Reports indicate that Bulldogs youngster Moses Mbye has agreed a staggering contract worth $750,000 a season, which will tie him to the Bulldogs until the end of 2020.
The 22 year-old has shown some brilliant signs during his 32 games in the top grade, however the big money contract will do no favours to Des Hasler’s plans to see his young star fly under the radar.
Mbye will be entrusted with the number seven jersey on a fulltime basis following NSW Origin half Trent Hodkinson’s shift north to Newcastle.
Hasler played his hand last season when he all but allowed Hodkinson to walk away from the club to accommodate the talented Mbye.
As mentioned previously, Mbye has shown he is quite a player, but the large majority of his games have come either from the bench or in the outside backs.
Not only is a 22 year-old being shifted to the most important position on a rugby league field, but he is doing so on the back of reports of a $750,000 a season deal.
Des Hasler has proven himself to be one of the greatest modern day coaches when it comes to unearthing young halves.
Daly Cherry Evans, Kieran Foran and Trent Hodkinson all became stars under Hasler’s watch, so you’d have to be brave to bet against Mbye succeeding in the role also.
That being said, Dog’s fans are going to be far less patient than in normal circumstances knowing that Hodkinson was allowed to walk, and that Mbye is taking up three quarters of a million dollars in their salary cap.
Mbye was selected recently to take part in the ill-fated emerging Maroons camp, showing that those in the know see him as a future rep player.
Given the circumstances, he’ll have to learn to play under immense pressure from a very early stage in his career, something that could see him either flourish or flounder.
Considering the position he has been placed in, he really has no choice but to flourish.
Bird Bluff?
I have been quite vocal on social media and am now making it official in writing, I believe Shane Flanagan’s ploy to shift Jack Bird to fullback is a clever bluff.
Bird debuted in his supposed new role in his side’s trial draw against the Sea Eagles, and turned in a mixed bag.
He completed a try saving tackle and scored a try showing some brilliant back up positional awareness, but was caught out on a few occasions, and spilled a routine catch in goal.
The 2015 rookie of the year may very well start the season wearing the number one however I don’t expect it to last.
Former Dally M medalist Ben Barba has shown some brilliant pre-season form, scoring two brilliant tries in the nines, and playing a starring role in the All Stars game this past weekend.
The third man in contention for the role vacated by Michael Gordon’s shift to the Eels is Valentine Holmes, arguably the most exciting youngster in the game.
Holmes scored 16 tries on the wing for the Sharks in 2015 and added a threat out wide that the Sharks hadn’t possessed in many years.
He looked brilliant in his short stint at the back in the trial, scoring a try and setting up two brilliant opportunities which were spilled by his outside support.
For the Sharks to maximise their chances of success they need Barba, Bird and Holmes all playing 80 minutes. The only they can do that is with Barba at the back, Bird in the centres and Val on the wing.
Although he only scored two tries, Gerrard Beale’s combination with Holmes is one that should not be broken, allowing Bird to shift to the centres inside Sosaia Feki.
Throw in a resurgent Barba, and new recruits Maloney and Townsend, and there’s suddenly plenty of points in the Sharks.
Bird has all the attributes to become a top fullback in the game, but his role in 2016 looks like it will come in the centres.
It’s a good headache for Flanagan to have, with three talented players, two being youngsters, all who want to get their hands on the ball as much as possible.
Panthers leading the way
The Penrith Panthers have released some amazing membership opportunities over the past fortnight, and in my opinion, are leading the way in terms of options for membership.
As well as offering a very clever and extremely successful “one game membership” they have also released a new membership for under $200 that includes a Panthers jersey and tickets to six games.
Considering NRL jerseys are selling for $160, that’s a brilliant deal they’ve put together.
I still don’t believe the side will be there come finals time, but off the field they are leading the way in a lot of areas.
I’m not a Panthers fan, but that is impressive.
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