NImitz
BRL Player
- Sep 8, 2016
- 46
- 20
Peter Badel, The Courier-Mail
October 26, 2017 7:10pm
THE Broncos have ruled out making a play for Mitchell Pearce as the Roosters’ pursuit of Maroons ace Cooper Cronk threatens to drive the NSW Origin halfback out of Bondi.
Brisbane boss Paul White declared the club has cash to spend on the open market after the Broncos continued their retention drive with the $3 million signing of skipper Darius Boyd.
But White insists the Broncos do not have the funds to afford Pearce, who faces an uncertain future at the Roosters as the Sydney glamour club prepares to announce the acquisition of Cronk.
RE-SIGNED: Boyd commits future to Brisbane
DECISION: Roosters must let Pearce go
Pearce is above what the Broncos are looking for. Picture: Brett Costello
If there is one position the Broncos could strengthen, it is halfback. The departure of Ben Hunt and Benji Marshall has eroded Brisbane’s playmaking depth and the jury remains out on whether Kodi Nikorima can be a proven force in the No.7 jumper.
Broncos coach Wayne Bennett is understood to be a fan of Pearce, who steered the Roosters to the 2013 premiership, but White said Brisbane could not even afford to fund a subsidised deal.
The 28-year-old Pearce has another two years left to run on his Roosters contract.
LISTEN! In our RLWC preview we talk Tonga defections, why Aussies want the Aussies to lose and backing a minnow team. Plus the Tele Sport team preview the first round of matches, deliver their bold predictions and chat to Lebanon captain Robbie Farah.
“Obviously it would be Wayne’s call, but it (signing Pearce) is not something that is on our mind,” White said. “We are as shocked as anyone by his situation.
“There are stories in the papers, but it’s a story for Mitchell and the Roosters. He is a Sydney boy and I don’t know if he would even contemplate moving to Queensland.
“Ultimately it’s a decision for the coach (Bennett), but we have our halves pretty well settled and we don’t have the space in our cap for a marquee signing.
“We have some capacity (in the salary cap), which is good practice, but we aren’t in the market for a marquee signing, which Mitchell would be.”
Cronk now seems certain to take Pearce’s spot. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
Roosters coach Trent Robinson has denied reports Pearce wants out of the club. The Blues playmaker and his manager Steve Gillis will meet with Robinson in the coming days to seek clarity on the Cronk development.
White said the Broncos have a history of securing bargain buys from other clubs looking to alleviated salary-cap pressures.
“We are always in the market, we know this is the silly season,” he said.
“There will be clubs who may find themselves in trouble with the salary cap and there might be some players put onto the market at the right price.
“Some clubs will bear the brunt of their salary and there is opportunities to take advantage of that. We did that in 2015 with Adam Blair and last year with Korbin Sims.
“We will always be looking at ways to strengthen our squad.”
October 26, 2017 7:10pm
THE Broncos have ruled out making a play for Mitchell Pearce as the Roosters’ pursuit of Maroons ace Cooper Cronk threatens to drive the NSW Origin halfback out of Bondi.
Brisbane boss Paul White declared the club has cash to spend on the open market after the Broncos continued their retention drive with the $3 million signing of skipper Darius Boyd.
But White insists the Broncos do not have the funds to afford Pearce, who faces an uncertain future at the Roosters as the Sydney glamour club prepares to announce the acquisition of Cronk.
RE-SIGNED: Boyd commits future to Brisbane
DECISION: Roosters must let Pearce go
If there is one position the Broncos could strengthen, it is halfback. The departure of Ben Hunt and Benji Marshall has eroded Brisbane’s playmaking depth and the jury remains out on whether Kodi Nikorima can be a proven force in the No.7 jumper.
Broncos coach Wayne Bennett is understood to be a fan of Pearce, who steered the Roosters to the 2013 premiership, but White said Brisbane could not even afford to fund a subsidised deal.
The 28-year-old Pearce has another two years left to run on his Roosters contract.
LISTEN! In our RLWC preview we talk Tonga defections, why Aussies want the Aussies to lose and backing a minnow team. Plus the Tele Sport team preview the first round of matches, deliver their bold predictions and chat to Lebanon captain Robbie Farah.
“Obviously it would be Wayne’s call, but it (signing Pearce) is not something that is on our mind,” White said. “We are as shocked as anyone by his situation.
“There are stories in the papers, but it’s a story for Mitchell and the Roosters. He is a Sydney boy and I don’t know if he would even contemplate moving to Queensland.
“Ultimately it’s a decision for the coach (Bennett), but we have our halves pretty well settled and we don’t have the space in our cap for a marquee signing.
“We have some capacity (in the salary cap), which is good practice, but we aren’t in the market for a marquee signing, which Mitchell would be.”
Cronk now seems certain to take Pearce’s spot. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
Roosters coach Trent Robinson has denied reports Pearce wants out of the club. The Blues playmaker and his manager Steve Gillis will meet with Robinson in the coming days to seek clarity on the Cronk development.
White said the Broncos have a history of securing bargain buys from other clubs looking to alleviated salary-cap pressures.
“We are always in the market, we know this is the silly season,” he said.
“There will be clubs who may find themselves in trouble with the salary cap and there might be some players put onto the market at the right price.
“Some clubs will bear the brunt of their salary and there is opportunities to take advantage of that. We did that in 2015 with Adam Blair and last year with Korbin Sims.
“We will always be looking at ways to strengthen our squad.”
