Knights Say Kurt Ready To Sign On Until 2012
Newcastle Herald
Wednesday March 5, 2008
THE Knights are on the verge of securing NSW and Australian utility back Kurt Gidley until the end of 2012 and hope to announce the deal before they open their NRL season against Canberra at EnergyAustralia Stadium on March 15.
"We've made an offer to Kurt and been in contact with his management. [Coach] Brian Smith and [operations manager] Warren Smiles had a good meeting with Kurt last Friday," Knights chief executive Steve Burraston said."It's all very positive at the moment. We're hoping we can finalise a deal before we kick a footy again, and I think that we're in a very strong position to do that."Kurt wants to stay, we want to keep him, we believe we're in the ballpark with the offer we've made and we're just tidying up a few loose ends, so hopefully we can close the deal before we play Canberra."AAP reports: The NRL's marquee opening-round clash remains in danger of being forced to find a new home. SCG Trust officials yesterday confirmed the Wests Tigers-St George Illawarra clash on Sunday, March 16 would be moved to the Sydney Football Stadium in the event of a clash with the Pura Cup cricket final.NSW remain favourites to host the final. The Blues are ahead of Victoria on run quotients heading into the final round of the regular season.Dragons prop Ricky Thorby will miss the first two rounds of the NRL season after pleading guilty to a dangerous throw charge from the Charity Shield loss to South Sydney. Thorby was placed on report for the lifting tackle on Souths centre Yileen Gordon in the 27th minute of the 24-20 defeat at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.
© 2008 Newcastle Herald