Just a typo, I meant to say 'when' not 'if'

Chris Chester did say a couple of weeks ago when asked about Albert Kelly and the rumours, that he was fairly sure that there was no get out clause within his contract.
Kelly himself also said that he was very happy here.
The thing is, you are always going to get interest from other clubs when a player of Albert Kellys calibre comes to their attention, the same can be said of other clubs with top talent, in fact it happens in most professional team sport.
Its up to the clubs to do what it takes, within reason, to keep their star players happy and contracted for as long as possible.

Once the NRL comes calling its hard to resist the lure.
Increased salary caps in both the NRL and Union will make it even harder for super league to keep its better players.
Just enjoy him for as long as you have him.

My thoughts exactly,if after a season the lure of oz and more money is too much to resist,we take a fee and look for someone else.Our recruitment this season has been 1st class and while its hard to find another kelly,the fact that most players returning to oz will speak well of us,so as you say enjoy a very talented player while we can and wait and see what next season brings.

I couldn't agree more.

The thing in your favour is that you always seem to come up trumps with your half back recruitment. Only Keating hasn't done the business for you in recent years (gutting as an FC fan to be honest

)
It would be a shame though as super league needs as many good players as it can get. The super league product seems to be getting worse year on year.

Grrrrrr!!!! ......I'm ed off with the attitude of modern day rugby league players! .....I hate the fact that contracts mean nothing and clubs are simply seen as a stepping stone! .......One of the Burgesses is now rumoured to be looking at the NFL! ......Money talks more than the heart yearns! ......Oh well, I guess this is a result of the modern day society in which we now live! ......I suppose the "modern day" attitude is to wish them well!

I'm of the same opinion as you.
Its OK saying "be happy with a player for one year and move on and replace him" but what happens then?
You replace a player like Kelly for instance with another of equal quality, at least you would hope, otherwise you are in effect going backwards, that player then rips it up in super league and along comes another club( super league or otherwise) and takes him off your hands.
How long do you accept such a merry go round,? with this kind of situation you will never have stability and without stability (especially in the half backs) you will never become established at the top of the game imo.
At least when Micheal Dobson signed in 2008 he remained with the club until 2013.

Dobson stayed so long because as good as he was for us he was actually pretty average in terms of world class quality and couldn't get an NRL gig if he wanted.
What we are hoping for is a slightly better than average HB, or one in his twilight years, who'll stay as long as he can because no one else outside of SL wants him. Think I'd rather have a year (and possibly more) of a real talent who'll spotlight the club and earns us a few quid in the process. If JH & TB are worth £100k then Albo is worth a fair bit more I would have thought.

Losing players to the NRL, although painful is palatable and something we are powerless to stop, I'd be very disappointed if he left us for another SL side tho.

It's alright saying how long can we accept this merry go round, the fact is we don't have a choice. If an NRL team come to us offering a large fee, then turn the players head by offering him a significantly increased salary, what exactly can we do?

The only solution is to sign players who aren't good/young enough to be coveted by the NRL and to a certain extent the top clubs in SL (Green, Burns). But by doing that, you're already going backwards without having a quality player like Kelly for a year then trying to replace him

If you keep Campese, I don't think you will have a problem finding a partner for him.
Canberra have talented young halves falling out of the trees when they shake them, and they can't use them all.
One call from Campo would get you a young guy as good as Dobson.

If we are to loose Kelly I would rather use the time we have left and the experience of Campo to bring some of our promising halves through than give a shop window to another young Aussie.

That may well be an option worth looking at.

At the moment neither kelly or the club has said he is going so no need to panic yet lets wait and see what pans out but if it happens it happens nothing we or the club can do about it

Whatever happens, Albert Kelly's two 90 metre tries against St Helens should never be forgotten. I for one will never forget them.

His solo try against Catalan was better than both of those.

The dummy for that try was outrageous and his pass to Salter in the same game was also one of the best I have seen.

I notice Canberra have given under 20s half Mitchell Barnett a senior contract for next year and have promoted young Sam Williams to firstgrade.
This leaves experienced firstgrade halves Josh McCrone (2icon_cool.gif and Mitch Cornish (22) looking for a new club I think. Both friends of Campese I'd imagine.

Whilst we are not at the replacing Albert stage, your agent's fee is in the post should Rovers knock on Canberra's door again.

Let's hope they both sign for the sea eagles

D,C,E staying at manly and turned his back on gold coast

www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/manl ... mmssf.html If Cherry Evans stays at Manly, then Manly won't be coming after Albert Kelly. Also, I can't see Gold Coast luring Albert back, after they let him go.

www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/manl ... mmssf.html If Cherry Evans stays at Manly, then Manly won't be coming after Albert Kelly. Also, I can't see Gold Coast luring Albert back, after they let him go.

Quote ="SirStan"His solo try against Catalan was better than both of those.'" Are you referring to the one scored here? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWTD5jFw8cQ

Quote ="SirStan"His solo try against Catalan was better than both of those.'" Are you referring to the one scored here? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWTD5jFw8cQ

Quote ="JEAN CAPDOUZE"Are you referring to the one scored here? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWTD5jFw8cQ'" Talk about catch me if you can

Quote ="JEAN CAPDOUZE"Are you referring to the one scored here? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWTD5jFw8cQ'" Talk about catch me if you can

It's moments like that that has left me feeling like I have had more entertainment value owning a season pass in our first 5 home games this year than all the Sandercock era home games combined.

I've even started to enjoy going to Craven Park again!