Gold Coast Titans keen on Josh Hoffman after Kelly and Blair leave
THE Gold Coast Titans are realistically in the market now for wantaway Broncos fullback Josh Hoffman after the shock departure of halves Albert Kelly and Maurice Blair to the UK Super League.
Reports of the Titans opening talks with Hoffman surfaced earlier this month, however there was little hope of the club fitting the star under the salary cap.
Hoffman was granted permission to explore offers from other clubs by new Broncos coach Wayne Bennett after being told he was not guaranteed the fullback role.
It is understood the Canberra Raiders have offered $600,000-plus a season to secure the Kiwi Test star.
However, the weekend announcement of Kelly, 23, and Blair, 30, transferring to Hull KR in England for next season makes for a whole new ball game by giving the Titans some salary cap flexibility.
Gold Coast coach Neil Henry believes his club now has the cash to attract a quality fullback or centre to the club with Hoffman a possibility.
“He (Hoffman) would be a player we’d be interested in,” Henry said.
“There is no doubt he is a quality player (and) I think we can certainly be in the market.”
Henry believes the Gold Coast lifestyle would be a big selling point for Hoffman as opposed to relocating his wife and young daughter.
“If it comes down to where he wants to live then we think we can be attractive on that end,” Henry said.
“We are not up there competing with the real cashed up clubs (but) there will be some player movement with a few clubs juggling their salary cap.”
Hoffman’s manager Paul Hogan confirmed he has held talks with Henry and new Titans recruiter Jamie Mathiou, however no official offer has been made.
“I’ve had some conversations with Neil (Henry) and Jamie Mathiou,” Hogan said. “There has been no further movement. We’re taking it a little bit at a time, make sure we are making the right decision.”
The possibility of Hoffman joining the Titans would create a logjam for the No.1 jersey with William Zillman and David Mead.
But Henry said if Hoffman joined the Gold Coast there was no guarantee he would be given the fullback role.
“It is all hypothetical (but) he is a player who can play centre, five-eighth and fullback,” Henry said.
Titans CEO Graham Annesley yesterday denied the release of Kelly and Blair was linked to the club’s salary cap sanctions handed down by the NRL last week.
The club was fined $225,000 with a further $75,000 and four competition points suspended for two years in relation to a breach involving the contract of former captain Scott Prince in 2012.
“It is completely unrelated (to the salary cap fine),” he said.
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