Queenslander
17-02-06, 04:14 PM
Titans still chasing Prince
By Daniel Pace
February 17, 2006
GOLD Coast chief executive Michael Searle admits he's not confident Scott Prince will join the Titans, despite the fledgling NRL club firming as favourite to sign the Test halfback.
Wests Tigers have granted permission to the Titans, North Queensland and Brisbane to negotiate with Prince, who comes off contract with the premiers at the end of this season.
Both the Cowboys and Broncos appear to have gone lukewarm on aggressively pursuing Prince after expressing concerns over the tender process.
Prince's manager Steve Robinson has given the clubs a February 28 deadline to detail their offers, making it difficult for the three clubs to set up face-to-face meetings with Prince just three weeks out from the start of the NRL season.
Searle ? speaking at the launch of his club's jersey today ? said he had notified the NRL and Tigers chief executive Steve Noyce about the Titans' interest in Prince, who turns 26 a day before the offers are due.
But Searle is far from convinced Gold Coast fans will see Prince combine with Penrith livewire and key Titans recruit Preston Campbell in the halves next year.
"I'm not confident," he said.
"For him to leave the Wests Tigers is a big ask. In saying that we've got a duty to give it a good crack and we'll be giving it our best shot.
"Hopefully the benefits of the Gold Coast will bring him here."
Searle is mindful of the importance of the No.7 position to the Titans but has already declared he's not prepared to throw vast sums of money at Prince.
"We'll submit a strong proposal but it will also be commercially sound," he said.
"We don't believe in giving a substantial sum to one player. Depth will be important to us."
Prince has made no secret of his desire to move back to Queensland after his three year stint in Sydney under coach Tim Sheens ends this season.
Searle is hoping his close friendship with Titans football manager Scott Sattler and the Gold Coast lifestyle will give his club the edge.
"I think he's always shown he's a player who likes to accept challenges," Searle said.
"There's probably no greater challenge than being a member of an expansion licence."
Broncos chief executive Bruno Cullen said he wanted a face to face meeting with Prince before deciding on whether to join the tender process.
"We don't like the tender process ? it's not personal enough," Cullen said.
"You're not putting in a bid for a block of land. You're talking about a relationship with a human being.
"We need to discuss a wide range of things with Scotty and none of those include money."
Cullen will discuss the matter with coach Wayne Bennett in Port Macquarie tomorrow when the Broncos play a trial against Canberra.
The Titans are also chasing Cowboys and Australian trainer Billy Johnston, the inaugural Gold Coast Giants captain who has three children living on the tourist strip.
"Hopefully that emotion and sentiment will work for us," said Searle.
AAP
By Daniel Pace
February 17, 2006
GOLD Coast chief executive Michael Searle admits he's not confident Scott Prince will join the Titans, despite the fledgling NRL club firming as favourite to sign the Test halfback.
Wests Tigers have granted permission to the Titans, North Queensland and Brisbane to negotiate with Prince, who comes off contract with the premiers at the end of this season.
Both the Cowboys and Broncos appear to have gone lukewarm on aggressively pursuing Prince after expressing concerns over the tender process.
Prince's manager Steve Robinson has given the clubs a February 28 deadline to detail their offers, making it difficult for the three clubs to set up face-to-face meetings with Prince just three weeks out from the start of the NRL season.
Searle ? speaking at the launch of his club's jersey today ? said he had notified the NRL and Tigers chief executive Steve Noyce about the Titans' interest in Prince, who turns 26 a day before the offers are due.
But Searle is far from convinced Gold Coast fans will see Prince combine with Penrith livewire and key Titans recruit Preston Campbell in the halves next year.
"I'm not confident," he said.
"For him to leave the Wests Tigers is a big ask. In saying that we've got a duty to give it a good crack and we'll be giving it our best shot.
"Hopefully the benefits of the Gold Coast will bring him here."
Searle is mindful of the importance of the No.7 position to the Titans but has already declared he's not prepared to throw vast sums of money at Prince.
"We'll submit a strong proposal but it will also be commercially sound," he said.
"We don't believe in giving a substantial sum to one player. Depth will be important to us."
Prince has made no secret of his desire to move back to Queensland after his three year stint in Sydney under coach Tim Sheens ends this season.
Searle is hoping his close friendship with Titans football manager Scott Sattler and the Gold Coast lifestyle will give his club the edge.
"I think he's always shown he's a player who likes to accept challenges," Searle said.
"There's probably no greater challenge than being a member of an expansion licence."
Broncos chief executive Bruno Cullen said he wanted a face to face meeting with Prince before deciding on whether to join the tender process.
"We don't like the tender process ? it's not personal enough," Cullen said.
"You're not putting in a bid for a block of land. You're talking about a relationship with a human being.
"We need to discuss a wide range of things with Scotty and none of those include money."
Cullen will discuss the matter with coach Wayne Bennett in Port Macquarie tomorrow when the Broncos play a trial against Canberra.
The Titans are also chasing Cowboys and Australian trainer Billy Johnston, the inaugural Gold Coast Giants captain who has three children living on the tourist strip.
"Hopefully that emotion and sentiment will work for us," said Searle.
AAP