Just a thought, we will have $350k from Barba and possibly another $150k releasing Halatau, if Izzy does not sign why not go for Fergo and play him as our right center and Morris as our FB, imagine how good our backline would be with a good off season
1. Morris 2. Inu 3. Lafai 4. Ferguson 5. Perrett
Also on foxsports an article claiming Barba would cost Brisbane $1m for the 2014 season, GOODLUCK with that!
http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/...illion-for-2014/story-fn2mcuj6-1226700930481#
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...t-door-opens-for-ferguson-20130820-2s9fc.html
David Furner's unwavering support for Blake Ferguson cost him his job as Canberra coach and has cleared the way for the NSW Origin star to join a Sydney club next season.
Furner, whose brother Don - the club's chief executive - had to deliver him the bad news, was sacked at an emotion-charged Raiders board meeting after losing the support of senior players.
Gone: Furner. Photo: Rohan Thomson
As revealed by Fairfax Media six weeks ago, Furner's perceived leniency towards Ferguson over off-field incidents was the cause of simmering tension in Canberra and led to Test prop David Shillington quitting the club's leadership group.
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By sacking Furner, Raiders directors were also aware they had triggered a clause in Ferguson's new $1 million two-year contract enabling him to become a free agent if there was a change of coach.
Ferguson, who is being advised by Anthony Mundine after splitting with his agent and uncle Bob Sutherland, told Fairfax Media he had made no decision on his future and was focused on helping Canberra make the finals by winning their remaining three games.
However, there is no shortage of clubs interested in signing the 23-year-old Blues star, with Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan understood to have made inquiries about Ferguson returning to the club he quit three years ago to join the Raiders.
Ferguson also looms as a likely replacement for Ben Barba at Canterbury, and a Bulldogs official told Fairfax Media that if any coach could get the best out of him it was Des Hasler.
The Mundine camp also has close ties with South Sydney and the Rabbitohs' strong association with the indigenous community could make them an ideal fit for Ferguson, while he has also been linked with Sydney Roosters and Parramatta.
It is believed Ferguson is keen to join the Sharks but some close to him have doubts about whether that would in his best interests given that he was arrested and charged with indecent assault over an incident while drinking in Cronulla the night before joining the NSW camp for Origin II and he was again spotted at a pub in the Shire last Saturday night.
With his new deal worth about $500,000 per season and the ability to earn a further $90,000 if he plays all three Origin matches next season, it is unlikely Ferguson would be able to earn significantly more elsewhere as few clubs would have room under the salary cap for next season.
Despite a number of off-field misdemeanors, the Raiders have always stood by Ferguson and Mundine said there was a chance he could stay in Canberra.
''Anything is possible. At the end of the day it is up to him but if it is made possible it can be possible,'' Mundine said. ''I just want what is going to be the best for Blake.''
Mundine confirmed he was now advising Ferguson on his career and said while the pair had been at a Randwick restaurant with Khoder Nasser and Sonny Bill Williams on Sunday night, Nasser was not acting as his agent.
''I am looking after Blake at the moment, I am looking after his best interests,'' Mundine said. ''Obviously, I have people I can turn to for advice but I am the main man.''
Nasser also met with Ferguson on Monday and told him that if he focused on playing to the best of his ability, his future would resolve itself. Mundine gave him the same advice and Ferguson said he was doing everything possible to overcome a hip flexor tear and play against Manly this weekend.
''I am just trying to get back on the field to help the boys win the last three games to get into the finals because I know that we have got a real good chance,'' Ferguson said.
''My main focus at the moment is for this team and playing some good football for the boys. We have got some amazing talent here at the Raiders and if we get into the finals we have got a big chance of going all the way.''
Ferguson did not want to comment on Furner's sacking. ''Dave was a pretty good bloke to me but I don't really want to talk about that at the moment,'' he said.
Long-serving Raiders chairman John McIntyre, who was in tears after the board meeting that sacked Furner, said directors were aware the club may lose Ferguson.
