Stagg poised to sign with Bulldogs
Peter Kogoy | December 22, 2008
Article from: The Australian
FORMER Queensland State of Origin backrower David Stagg is today poised to sign a two-year deal with the Bulldogs as a replacement for sacked Test star Reni Maitua.
Stagg is seen by new Bulldogs coach Kevin Moore as an ideal fit as the club looks to rebuild after a disastrous 2008.
He will link-up at Belmore with former Brisbane Broncos team-mates Ben Hannant and Michael Ennis.
"We've put our best offer on the table and we're expecting a decision from him at 10am today," Bulldogs recruitment manager Peter Mulholland said last night. "There are only one or two small contractual matters that need sorting out.
"The club sees him as a nice fit for Maitua. He certainly fits the bill in a lot of ways. For what Todd (Greenberg) and Kevin Moore want to do at the club, he'd fit right in.
"Character-wise, football wise, David Stagg ticks all the right boxes. He and Kevin Moore hit it off in talks at the club last week. He has made a point of wanting to play 13 (lock) and we feel we can provide that."
The Bulldogs' image has been tarnished in recent seasons, highlighted by Sonny Bill Williams' controversial walk-out to play French rugby union and Maitua's sacking last month after an incident at a Sydney nightclub and failure to attend training the next day. Stagg met with Moore, Mulholland and club chief executive Todd Greenberg in Sydney last week to discuss his future.
Although the Broncos forward had exercised a 12-month option on his Broncos contract, The Australian understands the club would allow him to leave.
Broncos chief executive Bruno Cullen said recently the club would consider releasing Stagg if he wanted out.
"If David came to us and said he had a fantastic offer and he wanted to go we would give it due consideration," Cullen said. "We know the Bulldogs are talking to him and it could be they can offer him a longer term deal."
The Broncos have signed Ben Te'o from Wests Tigers and Lagi Setu from St George Illawarra, so they have plenty of backrow depth at their disposal and Stagg's best chance of a starting spot would be at Belmore.
Meanwhile, Maitua's odds of returning to the NRL next season lengthened further yesterday with word that North Queensland, despite showing interest, can't fit him under the salary cap.
Maitua is understood to have an option to continue playing football in the UK or join Williams in French rugby, but the 26-year-old's preference is stay in Australia. Cronulla and South Sydney remain his best options for an NRL return.