Anyone have access to this article. Big offer for cotric apparently.
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NRL 2022: Wests Tigers join race to snare Bulldogs winger Nick Cotric
A surprise contender is poised to hijack Nick Cotric’s return to Canberra after coming in with a big offer for the out-of-favour Bulldog.
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NRL 2022: Wests Tigers join race to snare Bulldogs winger Nick Cotric
A surprise contender is poised to hijack Nick Cotric’s return to Canberra after coming in with a big offer for the out-of-favour Bulldog.
Dean Ritchie
6 min read
November 28, 2021 - 3:40PM
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom
He was poised for an immediate return to Canberra but in a late twist, former NSW winger Nick Cotric could now be headed to Wests Tigers.
Just a week after the club signed Parramatta forward Isaiah Papali’i for 2023, Wests Tigers have positioned themselves to secure Cotric, the Bulldogs star at risk of being squeezed out of Belmore under Phil Gould’s roster overhaul.
Desperate to appease fans with a big-name signing for next season, the Tigers ramped up their interest in Cotric on Monday after holding an official meeting with his management.
It comes as Wests have more room to move in their salary cap than Canberra.
The Daily Telegraph last week revealed that Cotric was being shopped around as the Bulldogs battle a salary cap squeeze and that he looked headed back home to Canberra.
While the Raiders are still hopeful, the Tigers have suddenly become favourites for Cotric.
Canterbury would prefer to offload Cotric – who earns $600,000 a season at Belmore — to Wests given the Tigers could inject more money into the swap than Canberra.
Canberra remain interested provided they can find some middle ground in a financial settlement with Canterbury.
Cotric, a former Australian winger, bought a home near Sutherland and wants to remain in Sydney. He wants to renovate his house.
His career has stalled though, winning just three games with Canterbury last year, losing his place in the NSW side and now appearing ready for a move to battling Wests Tigers.
Tigers struck a significant blow last week by signing Papali’i on a three-season deal from 2023.
New Tigers director of football Tim Sheens seems to be working some early magic at Concord. Tigers coach Michael Maguire also knows he requires a roster boost heading into next season given his tenure will again come under scrutiny with a sluggish start.
Signing Cotric just after Papali’i will ease some angst among Wests Tigers fans who have waited a decade for a finals appearance.
Tigers forward Luciano Leilua has signed a monster deal with North Queensland from 2023 but that move could be brought forward by a year if the player demands an early release.
Some of that Leilua money could be used for Cotric, who played in the 2019 NRL grand final.
While the move is highly unlikely, Wests Tigers have approached Storm star Brandon Smith.
There is no suggestion Parramatta will allow Papali’i to walk out for Wests Tigers a year early.
Meanwhile the Tigers have announced the signing of promising outside back Junior Tupou for the next three seasons.
The 19-year-old former Brumbies player represented the Junior Wallabies this year after switching to rugby union following a stint with the Canberra Raiders SG Ball team.
