Milkshark
Great White
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2012
- Messages
- 4,920
- Reaction score
- 681
Taken from SMH:
[FONT="]Cronulla halfback Chad Townsend admits the Sharks are resigned to losing boom back-rower Kurt Capewell as the race for his signature heats up.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Capewell's form this season saw him feature as part of Queensland's extended squad for the opening two State of Origin games this year and now he's one of the hottest free agents on the market for next season.[/FONT]
[FONT="]The Cronulla Sharks take on the St George Illawarra Dragons in Round 22 of the NRL. Cronulla are without $350,000 of their usual salary cap allowance next season, leaving a player of Capewell's quality with little choice but to look elsewhere.[/FONT]
[FONT="]The Knights have already expressed interest in the 26-year-old and the Herald understands both the Titans and Warriors have now entered the race for Capewell's signature.[/FONT]
[FONT="]With at least three clubs eager to make Capewell a fixture in their teams next season, the Sharks will be unable to offer anything close to the cash needed to keep the Origin prospect in the Sutherland Shire.[/FONT]
[FONT="]"This year he has excelled and it's actually amazed me that he's still unsigned for next year," Townsend said.[/FONT]
[FONT="]"I think he will be an asset to any team he goes to and I would love him to stay here but I'm not sure what his go is.[/FONT]
[FONT="]"He's told us he would love to stay but it's more about what the best decision is for him and his development.[/FONT]
[FONT="]"We have some pretty handy back-rowers here at the Sharks and Capes is definitely one of those.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Bunker blunder keeps Sharks' season alive in win over Dragons Add to shortlist "But his role here at the moment is just to come off the bench and play that utility role.[/FONT]
[FONT="]"If he went to another team he could potentially start and hopefully his career will go up and up. You can't begrudge someone who wants to do that."[/FONT]
[FONT="]Wade Graham has watched Capewell thrive this season in his injury-enforced absence. He couldn't be more impressed with the way his game has developed.[/FONT]
[FONT="]"Obviously it's pretty well publicised how tight our cap is with the sanctions and where we're sitting at the moment as a club but he's a great player, a quality player," Graham said.[/FONT]
[FONT="]"He's versatile, he can play so many different positions and he plays those positions well.[/FONT]
[FONT="]"He's a great clubman and he's been here for three years now. He has really fit in.[/FONT]
[FONT="]"It would be tough to lose him but it's hard at the moment with the position that we're in as a club."[/FONT]
[FONT="]The position the Sharks are in has also forced the club to look at offloading veterans such as prop Matt Prior.[/FONT]
[FONT="]The Eels are eyeing Prior's situation at the club with particular interest, though the man himself is giving little thought to whispers about his future.[/FONT]
[FONT="]"I haven't really thought about it at all, to be honest. And I'm not really going to think about it," Prior said.[/FONT]
[FONT="]"Whatever happens, happens and I will just deal with it as it comes.[/FONT]
[FONT="]"There isn't much point in putting much thought into something where I don't really know what is going to happen. We'll just go from there.[/FONT]
[FONT="]"Obviously I would love to stay as long as I can. I love the Sharks and I love the area.[/FONT]
[FONT="]"I've had some great times here and I've probably played my best footy here, so I want to stay. But whatever happens, happens. I'll just deal with it when it comes."[/FONT]
[FONT="]Cronulla halfback Chad Townsend admits the Sharks are resigned to losing boom back-rower Kurt Capewell as the race for his signature heats up.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Capewell's form this season saw him feature as part of Queensland's extended squad for the opening two State of Origin games this year and now he's one of the hottest free agents on the market for next season.[/FONT]
[FONT="]The Cronulla Sharks take on the St George Illawarra Dragons in Round 22 of the NRL. Cronulla are without $350,000 of their usual salary cap allowance next season, leaving a player of Capewell's quality with little choice but to look elsewhere.[/FONT]
[FONT="]The Knights have already expressed interest in the 26-year-old and the Herald understands both the Titans and Warriors have now entered the race for Capewell's signature.[/FONT]
[FONT="]With at least three clubs eager to make Capewell a fixture in their teams next season, the Sharks will be unable to offer anything close to the cash needed to keep the Origin prospect in the Sutherland Shire.[/FONT]
[FONT="]"This year he has excelled and it's actually amazed me that he's still unsigned for next year," Townsend said.[/FONT]
[FONT="]"I think he will be an asset to any team he goes to and I would love him to stay here but I'm not sure what his go is.[/FONT]
[FONT="]"He's told us he would love to stay but it's more about what the best decision is for him and his development.[/FONT]
[FONT="]"We have some pretty handy back-rowers here at the Sharks and Capes is definitely one of those.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Bunker blunder keeps Sharks' season alive in win over Dragons Add to shortlist "But his role here at the moment is just to come off the bench and play that utility role.[/FONT]
[FONT="]"If he went to another team he could potentially start and hopefully his career will go up and up. You can't begrudge someone who wants to do that."[/FONT]
[FONT="]Wade Graham has watched Capewell thrive this season in his injury-enforced absence. He couldn't be more impressed with the way his game has developed.[/FONT]
[FONT="]"Obviously it's pretty well publicised how tight our cap is with the sanctions and where we're sitting at the moment as a club but he's a great player, a quality player," Graham said.[/FONT]
[FONT="]"He's versatile, he can play so many different positions and he plays those positions well.[/FONT]
[FONT="]"He's a great clubman and he's been here for three years now. He has really fit in.[/FONT]
[FONT="]"It would be tough to lose him but it's hard at the moment with the position that we're in as a club."[/FONT]
[FONT="]The position the Sharks are in has also forced the club to look at offloading veterans such as prop Matt Prior.[/FONT]
[FONT="]The Eels are eyeing Prior's situation at the club with particular interest, though the man himself is giving little thought to whispers about his future.[/FONT]
[FONT="]"I haven't really thought about it at all, to be honest. And I'm not really going to think about it," Prior said.[/FONT]
[FONT="]"Whatever happens, happens and I will just deal with it as it comes.[/FONT]
[FONT="]"There isn't much point in putting much thought into something where I don't really know what is going to happen. We'll just go from there.[/FONT]
[FONT="]"Obviously I would love to stay as long as I can. I love the Sharks and I love the area.[/FONT]
[FONT="]"I've had some great times here and I've probably played my best footy here, so I want to stay. But whatever happens, happens. I'll just deal with it when it comes."[/FONT]
