Lawrence to weigh up future after ruling out Super League move

[balmain boy]

This is Chris' position and value with the club now. He's a cheap backup/bench player, but not someone you rely on.

I would rather have him than McIntyre in the squad but you need to find a taker for Sam before we free up the spot for Chris. These things will happen at the end of the season, which for us is still a week or two away. Benji still hasn't re-signed either.

I think Chris will still be with us next season, he just wants it sorted as soon as possible, which is understandable.

None of this is a shock to anyone and won't destabilise anything. No one is caught off-guard. Everyone knows Lawrence's contract status, him, the coaches, the other players, the fans. Just ignore gutter journalism and it goes away.

 

[Russell]

This is Chris' position and value with the club now. He's a cheap backup/bench player, but not someone you rely on.

I would rather have him than McIntyre in the squad but you need to find a taker for Sam before we free up the spot for Chris. These things will happen at the end of the season, which for us is still a week or two away. Benji still hasn't re-signed either.

I think Chris will still be with us next season, he just wants it sorted as soon as possible, which is understandable.

None of this is a shock to anyone and won't destabilise anything. No one is caught off-guard. Everyone knows Lawrence's contract status, him, the coaches, the other players, the fans. Just ignore gutter journalism and it goes away.

If they are only offering 120k max (at this stage) it is a joke and they are basically saying rak off Chris we don't want you.

If this is his last game for the Tigers then the Club is a disgrace - that he won't get a club legends send off - it would be absolutely pathetic. However no more than I would expect from some of the nuffies at this organisation.

 

[jirskyr]

If this is his last game for the Tigers then the Club is a disgrace - that he won’t get a club legends send off - it would be absolutely pathetic. However no more than I would expect from some of the nuffies at this organisation.

Mate, he could just take the deal and not have to get a send-off at all. Club holds all the cards here because Rowdy doesn't want to leave, doesn't want to play ESL and I'm not aware of any club vying for his services. That's, unfortunately, not a strong negotiating position and I don't care who the player is.

 

[avocadoontoast]

If this is his last game for the Tigers then the Club is a disgrace - that he won’t get a club legends send off - it would be absolutely pathetic. However no more than I would expect from some of the nuffies at this organisation.

Mate, he could just take the deal and not have to get a send-off at all. Club holds all the cards here because Rowdy doesn't want to leave, doesn't want to play ESL and I'm not aware of any club vying for his services. That's, unfortunately, not a strong negotiating position and I don't care who the player is.

That's exactly right and no one is making him stay. There are seemingly no other clubs that want him and he doesn't want to go to the UK. We're not a charity.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

I wanted him re-signed, but given the revelation Garner is, he isn't a priority. And in regards to the send off, or lack thereof, there is an offer on the table for him, and he hasn't announced he's leaving, so why would we be giving him a send off?

 

[jirskyr]

If this is his last game for the Tigers then the Club is a disgrace - that he won’t get a club legends send off - it would be absolutely pathetic. However no more than I would expect from some of the nuffies at this organisation.

Mate, he could just take the deal and not have to get a send-off at all. Club holds all the cards here because Rowdy doesn't want to leave, doesn't want to play ESL and I'm not aware of any club vying for his services. That's, unfortunately, not a strong negotiating position and I don't care who the player is.

That's exactly right and no one is making him stay. There are seemingly no other clubs that want him and he doesn't want to go to the UK. We're not a charity.

I want the bloke to get what he deserves, but you are right, Tigers aren't flush with money or salary cap to be doing favours to people.

And anyway, getting paid $120K to play footy for a year, not so bad? I am sure Rowdy isn't short of a dollar after a whole career in FG.

 

[yeti]

And remember that the $120K offered to Chris could cost the club another player that is of greater need to the club than Chris. I do hope he stays, but I won't slash my wrists if he doesn't.

 

[BZN]

G'day @avocadoontoast: I just don't understand the disrespect that you and so many others are showing Chris Lawrence.
He is a one-club legend, one of our best ever players who has given all his heart and soul to our club and always will.
He deserves to play on next year, more so than a few of the blokes we have on our books.
He hasn't been involved in or been the cause of any controversy while playing for our club and certainly wasn't involved in our club being $300,000 + down on our salary cap at the start of this year.

 

[avocadoontoast]

He is a one-club legend, one of our best ever players who has given all his heart and soul to our club and always will.
He deserves to play on next year, more so than a few of the blokes we have on our books.
He hasn't been involved in or been the cause of any controversy while playing for our club and certainly wasn't involved in our club being $300,000 + down on our salary cap at the start of this year.

