NRL: Warriors line up bad boy Seymour

Ex-Sharks halfback Brett Seymour may be able to resurrect his NRL career with the Warriors. Photo / Getty Images

NRL bad boy Brett Seymour is being lined up as the player to solve the Warriors' halfback woes.

Seymour was sacked by Cronulla following an alcohol-fuelled incident at the end of June. A serial offender, the Queenslander was already in an alcohol rehabilitation programme after a drinking binge earlier in the year landed him a $20,000 fine and a two-match suspension. He was also sacked by previous club Brisbane in 2007 following an accusation that he head-butted a woman on the dance floor. Police investigated the matter but no charges were laid.

Warriors' chief executive Wayne Scurrah yesterday confirmed the club's interest in Seymour. He declined to comment on the state of negotiations but the club has gone as far as seeking the blessing of NRL boss David Gallop.

At the time of Seymour's sacking, Gallop appeared to warn off other clubs from attempting to sign him. Just three weeks ago Gallop said the NRL would need to be convinced it was in the player's and the club's interest for Seymour's registration to be accepted.

"Our current view is that Brett would not be accepted for registration for some time," he said.

But it now appears he has softened that stance.

"I told [the Warriors] 2009 was out of the question but we would look at 2010," Gallop told the Telegraph.

Seymour's contract would contain strict conditions, while Gallop's apparent blessing also came with a warning for the Warriors.

"Responsibility for who they bring into the game is something the clubs accept as being accountable for," he said. "I also spoke to the Warriors about how, in this instance, there would be the need for a number of conditions to be put in place. From what I understand both parties, club and player, are comfortable with that."

The move to recruit Seymour would seem to be at odds with the Warriors' previous hard line on player behaviour. Both Sione Faumuina and Misi Taulapapa were shown the door in 2006 following alcohol-related incidents. But with the likes of Nathan Fien, Grant Rovelli and Michael Witt having departed and Stacey Jones' presence beyond this season not confirmed, the lack of experienced playmaking options would appear to explain the willingness to take a punt on reforming Seymour.

After debuting in 2004, Seymour made 48 appearances for the Broncos in parts of four seasons. He made another 29 first grade appearances for Cronulla before his contract was torn up.

Meanwhile, captain Steve Price and winger Kevin Locke have been named in the team to face competition leaders St George Illawarra at Mt Smart Stadium on Sunday. Price missed Sunday's 30-24 win against the Roosters after being knocked out in Queensland's loss to New South Wales in the final State of Origin clash, while Locke was ruled out with a shoulder injury.

There has also been a change in the second row with Ben Matulino coming into the starting line-up for Jacob Lillyman, who joins Russell Packer, Patrick Ah Van, Lewis Brown, Lance Hohaia and Jesse Royal on a six-man bench.

* Warriors v Dragons
Mt Smart Stadium, 4pm Sunday

WARRIORS

Wade McKinnon
Kevin Locke
Jerome Ropati
Joel Moon
Manu Vatuvei
Isaac John
Stacey Jones
Sam Rapira
Ian Henderson
Steve Price (c)
Simon Mannering
Ben Matulino
Micheal Luck

ST GEORGE

Darius Boyd
Brett Morris
Beau Scott
Matt Cooper
Wendell Sailor
Jamie Soward
Ben Hornby (c)
Justin Poore
Nathan Fien
Michael Weyman
Dean Young
Ben Creagh
Neville Costigan

Interchange

Warriors: Patrick Ah Van, Lewis Brown, Lance Hohaia, Jacob Lillyman, Russell Packer, Jesse Royal.

Dragons: Dan Hunt, Matt Prior, Luke Priddis, Jarrod Saffy, Jeremy Smith, Chase Stanley, Jon Green.