S.B.W_Jnr
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Walker shopping around for new NRL club
Saturday, July 8, 2006 - 4:07 PM
South Sydney halfback Ben Walker says he has another three or four years left in him, but he has no idea at which NRL club he might be spending them.
Walker and his brother, hooker Shane, are both off contract and are not part of the revamped Rabbitohs' plans for 2007 despite the fact the club's rush of signings hasn't included a No.7.
Walker said he "kind of" knew the club was moving on without him after media reports this week had the club's hierarchy confirming the Walkers would leave at season's end.
Asked about his future, former Brisbane and Northern Eagles player Walker said he had "no idea" but had spoken to "a couple" of NRL clubs.
"I'm only 29, I've got three of four (seasons) left in me yet," he said.
Rabbitohs coach Shaun McRae said the club had decided to look at its other halfback options, including talented but inconsistent youngster Joe Williams, 18-year-old SG Ball half Eddie Paea and recent recruit Scott Briggs.
"Ben was actually made an offer, he didn't feel it was enough and the offer wasn't extended so we moved on from there," McRae said.
"I don't think Shane was ever made an offer but we've recruited Daniel Irvine and also we've got Stuart Webb and Shane's been at the club for about four years and we just felt it was probably time to make a change in that area."
Ben Walker will line up at halfback for last placed Souths on Sunday when they take on the in-form St George Illawarra side (third) at Oki Jubilee Stadium.
While the Dragons will have Mark Gasnier, Matt Cooper, Ben Hornby and Luke Bailey backing up from Wednesday's State of Origin decider, the Rabbitohs go in with their usual lengthy list of injured and suspended first-graders.
Shane Walker (groin), Luke (groin) and Adam (suspension) MacDougall, Shannon Hegarty (shoulder), Jaiman Lowe (ribs) and Luke Stuart (knee) will all be missing.
It's a situation McRae hopes will improve with former Australian cricket physio Errol Alcott already on board full-time and involved in a review of the club's medical and rehabilitation programs.
"I believe there will be some changes made both to the medical and the rehab staff because I think that's an area where we've been depleted in our ranks and it's such a vital area in our business," he said.
"I just don't think we've ever had the resources or the finances to ever be able to do it as well as we would have liked and as well as other clubs do it.
"He's (Alcott's) got a lot of experience, a lot of ideas and he's reviewing the staff in those areas and making recommendations as to what we need to do."
The Dragons have won nine of the sides' 10 meetings, including a 44-14 round three victory this year, but this will be their first clash at Kogarah since the merger between St George and Illawarra in 1999.
http://www.nrl.com.au/News/Latest/NewsArticle/tabid/76/NewsId/1987/Default.aspx
Saturday, July 8, 2006 - 4:07 PM
South Sydney halfback Ben Walker says he has another three or four years left in him, but he has no idea at which NRL club he might be spending them.
Walker and his brother, hooker Shane, are both off contract and are not part of the revamped Rabbitohs' plans for 2007 despite the fact the club's rush of signings hasn't included a No.7.
Walker said he "kind of" knew the club was moving on without him after media reports this week had the club's hierarchy confirming the Walkers would leave at season's end.
Asked about his future, former Brisbane and Northern Eagles player Walker said he had "no idea" but had spoken to "a couple" of NRL clubs.
"I'm only 29, I've got three of four (seasons) left in me yet," he said.
Rabbitohs coach Shaun McRae said the club had decided to look at its other halfback options, including talented but inconsistent youngster Joe Williams, 18-year-old SG Ball half Eddie Paea and recent recruit Scott Briggs.
"Ben was actually made an offer, he didn't feel it was enough and the offer wasn't extended so we moved on from there," McRae said.
"I don't think Shane was ever made an offer but we've recruited Daniel Irvine and also we've got Stuart Webb and Shane's been at the club for about four years and we just felt it was probably time to make a change in that area."
Ben Walker will line up at halfback for last placed Souths on Sunday when they take on the in-form St George Illawarra side (third) at Oki Jubilee Stadium.
While the Dragons will have Mark Gasnier, Matt Cooper, Ben Hornby and Luke Bailey backing up from Wednesday's State of Origin decider, the Rabbitohs go in with their usual lengthy list of injured and suspended first-graders.
Shane Walker (groin), Luke (groin) and Adam (suspension) MacDougall, Shannon Hegarty (shoulder), Jaiman Lowe (ribs) and Luke Stuart (knee) will all be missing.
It's a situation McRae hopes will improve with former Australian cricket physio Errol Alcott already on board full-time and involved in a review of the club's medical and rehabilitation programs.
"I believe there will be some changes made both to the medical and the rehab staff because I think that's an area where we've been depleted in our ranks and it's such a vital area in our business," he said.
"I just don't think we've ever had the resources or the finances to ever be able to do it as well as we would have liked and as well as other clubs do it.
"He's (Alcott's) got a lot of experience, a lot of ideas and he's reviewing the staff in those areas and making recommendations as to what we need to do."
The Dragons have won nine of the sides' 10 meetings, including a 44-14 round three victory this year, but this will be their first clash at Kogarah since the merger between St George and Illawarra in 1999.
http://www.nrl.com.au/News/Latest/NewsArticle/tabid/76/NewsId/1987/Default.aspx
