Rugby League: Grow-your-own pays for Warriors

By PETER JESSUP

The success of their development programme has enabled the Warriors to adopt a wait-and-see approach to the player transfer market.

But elsewhere the swapping has started as clubs secure or lose playmakers.

Yesterday, the Warriors told five-eighth Cliff Beverley and halfback-hooker Nat Wood they would not get an offer for next year. Both seem to be the victims of the club's signing of Parramatta's PJ Marsh.

Centre Joe Galuvao, who re-joined mid-season but has not made the starting 17, has also been released.

Prop Jason Temu is the only squad member still in limbo. But his few starts because of injury and illness mean his chances do not look that good.

Former Kiwi centre Richie Blackmore continues to struggle with a stress fracture in his foot and seems unlikely to get a start.

He will not be offered a contract as a player, but the club is considering another role for him. Meanwhile, Blackmore is considering a number of options, including playing overseas.

The most stunning aspect of the NRL deals has been the standing-down of Bronco fullback/centre Justin Hodges after the Broncos discovered he had signed with the Sydney Roosters.

The Bronco's Wayne Bennett said he would not play Hodges again, which means that he has effectively been banned for this season's remaining seven rounds.

The Eels say there is no such drama in the fact that Peter John Marsh has not been named in their side for this week.

Marsh is recovering from the soft-tissue neck injury he received against the Warriors a fortnight ago, and is expected to be fit next week.

Parramatta have lost two young props, Jason Cayless, 21, the younger brother of Kiwi captain Nathan, and Chad Robinson, 20. Both have transferred to Sydney City.

The Eels have bought Canberra half/hooker Andrew McFadden and Roosters lock Dean Widders.

The Broncos have released NSW State of Origin hooker Luke Priddis. His manager approached the Warriors, but they were not interested.

Also unable to fit under the $A3.25 million ($4.04 million) salary cap are Brisbane prop Corey Parker and hooker Michael Ryan, neither of whom were offered a deal for next year.

Sharks prop Martin Lang is moving to Penrith, and Roosters' centre Matt Sing has signed with North Queensland. The only Cowboys' off-contract players to re-sign so far has been lock Glenn Morrison, but Shane Muckert is also expected to reach terms.

Asked who was in their focus and what positions they had targeted to fill, chief executive of the Warriors Mick Watson said there were "certainly no more big names" coming.

They would like one more good outside back, probably a specialist centre.

He said the development pool was throwing up talent and that meant the club could afford to watch the player trade that had began when the anti-tampering rules expired June 30.

Stacey Jones' ankle stood up to last night's training run, his first since last weekend's test match.

Warriors' coach Daniel Anderson said the return of Jones, Monty Betham (bruised after the test), Richard Villasanti (shoulder) and the overworked Junior Kiwi Iafeta Paleaaesina would help to lift the team when they faced Newcastle at Ericsson Stadium on Sunday.

"The attitude has been good, the players are pretty focused and some are out to redeem themselves [after the big loss to Brisbane]," he said.

"The others like playing with those four. When Stacey and Monty lift, others lift around them."

He said he regretted there had not been time to review the positive aspects of the side's big win over Parramatta because of last week's test.

With everyone back in familiar surroundings he expected a much improved performance this weekend.