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By Adrian Proszenko and Sarah Keoghan
Canterbury could have a very different look about them by the time Trent Barrett arrives, as the club chases another England international and considers overhauling how talent flows into the top grade.
Barrett has officially agreed terms with Canterbury on a three-year deal, but won’t make the shift until the end of the season to ensure there is no disruption to Penrith’s premiership campaign.
An official announcement could be coupled with the trumpeting of a new sponsor in a timely boost for the bottom-placed club. The Barrett deal, however, is done, ending any suggestion that a late contender - such as former Cowboys coach Paul Green - could come into calculations to replace Dean Pay.
Steve Georgallis will remain the caretaker coach until the end of the season, giving Barrett a fresh start once he finishes his commitments at the foot of the mountains in October.
Preparations are already being made for Barrett’s arrival. Having recently added Luke Thompson to the squad, officials are negotiating with fellow English international Oliver Gildart. The 23-year-old centre remains contracted to Wigan next year but has a buyout clause that could result in an early departure. The Wests Tigers and Titans are also in the mix for his services after he engaged an Australian agent to explore NRL opportunities.
The Bulldogs are looking to strengthen their outside backs, signing Canberra’s Nick Cotric on a three-year deal and former Dragon Tim Lafai until the end of the season. Gildart would be a huge coup for a side that has scored the least amount of points in 2020.
The Bulldogs are also looking to bolster their hooking options and are considering another English international, Daryl Clark. Speaking on Nine’s Wide World of Sports last week, Andrew Johns said Clark would be a prudent purchase for the Bulldogs.
“I had a quick look at their squad – they need to buy a world-class dummy half,” Johns said. “There’s one in England called Daryl Clark, who plays for Warrington, really top-line player.”
Aside from scouring the English market, the Bulldogs are considering another fundamental change to the way they source talent. There are discussions about taking up a new feeder team arrangement to cut costs. The most likely outcome is to partner with Mounties. The club currently partners with the Raiders, but could end up in a new arrangement with the ‘family club’.
If the deal goes ahead, it would mean players who don’t make Barrett’s top 17 next year will no longer play under the Bulldogs brand.
Barrett, meanwhile, is hoping to convince Corey Harawira-Naera to remain at Belmore instead of joining either the Dragons, Raiders or Warriors. The pair have a strong relationship from their time together at the foot of the mountains.
Current Panthers players have also spoken in glowing terms about Barrett.
“I had Baz as my under-20s coach,” Sione Katoa said. “I was still pretty young coming through the grades there. He was good for me because I was obviously in the spine and he helped me out a lot.
“He will be really good. He will be awesome. Us as footy players, we’ve just got to get on with it and get ready for the footy side of things. Obviously coaches and that have input on how we play, but I’ve had a relationship with Baz back at Panthers.
“He’s a halfback he’s got a lot of brains of different plays and how the game works and you can see it in what the Panthers have brought this year. So Baz will bring the more attacking side of things and I think, from there on, the players will just take over.”
Canterbury could have a very different look about them by the time Trent Barrett arrives, as the club chases another England international and considers overhauling how talent flows into the top grade.
Barrett has officially agreed terms with Canterbury on a three-year deal, but won’t make the shift until the end of the season to ensure there is no disruption to Penrith’s premiership campaign.
An official announcement could be coupled with the trumpeting of a new sponsor in a timely boost for the bottom-placed club. The Barrett deal, however, is done, ending any suggestion that a late contender - such as former Cowboys coach Paul Green - could come into calculations to replace Dean Pay.
Steve Georgallis will remain the caretaker coach until the end of the season, giving Barrett a fresh start once he finishes his commitments at the foot of the mountains in October.
Preparations are already being made for Barrett’s arrival. Having recently added Luke Thompson to the squad, officials are negotiating with fellow English international Oliver Gildart. The 23-year-old centre remains contracted to Wigan next year but has a buyout clause that could result in an early departure. The Wests Tigers and Titans are also in the mix for his services after he engaged an Australian agent to explore NRL opportunities.
The Bulldogs are looking to strengthen their outside backs, signing Canberra’s Nick Cotric on a three-year deal and former Dragon Tim Lafai until the end of the season. Gildart would be a huge coup for a side that has scored the least amount of points in 2020.
The Bulldogs are also looking to bolster their hooking options and are considering another English international, Daryl Clark. Speaking on Nine’s Wide World of Sports last week, Andrew Johns said Clark would be a prudent purchase for the Bulldogs.
“I had a quick look at their squad – they need to buy a world-class dummy half,” Johns said. “There’s one in England called Daryl Clark, who plays for Warrington, really top-line player.”
Aside from scouring the English market, the Bulldogs are considering another fundamental change to the way they source talent. There are discussions about taking up a new feeder team arrangement to cut costs. The most likely outcome is to partner with Mounties. The club currently partners with the Raiders, but could end up in a new arrangement with the ‘family club’.
If the deal goes ahead, it would mean players who don’t make Barrett’s top 17 next year will no longer play under the Bulldogs brand.
Barrett, meanwhile, is hoping to convince Corey Harawira-Naera to remain at Belmore instead of joining either the Dragons, Raiders or Warriors. The pair have a strong relationship from their time together at the foot of the mountains.
Current Panthers players have also spoken in glowing terms about Barrett.
“I had Baz as my under-20s coach,” Sione Katoa said. “I was still pretty young coming through the grades there. He was good for me because I was obviously in the spine and he helped me out a lot.
“He will be really good. He will be awesome. Us as footy players, we’ve just got to get on with it and get ready for the footy side of things. Obviously coaches and that have input on how we play, but I’ve had a relationship with Baz back at Panthers.
“He’s a halfback he’s got a lot of brains of different plays and how the game works and you can see it in what the Panthers have brought this year. So Baz will bring the more attacking side of things and I think, from there on, the players will just take over.”
