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novacastrian_panther
24-06-06, 11:49 AM
Source:http://www.nrl.com/Clubs/Titans/TitansNewsArticle/tabid/275/NewsId/1710/Default.aspx


St George Illawarra's emerging prop Michael Henderson will join his Dragons teammate Luke Bailey at the Gold Coast Titans next year.

The Titans are yet to formally announce the three-year deal but it is understood the 21-year-old Henderson has already agreed to terms with the fledgling NRL club.

St George Illawarra gave Henderson permission to negotiate with only the Titans before June 30.

Gold Coast chief executive Michael Searle held negotiations with Henderson's manager Daryl Mather over the weekend.

"It's still very early but we're confident of securing him," Searle told AAP.

"The market's pretty hot at the moment and we're being level-headed about the situation.

"We've only got until June 30 as the window of opportunity that the Dragons have given us (to negotiate). Hopefully we can do something before then.

"He's a good young front-rower who could be tutored by Bull (Bailey) and that's the way we see it."

Asked whether the Titans had secured Henderson, Mather said from a business trip in New Zealand: "I can't confirm or deny that."

Henderson would join Test and NSW prop Bailey at the Titans, who boast a forward pack also featuring Frank Puletua, Anthony Laffranchi and Brad Meyers.

With just 10 days before rugby league's silly season begins, Searle joked that Lions AFL star Jason Akermanis was the only off-contract player who hadn't been linked with the Titans.

It seems like everyone is clambering to get on board the Titans Express before it pulls into the station at Carrara in 2007.

Nate Myles, Craig Fitzgibbon, Josh Hannay and Jake Webster are just some of the other off-contract players who have been linked to the club.

Searle said Titans coach John Cartwright was monitoring the progress of North Queensland centre Hannay, who's played just five games for the Cowboys this year after being relegated to the Queensland Cup for most of the season.

Hannay's future could be determined by whether the Cowboys recruit fellow former Queensland Origin centre Willie Tonga, who is almost certain to leave the Bulldogs.

Melbourne's New Zealand international winger Webster is another player the Titans have expressed interest in.

"His parents live in Brisbane so one would expect that if he had a chance to come home it would be great but if he goes to the market he'll be heavily sought after," Searle pointed out.

"He's definitely on the radar."

Searle said at this stage he was delighted with Gold Coast's roster spearheaded by Bailey, Penrith livewire Preston Campbell and internationals Scott Prince and Brian Carney.

Melbourne fullback Steve Turner is the latest recruit after his path to playing first grade in his preferred position was blocked by Billy Slater and Greg Inglis.

"We're ahead of where we thought we'd be and that's come about because the clubs are more willing to allow players to negotiate before June 30," Searle said.

"We're still short in the centres, as are all clubs, and two back-rowers and a front-rower short but having said that we're really happy with where we're at."

DeeGan
24-06-06, 11:56 AM
Already posted here (http://www.titans.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=4203&page=2&pp=10). Thanks for quoting the source though ;)