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Lima looks like the man to replace Hannant GLENN JACKSON
March 20, 2010
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Dog gone … representative prop Ben Hannant wants to return to Queensland next year, leaving the Bulldogs searching for a quality replacement up front. Photo: Dallas Kilponen
BEN HANNANT'S desire to reunite with family in south-eastern Queensland might open the door for Canterbury to pursue the player who almost joined them instead of the Queenslander - Melbourne prop Jeff Lima, who is also set to be released from the final year of his contract.
And far from oozing the tone of a club under siege, Bulldogs boss Todd Greenberg has responded to St George Illawarra chief executive Peter Doust's admission that his club would attempt to sign Josh Morris by claiming Canterbury would again try to snare his twin, Dragons player Brett.
Hannant's revelation that he was homesick and wanted to move closer to his family means the Bulldogs are on the lookout for another prop.
Although Greenberg said yesterday that his preferred option would be a straight swap with either the Gold Coast or Brisbane, he was also open to finding a front-rower from elsewhere and negotiating a less conventional deal with the Titans or Broncos involving a younger player.
Lima was close to signing with the Bulldogs for last season, but rejected them in favour of staying with Melbourne. But Lima's agent, Sam Ayoub, yesterday revealed that Lima would also be released from the last season of his deal due to salary-cap pressure at the Storm.
Lima, 27, almost joined Wests Tigers at the end of last season but the Kiwi international chose to remain with the premiers, with the Storm subsequently allowing Queensland lock Dallas Johnson to join Catalans. But knowing the club's annual plight and keen to avoid a similar situation this year, Ayoub has been in discussions with Melbourne officials for several weeks. The two parties had agreed amicably to allow Lima to play elsewhere in 2011, even though his contract was due to run out at the end of that season.
Melbourne will be keen to tie up their young front-rower Aiden Tolman, who is off contract at the end of this season, and might also be a target for the Bulldogs.
While he said other NRL clubs had expressed an interest in the two-time premiership-winning front-rower, Ayoub conceded that the history between Lima and the Bulldogs might lead to a deal.
''I think it may well be a feasible option, but it's up to the Dogs as to whether they have any interest,'' said Ayoub, who is yet to hold talks with Canterbury. Told of the availability of Lima, Greenberg said: ''All those things are up for debate.''
So, presumably, might be Cowboys pair Carl Webb, who has attracted interest from England, but is not averse to moving to Sydney, and Luke O'Donnell. Both are off contract at the end of this season, although the latter, a back-rower, would still leave the Bulldogs light on in the front row.
That said, Greenberg said his first priority was to investigate a player swap, and urged Gold Coast and Brisbane, who have already admitted they would be keen to sign Hannant, to contact him about any possible deals. ''We've got to make sure we're in a good position [after any deal],'' Greenberg said. ''If for some reason a player swap can't happen they will just have to wait until 2011 to have a crack at him then.''
That, Greenberg conceded, was a worst-case scenario, given the extent of Hannant's desire, which he detailed in the Herald yesterday, to be closer to his and his wife's family on the Gold Coast.
However, the Bulldogs need to retain a strong bargaining position despite having an unsettled player.
Greenberg also rejected any notion that the club would make a play for the previously unsettled Sonny Bill Williams, who is off contract with Toulon, the club he joined after quitting the Bulldogs.
''Definitely not,'' Greenberg said.
Adding to the picture of a club under siege from everywhere, the Bulldogs have also had to deal with the admission from Doust that he was keen to entice Josh Morris back to the club. But Greenberg said: ''Josh is contracted for two more seasons. If they want to play together, there's as much chance of Brett playing with us.''
March 20, 2010
\
\
Dog gone … representative prop Ben Hannant wants to return to Queensland next year, leaving the Bulldogs searching for a quality replacement up front. Photo: Dallas Kilponen
BEN HANNANT'S desire to reunite with family in south-eastern Queensland might open the door for Canterbury to pursue the player who almost joined them instead of the Queenslander - Melbourne prop Jeff Lima, who is also set to be released from the final year of his contract.
And far from oozing the tone of a club under siege, Bulldogs boss Todd Greenberg has responded to St George Illawarra chief executive Peter Doust's admission that his club would attempt to sign Josh Morris by claiming Canterbury would again try to snare his twin, Dragons player Brett.
Hannant's revelation that he was homesick and wanted to move closer to his family means the Bulldogs are on the lookout for another prop.
Although Greenberg said yesterday that his preferred option would be a straight swap with either the Gold Coast or Brisbane, he was also open to finding a front-rower from elsewhere and negotiating a less conventional deal with the Titans or Broncos involving a younger player.
Lima was close to signing with the Bulldogs for last season, but rejected them in favour of staying with Melbourne. But Lima's agent, Sam Ayoub, yesterday revealed that Lima would also be released from the last season of his deal due to salary-cap pressure at the Storm.
Lima, 27, almost joined Wests Tigers at the end of last season but the Kiwi international chose to remain with the premiers, with the Storm subsequently allowing Queensland lock Dallas Johnson to join Catalans. But knowing the club's annual plight and keen to avoid a similar situation this year, Ayoub has been in discussions with Melbourne officials for several weeks. The two parties had agreed amicably to allow Lima to play elsewhere in 2011, even though his contract was due to run out at the end of that season.
Melbourne will be keen to tie up their young front-rower Aiden Tolman, who is off contract at the end of this season, and might also be a target for the Bulldogs.
While he said other NRL clubs had expressed an interest in the two-time premiership-winning front-rower, Ayoub conceded that the history between Lima and the Bulldogs might lead to a deal.
''I think it may well be a feasible option, but it's up to the Dogs as to whether they have any interest,'' said Ayoub, who is yet to hold talks with Canterbury. Told of the availability of Lima, Greenberg said: ''All those things are up for debate.''
So, presumably, might be Cowboys pair Carl Webb, who has attracted interest from England, but is not averse to moving to Sydney, and Luke O'Donnell. Both are off contract at the end of this season, although the latter, a back-rower, would still leave the Bulldogs light on in the front row.
That said, Greenberg said his first priority was to investigate a player swap, and urged Gold Coast and Brisbane, who have already admitted they would be keen to sign Hannant, to contact him about any possible deals. ''We've got to make sure we're in a good position [after any deal],'' Greenberg said. ''If for some reason a player swap can't happen they will just have to wait until 2011 to have a crack at him then.''
That, Greenberg conceded, was a worst-case scenario, given the extent of Hannant's desire, which he detailed in the Herald yesterday, to be closer to his and his wife's family on the Gold Coast.
However, the Bulldogs need to retain a strong bargaining position despite having an unsettled player.
Greenberg also rejected any notion that the club would make a play for the previously unsettled Sonny Bill Williams, who is off contract with Toulon, the club he joined after quitting the Bulldogs.
''Definitely not,'' Greenberg said.
Adding to the picture of a club under siege from everywhere, the Bulldogs have also had to deal with the admission from Doust that he was keen to entice Josh Morris back to the club. But Greenberg said: ''Josh is contracted for two more seasons. If they want to play together, there's as much chance of Brett playing with us.''