''That was obviously taken into account, so let's see what happens down the track,'' McIntyre said. ''He's still got a contract with us for two years, let's see what happens.''
1. Morris 2. Inu 3. Lafai 4. Ferguson 5. Perrett
Also on foxsports an article claiming Barba would cost Brisbane $1m for the 2014 season, GOODLUCK with that!
http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/...illion-for-2014/story-fn2mcuj6-1226700930481#
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...t-door-opens-for-ferguson-20130820-2s9fc.html
David Furner's unwavering support for Blake Ferguson cost him his job as Canberra coach and has cleared the way for the NSW Origin star to join a Sydney club next season.
Furner, whose brother Don - the club's chief executive - had to deliver him the bad news, was sacked at an emotion-charged Raiders board meeting after losing the support of senior players.
As revealed by Fairfax Media six weeks ago, Furner's perceived leniency towards Ferguson over off-field incidents was the cause of simmering tension in Canberra and led to Test prop David Shillington quitting the club's leadership group.
Advertisement
By sacking Furner, Raiders directors were also aware they had triggered a clause in Ferguson's new $1 million two-year contract enabling him to become a free agent if there was a change of coach.
Ferguson, who is being advised by Anthony Mundine after splitting with his agent and uncle Bob Sutherland, told Fairfax Media he had made no decision on his future and was focused on helping Canberra make the finals by winning their remaining three games.
However, there is no shortage of clubs interested in signing the 23-year-old Blues star, with Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan understood to have made inquiries about Ferguson returning to the club he quit three years ago to join the Raiders.
Ferguson also looms as a likely replacement for Ben Barba at Canterbury, and a Bulldogs official told Fairfax Media that if any coach could get the best out of him it was Des Hasler.
The Mundine camp also has close ties with South Sydney and the Rabbitohs' strong association with the indigenous community could make them an ideal fit for Ferguson, while he has also been linked with Sydney Roosters and Parramatta.
It is believed Ferguson is keen to join the Sharks but some close to him have doubts about whether that would in his best interests given that he was arrested and charged with indecent assault over an incident while drinking in Cronulla the night before joining the NSW camp for Origin II and he was again spotted at a pub in the Shire last Saturday night.
With his new deal worth about $500,000 per season and the ability to earn a further $90,000 if he plays all three Origin matches next season, it is unlikely Ferguson would be able to earn significantly more elsewhere as few clubs would have room under the salary cap for next season.
Despite a number of off-field misdemeanors, the Raiders have always stood by Ferguson and Mundine said there was a chance he could stay in Canberra.
''Anything is possible. At the end of the day it is up to him but if it is made possible it can be possible,'' Mundine said. ''I just want what is going to be the best for Blake.''
Mundine confirmed he was now advising Ferguson on his career and said while the pair had been at a Randwick restaurant with Khoder Nasser and Sonny Bill Williams on Sunday night, Nasser was not acting as his agent.
''I am looking after Blake at the moment, I am looking after his best interests,'' Mundine said. ''Obviously, I have people I can turn to for advice but I am the main man.''
Nasser also met with Ferguson on Monday and told him that if he focused on playing to the best of his ability, his future would resolve itself. Mundine gave him the same advice and Ferguson said he was doing everything possible to overcome a hip flexor tear and play against Manly this weekend.
''I am just trying to get back on the field to help the boys win the last three games to get into the finals because I know that we have got a real good chance,'' Ferguson said.
''My main focus at the moment is for this team and playing some good football for the boys. We have got some amazing talent here at the Raiders and if we get into the finals we have got a big chance of going all the way.''
Ferguson did not want to comment on Furner's sacking. ''Dave was a pretty good bloke to me but I don't really want to talk about that at the moment,'' he said.
Long-serving Raiders chairman John McIntyre, who was in tears after the board meeting that sacked Furner, said directors were aware the club may lose Ferguson.
''That was obviously taken into account, so let's see what happens down the track,'' McIntyre said. ''He's still got a contract with us for two years, let's see what happens.''
