Off the Record: Rugby League Transfer Gossip #17
No Wigan way
Leeds Rhinos have picked up Huddersfield Giants and England back-rower Brett Ferres after a number of clubs expressed interest. We are told that Wigan was one of those clubs keen on the forward, but it was the Warriors squad that put the kibosh on any deal. Apparently they weren’t too happy to have Ferres as a teammate, so goes our mail. Considering the circumstances surrounding his Giants exit, it doesn’t surprise really.
Fighting to be fit
Scott Moore will miss the start of the season with Wakefield and Warrington’s new Aussie prop Mitchell Dodds is also likely to be touch and go for round one. But they aren’t the only ones, as word comes to us that a backline star for another Super League outfit is set to miss the opening fixtures with injury. This player is a key attacking threat for his club and his absence is an undoubted blow. At this stage the club has managed to keep the news very quiet, but we have spies everywhere.
Riley’s Hornets home
Ex-Wakey winger Chris Riley is a step closer to joining Rochdale after turning down offers from Swinton and Halifax. Riley has continued to train with the Hornets in recent weeks and could feature against Salford in a friendly this weekend. The ginger-haired flyer is believed to be in the process of confirming full-time employment away from rugby before he commits to a contract. Riley has impressed at Rochdale in pre-season and would be a great signing for the League 1 side.
Kearney moves to Manly
Former Bradford Bulls skipper Brett Kearney has joined the Manly Sea Eagles – but not in the most obvious position. Manly are still looking for a perfect halves partner for Daly Cherry-Evans after Kieran Foran flew the coop but stand-off Kearney, who left Odsal at the end of the 2014 campaign, is not donning the boots again, despite being only 32. He has arrived on the northern beaches as a business development executive with the Seal Eagles. The one-time Souths, Sharks and Bulls utility has worked in marketing and sales for different companies since leaving Super League and has now set up in the Brookvale office.
Longing for payment
OTR hears that Sean Long is the latest in a long line of people chasing Salford for money. The ex-Great Britain halfback worked on the Red Devils coaching staff for seven months but departed in November 2014, and later joined Keiron Cunningham’s staff at St Helens. Apparently Long was due to be paid in December last year, but we hear the payment was not forthcoming. The 39-year old may eventually become the latest to take Salford to a tribunal to get his cash, you never know. We wait with interest.
