There was confrimation by your coach that Prince is still in for 2014 plans.

[size=6]Canterbury star Ben Barba's $1 million asking price 'ridiculous', say Brisbane Broncos[/size]

BRONCOS legend Darren Lockyer says Ben Barba is not worth $1 million a season as Brisbane boss Paul White labelled his asking price "ridiculous".

The protracted Barba saga appears headed for resolution, with Canterbury CEO Raelene Castle indicating the Bulldogs board would finalise the matter within 10 days.

Reports have indicated Barba's management is seeking a seven-figure package, comprising a base salary of $500,000 annually plus a similar amount in marquee and third-party agreements.

Former Broncos skipper Lockyer says Barba's talent is unquestionable, but believes he must do more to enter the same earnings stratosphere as Test stars Johnathan Thurston, Greg Inglis and Billy Slater.

"He is unproven at five-eighth and that sort of money ($1 million) is excessive," Lockyer said.

"We all know what Ben Barba is capable of and we have seen glimpses of it this year, but he is not at that level yet to command that sort of money.

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"That is the money you give to guys like Thurston, Inglis and Slater, and Barba is not at that level yet.

"He is a great talent but he has yet to play Origin or Test football. That needs to be put into perspective.

"If Ben Barba wants to come to Queensland for family, that should be his priority — not how much money he can get."

The 24-year-old's current Bulldogs deal is worth an estimated $350,000 annually and it is believed the Broncos will table a similar offer, excluding a proposed transfer fee to Canterbury.

The Broncos remain front-runners to secure Barba from next year, but White scoffed at the prospect of paying the reigning Dally M Medallist $1 million a season.

"That is a ridiculous proposition and one we would not even contemplate, simple as that," White said.

"To be fair on Ben, the amount of rumours out there without substance is grossly unfair as there are personal issues at stake here.

"I don't know where the rumours come from, but they (Barba's management) shouldn't consider talking to us if that's what they are asking.

"It's ludicrous for anyone to be talking about us paying Ben Barba $1m a season.

"If Ben wants to come to our club it would be on the grounds that he wants to play for our club and he is prepared to come here on reasonable terms that we both agree on.

"If money is the priority, Ben needs to look at another club."

Castle said she expected a definitive call on Barba, who has requested a release, to arrive soon.

"There are a number of stakeholders to get across, but I would think in the next seven to 10 days we will have a firm position of where we are at," Castle said.

"Player welfare is a hugely important element and that will ensure Ben plays at his best. That is an important part of our consideration, no doubt about that.

"Des (Hasler, Bulldogs coach) is a critical stakeholder.

"Ultimately, the board has the decision to allow Ben out of his contract, but Des, who needs to put together the best team he can, and our fans, need to be considered in this process."
http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/nrl-premiership/canterbury-star-ben-barbas-1-million-asking-price-ridiculous-say-brisbane-broncos/story-fn2mcuj6-1226702370126#.Uhazsz_QtUo

Brisbane Broncos to pounce on tensions between Daly Cherry-Evans and Manly's Stewart brothers - See more at: http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/nrl-premiership/brisbane-broncos-to-pounce-on-tensions-between-daly-cherry-evans-and-manlys-stewart-brothers/story-fn2mcuj6-1226701719785#.UhUwhZIwruM

Some talk that he could play at #6 to fit in Barba. So I'd assume Milford would be #7 then?

Hoffman has turned down a swap deal with the bulldogs. \:d/ \:d/ \:d/

Well it all depends where his kids go I guess. But if she were to move I'd assume he'd go as well.

Bill Harrigan made a very good point about on this whole Barba situation. What happens if in a year or two his ex-partner decides to move away from Brisbane. Will he then want to leave the Broncos early?

I'm certain we could offer some fair compensation to the dogs, young Lachlan Maranta is on the up a real kid on the rise. We should throw in state of origin star Peter Wallace as well.

