Berkeley_Eagle
Current Status: 24/7 Manly Fan
BILLY Slater will be the next high-profile NRL player to explore a switch to French rugby after it was revealed last night he has a get-out clause to leave Melbourne.
In the wake of Mark Gasnier's French defection, Slater looms as the next superstar to be targeted by the cashed-up European rugby clubs.
Slater has missed this year's deadline to enact the clause but is not restricted from getting out of the final two years of his contract in 2009 and 2010.
The clause allows him out of his Melbourne deal if he receives an offer from rugby union or England's Super League.
Slater's manager George Mimis would not confirm the clause, but said it was his duty to look after Slater's interests.
"Given everything, in order to do our job and to properly reap the best interests of our client, we would be naive not to explore options when the time is appropriate,'' he said.
The possible loss of Slater is enough to set off alarm bells around the NRL. His contract was registered in April last year and prompted the NRL to move in and refuse to register further contracts that contain the same clause.
"That is one of the last ones of those types of contract,'' NRL chief executive David Gallop said. "In the past 12 months we have told the clubs that we don't accept that clause.''
But some players still do have the controversial clause. League's latest drama began two months ago when it was revealed a get-out clause had been controversially inserted into Gasnier's contract at St George Illawarra.
Gasnier since exercised the clause to take up a $1million-a-season offer with French rugby giants Stade Francais.
Suddenly, in the wake of Gasnier's get-out, French rugby became a viable option for the game's top players.
Storm chief executive Brian Waldron brushed off suggestions Slater is in danger of leaving the club. "There is no happier man in Melbourne than Billy Slater, as I understand,'' Waldron said.
"I am not worried about it. I am not worried about the constant crap with the media speculation about the downside of our game. I'm sick to death of it. We should be celebrating the great players in our game.''
Who might soon be going to France.
Slater, currently the form back of the competition, was widely mentioned as an ideal French target following the stunning revelation that Gasnier was leaving the NRL. Storm teammates Greg Inglis and Israel Folau were also mentioned as ideal targets for the cashed-up French rugby clubs, providing considerable concern.
That speculation now appears set to be visited next season. While no offer has yet been made, it is absurd to think that Slater will not receive interest now that French rugby has been awoken to the NRL talent pool.
Slater and Mimis are all too aware of their activation date, with Mimis already forewarning interest. The whirlwind that surrounded Gasnier these past few months will undoubtedly resurface around Slater next season.
By this time next year Gasnier will have a season of French rugby behind him, awakening more French rugby clubs to NRL talent.
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,24061619-5006066,00.html
In the wake of Mark Gasnier's French defection, Slater looms as the next superstar to be targeted by the cashed-up European rugby clubs.
Slater has missed this year's deadline to enact the clause but is not restricted from getting out of the final two years of his contract in 2009 and 2010.
The clause allows him out of his Melbourne deal if he receives an offer from rugby union or England's Super League.
Slater's manager George Mimis would not confirm the clause, but said it was his duty to look after Slater's interests.
"Given everything, in order to do our job and to properly reap the best interests of our client, we would be naive not to explore options when the time is appropriate,'' he said.
The possible loss of Slater is enough to set off alarm bells around the NRL. His contract was registered in April last year and prompted the NRL to move in and refuse to register further contracts that contain the same clause.
"That is one of the last ones of those types of contract,'' NRL chief executive David Gallop said. "In the past 12 months we have told the clubs that we don't accept that clause.''
But some players still do have the controversial clause. League's latest drama began two months ago when it was revealed a get-out clause had been controversially inserted into Gasnier's contract at St George Illawarra.
Gasnier since exercised the clause to take up a $1million-a-season offer with French rugby giants Stade Francais.
Suddenly, in the wake of Gasnier's get-out, French rugby became a viable option for the game's top players.
Storm chief executive Brian Waldron brushed off suggestions Slater is in danger of leaving the club. "There is no happier man in Melbourne than Billy Slater, as I understand,'' Waldron said.
"I am not worried about it. I am not worried about the constant crap with the media speculation about the downside of our game. I'm sick to death of it. We should be celebrating the great players in our game.''
Who might soon be going to France.
Slater, currently the form back of the competition, was widely mentioned as an ideal French target following the stunning revelation that Gasnier was leaving the NRL. Storm teammates Greg Inglis and Israel Folau were also mentioned as ideal targets for the cashed-up French rugby clubs, providing considerable concern.
That speculation now appears set to be visited next season. While no offer has yet been made, it is absurd to think that Slater will not receive interest now that French rugby has been awoken to the NRL talent pool.
Slater and Mimis are all too aware of their activation date, with Mimis already forewarning interest. The whirlwind that surrounded Gasnier these past few months will undoubtedly resurface around Slater next season.
By this time next year Gasnier will have a season of French rugby behind him, awakening more French rugby clubs to NRL talent.
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,24061619-5006066,00.html