Nathan Friend - Off to the Warriors in 2012

[hammer]

I wish Friendy all the best for his Warriors future and hope he has a terrific season for us Titans...I have no ill feeling towards the Titans management as they deal with the salary cap and rewarding our youngsters who are just starting to adapt to the challenges of the NRL. Anyone who tries to manage their Fantasy Teams would agree it is very difficult to put together a side that is within the budget and the challenge for the Titans is also managing the transitions from some of our older players towards our young players through the next few years.
Stay faithful Titans supporters...I still remember when the Broncos cut the King Wally Lewis and the subsequent outcry and I might be incorrect but the Broncos won the premiership soon after making that tough decision.

[DIEHARD]

I wish Friendy all the best for his Warriors future and hope he has a terrific season for us Titans...I have no ill feeling towards the Titans management as they deal with the salary cap and rewarding our youngsters who are just starting to adapt to the challenges of the NRL. Anyone who tries to manage their Fantasy Teams would agree it is very difficult to put together a side that is within the budget and the challenge for the Titans is also managing the transitions from some of our older players towards our young players through the next few years.
Stay faithful Titans supporters...I still remember when the Broncos cut the King Wally Lewis and the subsequent outcry and I might be incorrect but the Broncos won the premiership soon after making that tough decision.

Well said hammer. We should all try and keep our towels up.

Even though it SUCKS hard to lose probably our best player.

But we still have Nathan for 2011 and hopefully we can win a Premiership with him and the old firm of Preston, Scott and Luke.

[Boonarga]

Terrible. I'm not surprised he is leaving. Dumb management offering a great deal more money to lesser players. We don't need a 'marquee' player!!!!

We need more guys like Nathan Friend.

[TITAN PETE]

Friend says first priority is Titans
Emma Greenwood | April 12th, 2011

IN the end, departing Titans hooker Nathan Friend said his decision to accept a three-year deal with the New Zealand Warriors was an easy one.

The Bulletin revealed last week Friend would leave the Titans at the end of the season, with the Warriors winning the race among several clubs for the rake's signature.

Friend yesterday signed a two-year deal with New Zealand, with an option for a third year in 2014.

But he immediately pledged his loyalty to the Titans for the remainder of the season, with the foundation player saying there was nothing he would love more than to help spur the club's turnaround.

Friend said while his contract negotiation had not been a drawn-out process, he could concentrate on getting success back on the field with the Titans with his future now secured.

"Of course I can't wait for the next chapter of my football career to start but my first priority is the Gold Coast," Friend said.

"Having had a taste of the excitement of finals football, I'd love to go one further (than the preliminary final loss last year).

"I played a grand final in 2006 (with Melbourne) and it was the highlight of my career so far. To do it with the guys here would be a great way to go out."

While he was grateful to the Coast for giving him the chance to stamp himself as an 80-minute player, Friend said he had to look after himself and his family.

"I needed to do the best thing for my family," Friend said.

"It was a good offer from the Warriors and the Gold Coast were not willing to budge on their original offer.

"In the end, it was pretty clear-cut."

Warriors recruitment manager Dean Bell said the Kiwis were pleased to be able to secure a player of such high quality in a key position.

"It's not often anyone rated as one of the best in a specialist role becomes available on the market," Bell said.

[Super_Matt]

I'm pretty Devo that Friend has gone, but i can't blame him. Given how quality he is, it was pretty poor for the club to openly load up big offers to Smith and Farah.

Anyway, we need to sort out the number 9 asap, such a key position. Word is with the riot that's going on down at Newcastle, Ennis is shaping up a return there, which would open the door for De Gois, who's off contract this season.

A good little 9, not quite the defensive workhorse that Friend is, but a bit of creativity to take the load off Prince

[GoldCoastTitans100]

A good little 9, not quite the defensive workhorse that Friend is, but a bit of creativity to take the load off Prince

Prince does nothing what load could a good number 9 take off him ?

[teke]

Prince does nothing what load could a good number 9 take off him ?

[titansrawesome]

The cheque book being waved around by Gold Coast chief executive Michael Searle has left Titans hooker Nathan Friend feeling jaded and confused.

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While Searle was spotted in Sydney with sacked Bulldog Ryan Tandy and Queensland forward Nate Myles last Thursday, Friend was coming to terms with being squeezed out of the club.

Widely regarded as one of the Gold Coast's best players, Friend and Searle have a frosty working relationship after the latest round of botched negotiations.