No disrespect to Lawrence at all, but i'm not emotionally invested in players and I want us to keep improving. I don't think throwing money at someone just because he wants it is smart business. Madge clearly doesn't think he's worth more than $120k and apparently neither does any other club. He's been a great servant to the club but he's also been paid very handsomely for that service (more than most people earn).

Benji didn't have a problem accepting sub $200k and he's one of our chief playmakers. He's just appreciative of having the chance to go around one last time.

 

[WT2K]

Is McIntyre in our top 30 next year? Who would you rather have?

After years of trying to clean up a cap mess, it took 1 year of recruitment Ivan style to return us to square one.

No wonder him and Egan are gone.

Dylan Smith in our top 30 for next year too. Wasted roster spots.

 

[LeichhardtTiger]

@avocadoontoast Benji is his own Manager so he saves money by not having to pay a Commission to some lowlife like Moses or Ayoub.

 

[BZN]

@avocadoontoast: I am sure that Rowdy will also be "appreciative of having the chance to go around one last time".
I said in a previous post I don't know what his $$$ value is, but I'm sure if he was paid 'somewhere' near Benji's $$$ he would be very grateful :relaxed:

 

[hammertime]

He's got hands like feet and we're in a tough salary position.

If the Tigers are paying him unders for 1 year until the cap situation rectifies, that might be the best we can do. The problem that any signings are going to have is that the player will just look at Packer, Matts or McQueen and wonder why those guys are getting more.

Especially for Chris with what he has been through with the smashed face and how long he's been loyal to the club for.

 

[avocadoontoast]

@avocadoontoast Benji is his own Manager so he saves money by not having to pay a Commission to some lowlife like Moses or Ayoub.

But it isn’t the clubs fault that Lawrence has a manager.

 

[Newtown]

I think it's more about limited positions in the 30. We have a bunch of players that we'd rather not be there but we can't offload (McQueen, Packer, Reynolds, Matulino) Get rid of McQueen, and maybe we could keep Chrissy.

Chris should be kicking Cleary in the butt after his CAP mess for which the club is now paying.

 

[happy_tiger]

Sorry someone mentioned an interview about Rowdy talking about playing his last game @ Leichhardt

Where was it ??

 

[Alex Seyfarth's #1 Fan]

@avocadoontoast Benji is his own Manager so he saves money by not having to pay a Commission to some lowlife like Moses or Ayoub.

That's good from Benji. He got some terrible advice in his last few contract negotiations.

* Thought he was above a 750k/year over 2 years contract extension, because the former CEO shook his hand and said he'd give him a 4 year deal at a million a year.
* Still had 2 years left on his current deal (2014 & 2015), yet asked for a release. Was probably earning at least 700k on that deal.
* Went to Rugby Union. What was he thinking?
* Rejected 300k for 1 year at the Dragons, again thinking he was above it. They took the deal away, then he realised he'd screwed up massively and came groveling back, but St George were no longer interested.
* Had to go to Brisbane on almost minimum wage due to another set of failed negotiations.

 

[Russell]

In light of a lot of comments on here - I hope Chris has learned his lesson of being loyal and self sacrificing.

To offer him 100 or 120k is the absolute biggest insult.

Much better for them to have McIntyre, Smith, Seyfarth, Lealuga-Puhotau, Bradley, Jennings and Eisenhuth taking up spots in the 30.

Sign with another club Rowdy if you want to continue playing. Wests Tigers do not deserve you.

 

[Tigers_Tale]

West Tigers have McIntyre, Smith, Seyfarth, Lealuga-Puhotau, Bradley, Jennings and Eisenhuth taking up spots in the 30 because they have to have 30 players, and these players would be on minimum payments, and McIntyre, Seyfarth Bradley and Lealuga-Puhotau were development players. Basically because of our cap restriction we cannot afford better players, however they could develop into better players, they do have youth on their side. Actually McIntyre and Bradley probably a little unlucky not to get a callup into FG already.

 

[avocadoontoast]

In light of a lot of comments on here - I hope Chris has learned his lesson of being loyal and self sacrificing.

To offer him 100 or 120k is the absolute biggest insult.

Much better for them to have McIntyre, Smith, Seyfarth, Lealuga-Puhotau, Bradley, Jennings and Eisenhuth taking up spots in the 30.

Sign with another club Rowdy if you want to continue playing. Wests Tigers do not deserve you.

how much would you offer him?