Souths target Amos Roberts

[DIEHARD]

Souths shop at Bondi

The bad blood between South Sydney and the Sydney Roosters is flowing thicker than ever with the Rabbitohs set to pinch another of their bitter rival's big-name players in Amos Roberts.

Souths co-owners Russell Crowe and Peter Holmes a Court also used the announcement of the return of former junior Craig Wing to mischievously speculate that Brisbane prop Petero Civoniceva was certain to join the Roosters from next season.

The Herald can reveal that Souths are gunning for Roberts, who looks certain to be granted a release from the final year of his contract at the Roosters and is viewed as the perfect replacement for Rabbitohs fullback David Peachey, whom the Rabbitohs believe should retire.

Roberts is also being courted by Penrith, but he is understood to prefer a move to Redfern because of his close relationship with the club's indigenous liaison officer, Anthony Mundine.

"We haven't really got in the habit about [saying] who we are after," Holmes a Court said. "But we know he [Roberts] knows Anthony very well and other people in the community. Amos hasn't hit it my radar yet. It would be premature to say anything."

The Roosters must release Roberts to ease the pressure on their salary cap. He is waiting for Roosters chairman Nick Politis to return from France, where he is attending James Packer's second wedding, to finalise the payout figure on his contract.

Roberts said he was not aware of the interest from Souths but confirmed he would be leaving the Roosters.

"My manager [Daryl Mather] was told that the Roosters would be releasing me next year because of the salary cap," Roberts said last night. "I spoke to [Roosters coach] Chris Anderson about it this morning and he didn't want me to go at all, but because of the cap they don't have a choice.

"I don't know what is happening at the moment, I'll wait to see what my manager says."

Wing's return to Souths has clearly taken the Roosters by surprise, although replacements are being lined up. The club may look to do what the Rabbitohs have done and bring home a former player, with highly rated Melbourne hooker/half James Aubusson touted as a replacement for Wing.

The impending departure of Roberts to the Roosters' inner-city rivals came on a day of unprecedented speculation about a number of stars. Civoniceva is being strongly linked to the Roosters, who have room to move under their cap after off-loading Wing, Roberts, Jamie Soward, Josh Lewis and Nigel Plum. Promising Roosters fullback Shaun Foley has also been linked to Souths.

Asked if Souths were interested in Civoniceva, Holmes a Court said: "We all know where he's going."

Added Crowe: "Just keep checking the Easts website."

Roosters chief executive Brian Canavan said last night the club had not spoken to Civoniceva.

"We look after our own business and not that of other clubs," he said. "We haven't talked to him [Civoniceva]. We are in the process of sorting through our salary cap position and we are not looking at players until we are comfortable with that."

Holmes a Court denied a clean-out would need to occur for Souths to keep Wing under the cap or sign other players. As reported in the Herald on Tuesday, Wing is understood to have signed for about $350,000 a season. Souths are unlikely to re-sign Peachey, halfback Joe Williams, hooker Stuart Webb and prop Luke Stuart. He also denied reports that back-rower Joe Galuvao has been instructed to retire and become a church minister to ease the club's cap situation.

"There will be no wholesale carnage for Craig to fit into our cap," he said. "No one is being kicked out unceremoniously. No one is being told they are unwanted. Any idea the NRL is giving us greater scrutiny than other clubs is incorrect and it would be inappropriate if they were.

"We had a conversation with Joe the other day. It's about Joe achieving what he wants to achieve in his life. I understand Joe will be doing some thinking about that, as we are."

SMH

[DIEHARD]

I think we can see this happening.

Souths would be a good home for Roberts and he would make a perfect replacement for Peachey, although I don't want to see Peachey get shafted from the Bunnies.

[mb63]

Good move from Souths,I think peach won't be offered another year after originally wanting another 2.

[Titanium_BD1103]

I think we can see this happening.

Souths would be a good home for Roberts and he would make a perfect replacement for Peachey, although I don't want to see Peachey get shafted from the Bunnies.

I think it will happen too.. but the question I want to know is, where is the money to fund this coming from?

Didn't Souths say they had were very low on funds after signing Wing and would have to release 5 players for the deal with Wing to be done... now they have re-signed Jaiman Lowe, want to keep Luke Stuart and get Amos Roberts... something tells me that if they do that, Schubert should go after them ASAP... as there is no way they can do it without it being illegal if their original reports on finances are true.

[Go_The_Doggies]

This is just getting stupid!

FFS SOUTHS IS THERE ANYONE YOU DON'T WANT!

They HAVE to be over the cap? Surely!

[Brissyboy]

Hope peachy resigns but he would be a great signing for souths.

[Titanz01]

why not just go for minichello while ur at it souths..