Carl Webb

[Pomeroy#3]

Maroons hero weighs up big move south Font

Dan Koch | April 15, 2008

COWBOYS powerhouse Carl Webb said he was prepared to leave North Queensland, if he believed the move was in the best interests of his young family.

Off-contract at the end of this season, Webb, 27, has been targeted as a top priority by the Bulldogs, who have tabled a three-year, $1million offer.

At least one other Sydney club is said to be keen to sign the 110kg juggernaut, who has bounced back to form in emphatic fashion over the past fortnight after a sluggish start to the season.

He backed up his one-man wrecking ball effort against the Eels a fortnight ago, with a strong display against the Dragons, chalking up 110m in eight hit-ups and setting up a crucial try.

While not keen to leave Townsville, his home since 2005 when he joined from the Broncos, Webb said he owed it to his fiancee Renee Marsterson and one-year-old son Carter James to get the best deal possible this time around.

That means even the once-unimaginable prospect of moving to Sydney is now a distinct possibility for Webb, whose passion and fire in the Maroons jersey has earned him cult hero status north of the Tweed.

"I know this is the big contract in my career and I have to take care of my future and my family's future," Webb said.

"That's the way I am looking at it. I will seriously consider any offer I get because this my chance I will have to set things up for us for the years ahead."

Webb conceded he would find it difficult to leave Townsville and the talent-laden squad most expect to remain a serious premiership threat over the next few seasons.

But to keep him the Cowboys are likely to need something close to the big money being thrown at him by the boys from Belmore.

That means something, somewhere at North Queensland is going to have to give.

Having just landed the prize signature of Bulldogs Test centre Willie Tonga, Cowboys chief executive Peter Parr is facing a salary-cap squeeze trying to retain Jacob Lillyman, Steve Southern, Sione Faumuina, Justin Smith, Matthew Bartlett, Ben Harris and Ben Farrar.

In a strange twist, Webb has been earmarked by the Bulldogs to fill the void left in its engine room by the departure of his old adversary Willie Mason and Test prop Mark O'Meley.

The fierce rivalry Mason and Webb have shared from their days playing colts for Adelaide and Brisbane, respectively, to their clashes in State of Origin, looks likely to have a new chapter added this off-season, with the duo's managers already in deep discussions about a potential boxing match-up.

Two of the most athletically gifted big men in the game, Mason and Webb would go head-to-head in the proposed charity event to be held sometime over the off-season which promoter Angelo Hyder believes can draw numbers akin to the Anthony Mundine-Danny Green battle.

I wouldn't mind big Charlie Webb wearing our colours! Webb, Bird, Gallen thats got intimidation written all over it!

 

[scott17]

sure does

but he will go to the doggies

 

[Capital_Shark]

I'm a Queenslander and cheer Charlie like a mad man 3 times a year, but no way. Carl is too hot and cold from week to week. He shows in Origin that he's a great player, but rarely emulates even half of what he gives 3 times a year in a Maroon jersey.

 

[peachey]

no..

gives away dumb penalties and stupid errors..we already have gallen for the penalties and like cap said he is hot and cold..but seems to be more cold then hot for most of the time

300k..worse then ross

 

[Megashark]

No thanks; you'd probably get 10 Nutleys for the kind of money he is looking for!:nodlaugh

 

[Megashark]

He shows in Origin that he's a great player, but rarely emulates even half of what he gives 3 times a year in a Maroon jersey.

Now I'm not trying to draw any parallels here, but that is exactly what people said about Wally Lewis...he wasn't called the "Emperor of Lang Park" for nothing!

 

[scott17]

i wouldnt mind him

 

[Capital_Shark]

Now I'm not trying to draw any parallels here, but that is exactly what people said about Wally Lewis...he wasn't called the "Emperor of Lang Park" for nothing!

Emperor? King?

Wally played most his career in the QRL though didn't he? Could be fair to say he was past his week to week best by the time he entered the mainstream competition. Unlike Webb who has been an under-performer at club level since I can remember.

 

[sharkie_09]

we shud gofor one of thise cowboys players

 

[bort]

i agree with what caps is saying
hes just another player until origin, why spend big money on a bloke whose only going to play to his best when hes not playing for you?

 

[kiwishark]

The pack is solid without Webb money would be better spent on pace out wide or in the back row so Bird can play in the number six full time

 

[sharkstragic]

I think we have enough agrressive players at the moment and could probably do without the wanker factor Webb brings. We have enough of that at already.

 

[WillyInBris]

He has Mercenary for hire written all over him, but then again I thought the same about Thomo when he was coming over to the sharks.

 

[jimmymac]

i wouldn't pay him a million for three years to play 30 minutes each game. to unfit for my liking. i think the mobile packs we have been fielding this year have been working good so far, so i'd forget about him. i'd rather keep ross (although he gets suspended to much).

 

[Shark68]

We Need Backs For Fck Sake

 

[too far away]

We Need Backs For Fck Sake

Yep we sure do , but i would get rid of Ross and get him, he would still be cheaper and we could still chase some outside backs . As for being a mercenary i dont think that happens anymore because there is no more loyalty in footy its every man for himself .Just ask sticky or every coach or player that has been told see you later when they still had time on thier contracts.

 

[Shark68]

Ross has got another year on 400K he is not going to walk away from a water tight deal we have locked in most of the team to long term deals with only fringe players contracts due to end. The Sharks are hanging off signing players like Covell & Degois to see how players like Seu Seu & Stapelton go I am F*cked to know where they were going to get money when they were chasing Mason & Loti

 

[kiwishark]

Ross has got another year on 400K he is not going to walk away from a water tight deal we have locked in most of the team to long term deals with only fringe players contracts due to end. The Sharks are hanging off signing players like Covell & Degois to see how players like Seu Seu & Stapelton go I am F*cked to know where they were going to get money when they were chasing Mason & Loti

400k for a guy who is suspended over half his contract what a joke... Noddy must go to does nothing.... Free up some cash and chase some talent in the next couple of years.

 

[chikenhawk]

I'm a Queenslander and cheer Charlie like a mad man 3 times a year, but no way. Carl is too hot and cold from week to week. He shows in Origin that he's a great player, but rarely emulates even half of what he gives 3 times a year in a Maroon jersey.

100% agree.