Canberra legend Laurie Daley has warned off-contract Raiders winger Nick Cotric to be wary of leaving to join Canterbury on big dollars, saying the pressure to perform at the battling Bulldogs is a risk.
Daley‘s advice comes as the battle for Cotric’s signature is heating up with the flyer’s agent hoping to secure a five-year deal.
The NCA NewsWire can reveal his manager Sam Ayoub is pushing for a long-term contract so he can lock in his future with the Raiders outside back.
Ayoub has linked with the Australian and NSW representative for another three seasons, so he wants a bigger deal to remain his agent beyond this date.
However, it’s understood that Cotric is only interested in a three-year deal as rivals Canterbury circle for his signature.
Daley believes the Cooma-born 21-year-old must think seriously about the obstacles of joining a rebuilding club like the Bulldogs before committing.
“Nick needs to weigh up what the environment will be like at Canterbury,” declared Daley, who won three premierships at the Raiders.
“Can they turn it around? Is he part of the solution? Are they going to sign other players? The challenges that he will face at Canterbury over the next couple of years because it isn’t going to be a quick fix.
“Whereas he is in a stable footy program at Canberra, it will always be competitive, and you always know what you are going to get.”
Canberra desperately want to retain Cotric, but they are facing tough competition from cashed-up Canterbury.
The Bulldogs are willing to offer a $750,000 contract over three years, while the Raiders are happy to start negotiations around the $500,000 mark also for three seasons.
Canterbury wants to lure a top-line player like Cotric in a bid to climb off the bottom of the competition ladder, but they are unwilling to offer him a deal over three years.
Daley has urged the winger to remain at Canberra if the Bulldogs don’t offer a significantly higher offer.
“If it is not a massive amount different then I don’t think you would be looking to move,” he said.
“Obviously, if it is a massive gap then you have to consider it, but you are always prepared to stay for less in a strong team that you know is going to be competitive rather than going to an unknown.”
Cotric has been a revelation since joining Canberra in 2017, scoring 36 tries in his 78 games for the club to date.
He aspires to play in the centres, which could attract more money on the open market.
However, Daley says Cotric should stay on the wing and own the position as one of the game’s premier try scorers.
“I’ve heard Nick wants to play in the centres, but you’d like to think that a winger is nearly worth more than a centre,” he said.
“It depends on how the game is going to be played and what this new (six-again) rule does.
“I think over the last few years, wingers have been more valuable than centres with the metres they run coming out of trouble.
“I know Nick played in the outside backs as a junior and would excel there, but I see him as a very good winger capable of earning big bucks as a winger.”
