BrisVegas
28-05-08, 01:08 AM
http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/lewis-blow-adds-to-rabbits-woes/2008/05/27/1211654031502.html?page=2
Lewis blow adds to Rabbits' woes
Andrew Webster and Jamie Pandaram | May 28, 2008
FOUNDATION club South Sydney sunk deeper into the mire last night, with the prized signing of Penrith star Luke Lewis unlikely and a player clean-out on the agenda.
Amid claims from senior South Sydney players that they have been "kept in the dark" about dramatic changes to the club - in particular the appointment of veteran coach John Lang as a football consultant - it is also understood halves Jeremy Smith and Ben Rogers are poised to walk out.
Despite meeting co-owner Russell Crowe yesterday, Lewis is set to rebuff a lucrative four-year deal to join Souths and seems certain to stay at Penrith.
"I don't want to go into the details but a family situation has come up that is pretty upsetting," Lewis told the Herald last night. "What's happening at Souths has nothing to do with it. If it wasn't for this [family issue], I would be there for sure. Meeting with Russell was a great experience and we hardly talked about football. But football is the least of my concerns at the moment."
While new chief executive Shane Richardson remained confident about securing the former Kangaroos and NSW back line star, Panthers director Greg Alexander said on 2UE last night he was "reasonably confident" Lewis would stay.
Penrith have until round 13 to match Souths' offer, but Lewis insisted: "I expect a decision by Thursday at the latest."
Missing out on the signature of Lewis is the kick in the teeth Souths didn't need, given the turmoil of this week.
Smith, who has not been chosen in first grade since round six, is expected to sign with a rival club or head to England shortly after being told he will not be needed at the Rabbitohs next year. Playmaker Rogers is also believed to be on the outer.
And club insiders revealed a player clean-out was imminent, with co-captain David Kidwell and veteran players Dean Widders, Nigel Vagana and Shannon Hegarty believed to be under pressure to leave after their contracts expire. Vagana is yet to decide if he wants to stay, while Kidwell, Widders and Hegarty have one year remaining on their deals.
As revealed in the Herald yesterday, coach Jason Taylor had an explosive meeting with Crowe at a Darlinghurst cafe on Monday morning and, according to an observer, "was saying this bloke has bloke let me down. That bloke let me down".
Richardson last night denied a clean-out was on the cards. "There's no truth in that at all. It's quite amazing some of the stuff that goes around."
He also insisted that Lang's appointment wasn't "a job for the boys", while Kidwell was not clear what the premiership-winning coach would do.
Another senior player, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said it was frustrating not to have been consulted on the decision.
"It is hard, it's a bit frustrating. I think this will be cleared up pretty soon as long as they don't keep us in the dark too long," he said. "JT was saying that [Lang] would not have that much to do with what we do on the field. I'm not too sure what John Lang will actually do but I don't think he is going to be involved in the footy side of things."
Richardson said Lang would not have a hands-on role and would be dealing "with football matters, not coaching".
Asked if he had been given the job because of their long association - the pair have worked together at Brisbane Easts, Cronulla and Penrith - Richardson said: "It's not a case of jobs for the boys. John Lang is one of the most successful coaches in the game. We're not in a good enough position to ignore someone of his calibre.
"John won't be working with the day-to-day running of the team but putting in place the best possible systems to make sure we succeed."
Meanwhile, Souths hotly disputed claims by former chairman George Piggins on broadcaster Alan Jones's radio program yesterday morning that its charity arm, Souths Cares, has not accounted for $2 million of Federal Government funding to find jobs for indigenous people.
---While a player cleanout is what's need, it should hav been done before the majority of off contract players were signed for next year. Not much left on the market now.
Lewis blow adds to Rabbits' woes
Andrew Webster and Jamie Pandaram | May 28, 2008
FOUNDATION club South Sydney sunk deeper into the mire last night, with the prized signing of Penrith star Luke Lewis unlikely and a player clean-out on the agenda.
Amid claims from senior South Sydney players that they have been "kept in the dark" about dramatic changes to the club - in particular the appointment of veteran coach John Lang as a football consultant - it is also understood halves Jeremy Smith and Ben Rogers are poised to walk out.
Despite meeting co-owner Russell Crowe yesterday, Lewis is set to rebuff a lucrative four-year deal to join Souths and seems certain to stay at Penrith.
"I don't want to go into the details but a family situation has come up that is pretty upsetting," Lewis told the Herald last night. "What's happening at Souths has nothing to do with it. If it wasn't for this [family issue], I would be there for sure. Meeting with Russell was a great experience and we hardly talked about football. But football is the least of my concerns at the moment."
While new chief executive Shane Richardson remained confident about securing the former Kangaroos and NSW back line star, Panthers director Greg Alexander said on 2UE last night he was "reasonably confident" Lewis would stay.
Penrith have until round 13 to match Souths' offer, but Lewis insisted: "I expect a decision by Thursday at the latest."
Missing out on the signature of Lewis is the kick in the teeth Souths didn't need, given the turmoil of this week.
Smith, who has not been chosen in first grade since round six, is expected to sign with a rival club or head to England shortly after being told he will not be needed at the Rabbitohs next year. Playmaker Rogers is also believed to be on the outer.
And club insiders revealed a player clean-out was imminent, with co-captain David Kidwell and veteran players Dean Widders, Nigel Vagana and Shannon Hegarty believed to be under pressure to leave after their contracts expire. Vagana is yet to decide if he wants to stay, while Kidwell, Widders and Hegarty have one year remaining on their deals.
As revealed in the Herald yesterday, coach Jason Taylor had an explosive meeting with Crowe at a Darlinghurst cafe on Monday morning and, according to an observer, "was saying this bloke has bloke let me down. That bloke let me down".
Richardson last night denied a clean-out was on the cards. "There's no truth in that at all. It's quite amazing some of the stuff that goes around."
He also insisted that Lang's appointment wasn't "a job for the boys", while Kidwell was not clear what the premiership-winning coach would do.
Another senior player, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said it was frustrating not to have been consulted on the decision.
"It is hard, it's a bit frustrating. I think this will be cleared up pretty soon as long as they don't keep us in the dark too long," he said. "JT was saying that [Lang] would not have that much to do with what we do on the field. I'm not too sure what John Lang will actually do but I don't think he is going to be involved in the footy side of things."
Richardson said Lang would not have a hands-on role and would be dealing "with football matters, not coaching".
Asked if he had been given the job because of their long association - the pair have worked together at Brisbane Easts, Cronulla and Penrith - Richardson said: "It's not a case of jobs for the boys. John Lang is one of the most successful coaches in the game. We're not in a good enough position to ignore someone of his calibre.
"John won't be working with the day-to-day running of the team but putting in place the best possible systems to make sure we succeed."
Meanwhile, Souths hotly disputed claims by former chairman George Piggins on broadcaster Alan Jones's radio program yesterday morning that its charity arm, Souths Cares, has not accounted for $2 million of Federal Government funding to find jobs for indigenous people.
---While a player cleanout is what's need, it should hav been done before the majority of off contract players were signed for next year. Not much left on the market now.