"(Searle) doesn't approach me and I don't go out of my way. I don't play rugby league with Michael Searle, I play it with my team-mates at the Titans and for the coach," Friend said.

"Unfortunately I'm not in a position to know how to run a business like he does.



"There's no board here at the Gold Coast, so whatever he says and thinks is final.

"But I've got a lot of great friends at the Titans and my wife and I will eventually return to the Gold Coast."

Friend holds no ill-will towards Idris or any of the other NRL players being courted by the Titans.

But the departing Gold Coast star re-inforced his value to the Titans last Friday night by throwing the pass to send Mark Minichiello over for the winning try against Wests Tigers.

In a typically workaholic performance, Friend also chalked up 40 tackles.

The creative dummy-half has inked a three-year deal worth close to $1 million to join the New Zealand Warriors.

When The Sunday Telegraph approached Searle for comment about a response to Friend's departure, we were asked to email our questions.

The stand-off between Friend and Searle meant the Titans No. 9 was forced to open negotiations for a new deal with coach John Cartwright.

When talks then stepped up to a serious stage, Friend had his long-time family friend and solicitor Peter Whitehead make contact with Searle.

The email response from the Titans spokesperson said: "Michael Searle negotiated Nathan's proposed re-signing with Nathan's manager, which is standard practice in this area.

"The lines of communication were always open throughout the process to resign Nathan to a new deal.

"The Titans offered Nathan three contracts to stay with the club - the offer of $750,000 being the last. The Warriors offered Nathan a reported $1 million. The Titans could not match that offer. How much straighter could Michael shoot?"

Searle has been under fire since being spied meeting with Tandy and the sacked Bulldog's agent Sam Ayoub at Sydney's Sheraton on the Park hotel last Thursday.

Searle has denied meeting Tandy, but The Sunday Telegraph has been told that the trio were spotted together in the foyer of the hotel.

Ayoub recently negotiated a $2 million five-year deal for Bulldogs centre Jamal Idris to join the Titans next season and also manages the affairs of Tandy, the player at the centre of the NRL betting scandal.

The Sunday Telegraph has been told that Searle and Ayoub conducted negotiations in Searle's hotel room at the Sheraton - where a number of players were discussed - while Tandy read the paper in the lobby.

Tandy, the player accused of four counts of providing false or misleading evidence to the NSW Crime Commission over the alleged betting sting on last year's Cowboys-Bulldogs match, has been offered to the Gold Coast.

When emailed a series of questions in relation to being spotted with Tandy last Thursday, Searle had a Gold Coast Titans spokesperson respond.

"The Titans have not, are not and will not be negotiating with Ryan Tandy. The purpose of why Sam Ayoub brought Ryan Tandy to the Sheraton on the Park is a question for Sam Ayoub," the spokesperson said via email.

The Sunday Telegraph understands Ayoub and Tandy planned to attend another meeting in the city. The Titans are also chasing Melbourne Storm centre Beau Champion - another Ayoub client - and Sydney Roosters forward Nate Myles, who is under contract to the Bondi Junction club until the end of next year.

foxsports

[Steelers]

He isn't the only one confused...

The Titans offered Nathan three contracts to stay with the club - the offer of $750,000 being the last. The Warriors offered Nathan a reported $1 million. The Titans could not match that offer. How much straighter could Michael shoot?

I am assuming the $750,000 deal was for 3 years. $250,000 a season. He is going to be earning $333.333.33 a season at the Warriors. Meanwhile, Idris is receiving $400,000 a season, for FIVE seasons.

[Titanic]

Sour grapes? Is there a hang-over from his delayed contract extension negotiations last year? Anybody got the inside mail on this?

[Rage]

I'm hoping this doesn't cause a rift in the team. They're professionals but it'd be hard not to let this bring up some tension.

[C-Whiz]

He isn't the only one confused...

That makes 3 of us.

[Ryan]

He isn't the only one confused...

That makes 3 of us.

+ 1

[hully gully]

He isn't the only one confused...



I am assuming the $750,000 deal was for 3 years. $250,000 a season. He is going to be earning $333.333.33 a season at the Warriors. Meanwhile, Idris is receiving $400,000 a season, for FIVE seasons.

I dont understand the salary cap but i wish the members were told earlier because i would have pledged money to keep friendy 8000 members x $5 (less than 1 beer)= 40000 might have been enough to keep him
Is this legal under salary cap rules? and is his contract binding? if not lets buy him back.......