Was just having a look on the Kennel found this:


Yep those Bulldogs fans are a classy bunch.

Why did he have to go and **** her and have babies so young he wouldnt be going if that whore didnt have kids.

Why is Parramatta Eels coach Ricky Stuart untouchable?

AS Ricky Stuart returns to his Suncorp Stadium graveyard Friday night with one hand on the NRL wooden spoon it is hard to believe the Parramatta coach is not a dead man walking.
This is despite failing to find any improvement in a Parramatta side almost certain to become the first club since South Sydney in 2003-2004 to claim back-to-back wooden spoon.
In fact, if not for last week’s 26-22 win over the equally inept Wests Tigers, Stuart would have created unwanted rugby league history by becoming the first coach ever to lose 11 consecutive matches at two different clubs.

Talk about spreading the Midas touch.
Former coach Stephen Kearney copped the blame of Parramatta’s woes in 2012 but as we have seen this year - with five 30-plus floggings - the Eels are no better off with Stuart at the helm and are still two wins shy of the six victories they produced last year and in 2011.

His overall NRL record is now 120 wins, 120 losses and 1 draw from 241 games.
But since 2009 Stuart-coached football teams have won just 14 of their past 61 games.
To stop the slide and buy time from a dysfunctional board, Stuart plans to sack half the roster and start again.

But his biggest name signing next year is Bronco Corey Norman, who is now struggling in Queensland Cup, while the likes of Gareth Hock, Josh Papalii and Israel Folau all agreed to joint the Eels but subsequently changed their minds.
Two years ago he was labelled NSW’s messiah, but he never delivered a trophy and returned back to the NRL where his coaching record now stands at just one finals appearance in his last seven seasons.

In four years at Cronulla, Stuart got the Sharks to the finals just once, flogged by Melbourne in the 2008 preliminary final.
A decade ago Stuart was considered a coaching genius.

He took the Sydney Roosters to the premiership in his debut season after inheriting a star-studded team that had made six successive finals and were runners-up under Graham Murray two years earlier.

He won a 2005 Origin series with NSW but it all fell apart when sacked as Kangaroos Test coach for presiding over Australia’s shock 2008 World Cup final loss here at Lang Park.
It was the first time since 1972 Australia had not won the World Cup, but it was his verbal abuse of referee Ashley Klein that made his job untenable.

It proved what Queensland fans have long known, that Stuart is the biggest whinger in the game.
That reputation only grew with an expletive-laden spray of referees on the Gold Coast in round six and after a repeat outburst in round 15 his coaching career fines total almost $100,000.

The game’s deepest thinker might have deep pockets but success has been shallow pickings in Queensland, his last trip to Suncorp ending in tears thanks to Cooper Cronk’s miracle field goal in the 2012 Origin decider.
It was the seventh straight loss Stuart had suffered coaching in Brisbane, his last victory coming as Test coach in 2007.

He might have missed the Origin pain with NSW four weeks ago, but on Friday night the Broncos can hand Stuart his own eight straight Lang Park defeats.

RICKY'S RECORD

Roosters

02 Premiers

03 Lost grand final to Penrith

04 Lost grand final to Bulldogs

05 11 wins, 13 losses (46%, finished 9th)

06 8 wins, 16 losses (33%, 14th)

Sharks

07 10 wins, 14 losses (42%, 11th)

08 Prelim finalists

09 5 wins, 19 losses (21%, 15th)

Eels

13 4 wins, 16 losses (20%, currently 16th)

NRL career: 120 wins, 120 losses, 1 draw (50%)

NSW

05, 11-12 4 wins, 5 losses (44%)

AUSTRALIA

06-08 10 wins, 1 loss (08 World Cup final)

1 finals appearance last 7 years


Read more: http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/why-is-parramatta-eels-coach-ricky-stuart-untouchable/story-e6frf3ou-1226698045128#ixzz2c33qEvfA