Titans: If Danny Ward signed, what would your reaction be?

[Dakink]

I think he would be a great buy - a start with the Titans surrounded by the type of player bought already could be just the catalyst needed to improve his game beyond ESL standard. It would be extremely niave to think that the club will never have an incident, or a player with an incident in their past on their books. Its how the club handles these and educates the players that will determine the clubs reputation.

[DIEHARD]

Honestly I think he has attitude problems and don't want a bar of him.

We have the entire world to pick from, why pick a bad apple?

Just let some desperate Super League club sign him and let us spend our money more wisely.

[Eel 33]

The competition or a new club doesn't need a player with baggage. The game has enough of them already eg: Crocker, Mason, Hoppa are just a few. A strong message should be sent to these players, mess up or you have baggage and you don't have a contract. I see it as harsh but fair.

[Spike]

There has been no reports of Hull signing Ward, we dont want/need him anyway. Ward, on his day, is a good prop, not world class, nothing special, but he does have an attitude that should not be tolerated by any club. He should not go to a club like the Titans, there are better and more deserved props in game to go to a great club like the Titans, Ward left Leeds in a cloud of shame, don't get me wrong im into giving people second chances, but not to a player who THOUGHT be was bigger and better than other players at the club, THOUGHT he could get away with infringing club policies, and THINKS he can now go to a world class club. I just feel sorry for his next employers!

[DeeGan]

Looks like Danny Ward may fit the billing for the Gold Coast Titans, thanks to super cronk for finding this piece in another thread:

The British contingent at NRL newcomers the Gold Coast Titans may soon double after the Titans joined the queue for rugby league bad boy Danny Ward.

After securing flying Irish winger Brian Carney for their 2007 debut season, Gold Coast coach John Cartwright has his sights set on props with sacked Leeds forward Ward high on the list.

Titans executive director Michael Searle confirmed English reports that they had expressed interest in the Great Britain frontrower who controversially had his contract torn up by Leeds last week.

The 25-year-old prop was dumped for "a series of breaches of club rules over the last 12 months".

But his sacking has not quashed demand for Ward - his agent Ron Hill said he had already spoken to four English and "several" Australian clubs.

"There are still a number of options on both sides of the water," Hill told The Guardian newspaper of Ward who played his last game in Leeds' Super League grand final loss to Bradford in October.

Searle said Cartwright's priority was finding a front row partner for Test prop Luke Bailey.

"The next marquee player we would be looking would be a frontrower," he said.

"Danny's name has come up with our head coach (Cartwright).

"Front rowers is something we will certainly be looking at on the market after the anti-tampering deadline lifts on July 1."

Ward - the son of former Leeds captain and coach David Ward - played 135 senior games for the Rhinos and earned his first Great Britain cap two years ago.

The "deeply embarrassed" prop issued a statement shortly after his sacking to apologise for his behaviour at Leeds.

Ward may look to sign with an English club for the new Super League season starting on February 10 before heading to the NRL.

Ward's former Leeds team-mate Richie Mathers is also in the Titans' sights.

"We have a strong interest in Richie. Negotiations are on-going with his management - we are not in a hurry," Searle said.

"Fullback is a position we need to fill and by all reports in the UK he is the next Great Britain fullback.

"We will monitor him closely over the next couple of months."

Searle said the Titans were already waiting nervously for the anti-tampering deadline to expire to approach the likes of Wests Tigers halfback Scott Prince.

"It's like waiting for Christmas," he said.

"Lots of clubs will be interested in Scott by then (July 1) so that will bump up his price and the Tigers may have re-signed him by then.

"But at the moment we already have four halfback options."

smh.com.au

First up Michael is on the money in his assessment of Mathers, HE IS the next Great Britain fullback and would of been there if not for season ending surgery in 2005.

As for the search for another marquee prop, again, I agree as any team looking to competition needs a good three man prop rotation. Bailey, Laffranchi and Ward offer that IF Ward signs a contract.

DeeGan

[Dakink]

I still think that if Mahersd falls through they have a ready made replacement in Greenshields (depending on what happens with Barrett). He has shown that he is going to be a fantastic fullback.

[DeeGan]

I still think that if Mahersd falls through they have a ready made replacement in Greenshields (depending on what happens with Barrett). He has shown that he is going to be a fantastic fullback.

I rate Clinton Greenshields highly Dakink and the possible move from Barrett makes him more valuable to the Dragons with Hornby to move to the halves. In saying that, one of the many Dragons fans on this site was quick to point out that the Dragons have a young fullback waiting in the wings that would handle the job IF you lost Greenshields. The name escapes me at the moment.

Surname might be Morris?

DeeGan

[Queenslander]

Im not sure, from what i have heard he is talented. But the off field dramas may tarnish the club. If the titans do sign him we could see headlines like "Titans sign controversial league player" and thats not good for the club.

My prediction about those sort of headlines has been proven correct And we havent sign him yet!

The previous article posted by DeeGan was titled
"Titans seek to sign bad boy"

from foxsports.com.au: http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0...-23214,00.html

[DeeGan]

My prediction about those sort of headlines has been proven correct And we havent sign him yet!

The previous article posted by DeeGan was titled
"Titans seek to sign bad boy"

from foxsports.com.au: http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0...-23214,00.html

I will pay that - I saw that this morning and thought "only a matter of time before Queenslander brings this back up" With good reason too

DeeGan

[Queenslander]

I will pay that - I saw that this morning and thought "only a matter of time before Queenslander brings this back up" With good reason too

DeeGan

I love the media.....they are so predictable

In a way i see you point; but Danny Ward would be a unknown to many NRL fans. And the media will just say the fact that Ward has been in trouble before in England and just give headlines stating the fact that "New team signs English bad-boy"

I even got the "bad boy" part right