"We are pushing hard to conclude the deal and hope to do so as soon as possible.
"The prospects of bringing him to the Jungle (Castleford) are improving ... we are working hard to try and bring the situation to a conclusion."
New Castleford coach Terry Matterson this week said he would add "two or three" names to his official squad before their season-opening clash against Hull on February 10.
The Castleford squad includes McGoldrick's former Sharks teammate and Queensland Origin prop Danny Nutley as well as dumped Dragons backrower Willie Manu.