Titans Rumoured 2008 signings

[jenny]

I was talking to a man at work yesterday. and he said his friend has signed with Titans...The players name is Bodeen (spelling) cant pronounce his last name.And he starts to Train Monday.He said he is HUGE

[PROMETHEUS]

Bodene Thompson-Hes in the U/20's squad.

[jenwood]

He's a product of Keebra Park Rugby League program.

[Tamwelg]

NRL's Titans target Weepu
By BRAD WALTER - SMH | Friday, 27 July 2007

TITAN TARGET: The Gold Coast Titans NRL side is pursuing Piri Weepu about him swapping codes to league.

Out of favour All Blacks halfback Piri Weepu has been targeted by Gold Coast as a possible recruit - and the New Zealand Rugby League is said to be helping try and facilitate the deal.

Weepu, 23, has been linked to a switch of codes since his shock omission last Sunday from the All Blacks squad to play in the Rugby World Cup in September-October, and Titans chief executive Michael Searle confirmed his club was keen to sign him.

Searle said the fact Weepu had a league background and could play halfback, five-eighth or hooker made him an attractive proposition for Gold Coast.

"They're the areas we are light on so he'd be a good fit for us," Searle told the Sydney Morning Herald from Auckland last night. "He's a good player with plenty of experience at the top level in rugby union, and it would be good to get him back to rugby league if we can."

Searle, who is in New Zealand speaking at a three-day national business and sport summit, said he had hoped to meet with Weepu earlier this week but was unable to. But he did meet NZRL officials, who are keen to get Weepu back to league.

Weepu, whose brother Billy played for Manly in the 1995 grand final, has been informally invited to play for the All Golds in the end-of-season commemorative test against a Northern Union representation in England to mark the 100th anniversary of the first league international, and the NZRL hopes to have his services in next year's Rugby League World Cup.

"I have met with the NZRL, and they are in contact with people close to Piri," Searle said. "At this stage, we're not sure if he would be able to come across next season or the year after but we are interested. He's got a great passing and kicking game."

To make the switch, Weepu would have to gain a release from the final year of his NZRU contract but with a number of other good halfbacks on their books it is understood such a request would be looked at favourably.

As a youngster, Weepu was a ball boy for a Wainuiomata side containing a young Tana Umaga that represented New Zealand at the World Sevens tournament in Sydney in the early 1990s.

He has expressed a desire to play league and controversially said when first selected to play for the All Blacks that he'd always dreamt of playing for the Kiwis.

The NZRU had hoped to satisfy his interest in league when they allowed him to train with the Newcastle Knights during the off-season, but Weepu's snubbing from the World Cup after playing 20 tests in the past three seasons may now be the catalyst for him to cross codes permanently.

If he plays league, Weepu believes he could drop from his current playing weight of 96 kilograms to about 90kg.

Searle said the Titans were also interested in fellow All Black discard Ma'a Nonu, who is understood to have an escape clause in his NZRU contract if he does not make the World Cup squad, but Weepu was their priority.

Piri Weepu fails to make All Blacks training squad

May 27, 2008

PIRI WEEPU's exile from the All Blacks is set to continue.
The Hurricanes halfback was overlooked for a 25-man train-on group selected to attend a three-day camp in Auckland starting today.

Jimmy Cowan, who also missed the cut for the World Cup last year, and Brendon Leonard are the two halfbacks attending while Andy Ellis of the Crusaders is also in contention for the 26-man squad being named on Sunday for upcoming Tests against Ireland and England.

Ellis and a number of his Crusaders team-mates are expected to figure providing they emerge unscathed from the Super 14 final against the Waratahs in Christchurch on Saturday.

Weepu, whose Super 14 campaign ended with the Hurricanes semifinal defeat to the Crusaders last weekend, has been on the outer since All Blacks management expressed concerns about his fitness and attitude shortly before the World Cup squad were finalised.

He played the last of his 20 Tests against South Africa in June last year.

Cowan has also been reprimanded more recently after being charged with disorderly conduct following the Highlanders' Super 14 match with the Blues this month.

Meanwhile, the retirement yesterday of Jerry Collins leaves the blindside flanker position up for grabs _ although coach Graham Henry today admitted the 48-Test veteran was battling to retain his place anyway.

Henry confirmed the 27-year-old would not have been named on Sunday, clearing the path for the Kieran Read or Jerome Kaino to succeed Collins for the Tests against Ireland and England.

Otago loose forward and former New Zealand sevens representative Adam Thomson has been invited to the camp in recognition of his efforts for the struggling Highlanders this season.

Other uncapped players included in the group are North Harbour loose forward Anthony Boric, Otago second-rower Tom Donnelly, Waikato second-rower Kevin O'Neill, five-eighth Stephen Donald, centre Richard Kahui, North Harbour centre Anthony Tuitavake, winger Rudi Wulf and Canterbury utility back Paul Williams, who was drafted to the Highlanders this season.

Source - The Australian

I wonder if the Titans are still keen on him.

[lonegull]

heard a whisper this morning that Ben Te'o from the wests tigers is close to signing with the titans, would be a great pick up

[Big J]

heard a whisper this morning that Ben Te'o from the wests tigers is close to signing with the titans, would be a great pick up

Wow. That would be something. minichiello, harrison, laffranchi, te'o.

He would be a great addition as an impact player to complement our great number of 70 + minute forwards.....

[craigyd]

heard a whisper this morning that Ben Te'o from the wests tigers is close to signing with the titans, would be a great pick up

That would be awesome but mail is either St George or Broncs

[kwigibo]

He's a Keebra Park boy, buying back the farm and all that.