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Canterbury Bulldogs table Greg Eastwood a seven-figure contract extension
Canterbury are likely to re-sign Greg Eastwood after tabling the Kiwi international a seven-figure contract extension.
Eastwood, off contract at the end of the year, has attracted interest from three rival clubs as he contemplates his future. However, the Bulldogs are hopeful of keeping him at Belmore after offering a two-year deal.
Close to re-signing: Greg Eastwood. Photo: Getty Images
Eastwood has been in good form for the "Family Club", leading to his selection for New Zealand for the Test against the Kangaroos earlier this month. It was the 24th time he has represented the Kiwis, a tally he is likely to add to during the season-ending Four Nations and next year's World Cup.
The 29-year-old made his NRL debut for the Broncos, but has played the majority of his 208 first-grade games in the blue and white during two stints at the club.
The Bulldogs have one of the most imposing packs in the game and are taking steps to keep it together. A deal to retain NSW back-rower Josh Jackson is all but done, with an announcement imminent.
Fellow Blues forward David Klemmer is also poised to commit long term, although the uncertainty about the salary cap limit for 2018 and beyond has complicated negotiations.
Fitting all of the forwards under the cap – at a time when the Bulldogs are poised to trumpet the retention of playmaker Moses Mbye – has been a delicate balancing act. However, some space will be made available from next year when the contract of Tony Williams, in the last year of a lucrative, long-term deal, expires. Williams has been dropped to the Intrust Super Premiership after a series of lacklustre performances and will need a massive spike in form – and an even bigger pay cut – to have any hope of staying at Belmore in 2017.
Eastwood has been a strong contributor to a Bulldogs side that has struggled for consistency this year. However, there were signs of improvement in last weekend's 36-4 thumping of Wests Tigers. They will face a sterner test against a Roosters side still smarting from an unexpected loss to the Titans.
"We know that we haven't played to our full potential in those games that were close," Bulldogs forward Tim Browne said on Wednesday.
"We were in all of them and we know we've got a lot of improvement to do.
"On the weekend I thought we did the little things in the game that we focused on and it would be good to get another win."
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...-extension-20160518-goyc2o.html#ixzz492KGJEKy
Follow us: @smh on Twitter | sydneymorningherald on Facebook
Canterbury are likely to re-sign Greg Eastwood after tabling the Kiwi international a seven-figure contract extension.
Eastwood, off contract at the end of the year, has attracted interest from three rival clubs as he contemplates his future. However, the Bulldogs are hopeful of keeping him at Belmore after offering a two-year deal.
Close to re-signing: Greg Eastwood. Photo: Getty Images
Eastwood has been in good form for the "Family Club", leading to his selection for New Zealand for the Test against the Kangaroos earlier this month. It was the 24th time he has represented the Kiwis, a tally he is likely to add to during the season-ending Four Nations and next year's World Cup.
The 29-year-old made his NRL debut for the Broncos, but has played the majority of his 208 first-grade games in the blue and white during two stints at the club.
The Bulldogs have one of the most imposing packs in the game and are taking steps to keep it together. A deal to retain NSW back-rower Josh Jackson is all but done, with an announcement imminent.
Fellow Blues forward David Klemmer is also poised to commit long term, although the uncertainty about the salary cap limit for 2018 and beyond has complicated negotiations.
Fitting all of the forwards under the cap – at a time when the Bulldogs are poised to trumpet the retention of playmaker Moses Mbye – has been a delicate balancing act. However, some space will be made available from next year when the contract of Tony Williams, in the last year of a lucrative, long-term deal, expires. Williams has been dropped to the Intrust Super Premiership after a series of lacklustre performances and will need a massive spike in form – and an even bigger pay cut – to have any hope of staying at Belmore in 2017.
Eastwood has been a strong contributor to a Bulldogs side that has struggled for consistency this year. However, there were signs of improvement in last weekend's 36-4 thumping of Wests Tigers. They will face a sterner test against a Roosters side still smarting from an unexpected loss to the Titans.
"We know that we haven't played to our full potential in those games that were close," Bulldogs forward Tim Browne said on Wednesday.
"We were in all of them and we know we've got a lot of improvement to do.
"On the weekend I thought we did the little things in the game that we focused on and it would be good to get another win."
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...-extension-20160518-goyc2o.html#ixzz492KGJEKy
Follow us: @smh on Twitter | sydneymorningherald on Facebook
