Don’t be surprised if the Perth Bears make a shock play for Cooper Cronk to join their ranks as they prepare to enter the premiership.
The former Storm and Roosters premiership winning halfback is one of the smartest minds in the game and people that are high up in Western Australia see him as a perfect fit for a Phil Gould-style director of football role.
Cronk is respected throughout the game and has contacts in all the right places.
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Cooper Cronk Getty
He also has family ties in the WA capital – his wife Tara Rushton hails from Perth.
No approach has been made to date and Cronk will have to weigh up whether to give up a cushy deal with Fox League to take on a job that involves far more pressure.
But he’s never been one to back away from a challenge and if the Bears come knocking, he may well find the offer too tempting to say no.
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‘NASTY WAR’ BREWING AT NRL HQ
There’s a nasty war brewing behind the scenes at rugby league HQ between some of the game’s power player managers and the NRL’s leading officials.
ARLC boss Peter V’landys has put out the word to clean up the agents and some of their questionable practices and we have already seen several managers issued with proposed suspensions and fines in recent weeks.
ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys Getty
But the managers aren’t going quietly and are planning a battle royale with Paul Massey, the NRL official who runs the player agent accreditation system.
Standby for lawyers at 10 paces in the coming weeks.
MANLY SET TO LOSE YOUNG PLAYMAKER
Penrith and Canberra are the favourites to snap up one of the brightest halfback prospects in the game – Sea Eagles Jersey Flegg captain Callum Dowell.
Manly have an embarrassment of riches in the halves, despite the impending departure of veteran Daly Cherry-Evans, having signed Jamal Fogarty from the Raiders and also have two gun youngsters in Joey Walsh and Onitoni Large.
But fans are unhappy at the prospect of losing such a talented local junior.
Manly have offered Dowell a small deal to stay – but he can make far more if he packs his bags and with his path blocked at Brookvale, that shapes as his best alternative.
‘ACE UP THE SLEEVE’ IN CHASE FOR TIGER
Tallyn Da Silva. Getty
The race is on to sign one of the most talented young hookers in the league in Tallyn Da Silva and the Bulldogs have an ace up their sleeve in the battle for the Tigers hooker.
Da Silva is extremely close to former Tigers star Lachie Galvin and that could see him follow his mate to Belmore.
With dummy-half Reed Mahoney likely to leave the Dogs over the summer, Da Silva would be a perfect fit for Cameron Ciraldo’s men.
Things wouldn’t be all doom and gloom for the Tigers though – they may end up with Bulldogs halfback Toby Sexton in a player swap of sorts.
