THE reason why Melbourne have reconsidered their interest in Kieran Foran.

Plus, a top coach’s player swap suggestion that could get the Mitchell Moses deal finalised.

And the latest on St George Illawarra stars Gareth Widdop and Josh Dugan.

Catch all the latest rugby league news in Media Watch!

Round 19

STORM GO COLD ON FORAN

NRL 360 host Paul Kent has revealed Melbourne have decided not to pursue the signature of Warriors five-eighth Kieran Foran.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy had identified the off-contact Kiwi playmaker as a potential replacement for outgoing halfback Cooper Cronk, but club management stepped in.

Kieran Foran of the Warriors. Source: AAP

“Craig Bellamy was very keen to get Kieran Foran,” Kent said.

“The Melbourne hierarchy sat down and they’ve got concerns based on all the stuff that’s happened in the past 18 months off-field. It’s nothing to do with his football.

“They’ve spent so much time and energy building the brand down there, they don’t really want to put it at risk by bringing Foran in and having it all blow up in their face.

“My understanding is that Kieran’s custody issues with his ex-partner and children have been sorted out, which for him to get the required custody, requires him to be in Sydney.”

The result is that the Storm could ramp up their chase of off-contract St George Illawarra playmaker Gareth Widdop who is currently at loggerheads with Dragons management over his asking price.

Dragons captain Gareth Widdop in full flight. Picture: Toby Zerna Source: News Corp Australia

Widdop played in the Storm’s junior system and went on to make 70 NRL appearances for the club.

“I think that is looking more likely that anything at the moment,” Kent said of a possible Widdop-Storm reunion.

PLAYER SWAP FOR MOSES?

Queensland Origin coach Kevin Walters reckons the Wests Tigers should go after Parramatta utility Clint Gutherson if the two clubs agree on a player swap for Mitchell Moses.

Moses, who has signed with the Eels from next season, could be released early to his new club as soon as this week.

While the blue and gold will get a boost, it would leave the Tigers a player short, and that’s where Gutherson comes in.

“Gutherson to me is a football player ... I class him as a good player, he’s done some great things this year,” Walters told NRL 360.

“He’s played fullback, on the wing, halves and centres. He’s one of those guys every club needs.

“He can do a really good job and be one of the better players on the field in three or four positions.”

CHOOKS’ TEDDY BACKUP

Josh Dugan is poised to make his return from a hamstring injury against the Roosters and if negotiations with the Dragons break down, he could be moving to Bondi fulltime.

Channel Ten is reporting that the Roosters have earmarked Dugan as a recruitment target if they can’t land the signature of James Tedesco.

Since tabling a $2.2 million three-year-deal to Dugan, talks have stalled which has opened the door for the Roosters to pounce as several clubs line up for Tedesco.

“They’re both world class players,” Roosters co-captain Boyd Cordner told NRL Tonight of Dugan and Tedesco.

“They play State of Origin and they’re probably the most influential players in their own respective teams.

“Both would be a handy addition to any side.”

JOEY NO SHOO-IN FOR BLUES AFTER ROOS

Raiders centre Joey Leilua has been on fire again and there are calls for him to be included in the Australian Kangaroos side for the mid-season Test match against New Zealand.

Should national coach Mal Meninga select him in the team, it won’t mean he gets an automatic pick in the NSW Origin side, according to Blues mentor Laurie Daley.

“Not necessarily,” Daley told NRL 360 when the scenario was put to him.

“Myself and Peter (Sterling) would have to discuss it and then we would look to see whether he’d fit in with our system in terms of how we wanted to play.”

TRIO KEY TO OTHER RED V STARS

St George Illawarra recruitment boss Ian Millward says off-contract stars Gareth Widdop and Josh Dugan, along with prop Russell Packer, remain top priority for the club amid a player market “frenzy”.

Even though the NRL and RLPA are yet to decide on next year’s salary cap, clubs are rushing to secure talent with a number of big names yet to find homes in 2018 and beyond.

Widdop and Dugan are currently at loggerheads with management over their asking prices and rival clubs are starting to circle.

Josh Dugan of the Dragons runs with the ball. Source: AAP

“Our main brief at the moment is to retain our better players and we feel we’ve done that really well in regards to getting a forward pack together, keeping all our best youngsters and buying a halfback (Ben Hunt),” Millward told the club website.

“We’d like to keep Gareth, he’s definitely a priority for us, (plus) Josh Dugan and Russell Packer.

“All I can assure is we’re still very active in discussions with Gareth and Josh, and we would like to keep advancing them and hopefully get a satisfactory result.”

Millward said they would sort out the Widdop, Dugan and Packer situations before moving onto other off-contract players who include Tim Lafai and Jason Nightingale.

Gareth Widdop of the Dragons is congratulated by Russell Packer after scoring a try. Source: Getty Images

“We’ve only got three offers out at the moment,” Millward added.

“Josh and Gareth, the reason we’ve got those two is obviously because they have a big impact on our cap.

“We decided because they’re with the same agency, along with Russell, we decided we’d wait until we get a decision on those two before we moved onto Russell. That’s been in agreeance with their agent.

Millward said the club were close to locking up young forward Blake Lawrie who has been impressing for Illawarra in the Intrust Super Premiership.

Ben Ikin, Nathan Ryan and Ben Glover discuss the crazy recent twists in the transfer market and Ikin rates his top 10 off-contract stars that may land at new homes.

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SUTTON’S PLEA TO NRL

South Sydney veteran John Sutton has called on the NRL to increase the long-serving player allowance in the next salary cap to encourage more stars to remain one-club players.

Sutton, who has played 14 seasons with the Rabbitohs, is unsigned beyond this season and recently expressed his fear that he could be squeezed out of the club due a combination of uncertainty surrounding the cap as well as the fact other teammates remain off-contract.

John Sutton of the Rabbitohs in action. Source: Getty Images

“In my case that would be great. I’ve been here so long and if they could give back to players who have been at one club that would be great,” Sutton told Fairfax Media.

“I guess I’ve been loyal and I think there should be a little bit more [reward] for players who stay at one club for a long period of time.

“For me it’s been quite easy [to stay at the one club]. I’ve grown up in the area and have never really wanted to play for anyone else.

“But in saying that you look at the players coming through and the money that gets tossed around ... loyalty probably doesn’t [count for as much anymore]. I do see a lot of big money getting thrown around.”

FRONTRUNNER TO BUY KNIGHTS

According to Fairfax Media, Wests Group are the frontrunners to buy the Newcastle Knights.

The NRL has owned the Knights since 2014 after ex-owner Nathan Tinkler fell into financial trouble.

The game’s governing body put the club out to tender last September and announced in November they had failed to secure a suitable buyer who was willing to fork out upwards of $10 million.

Since then, however, Wests Group have engaged in conversations with the NRL.

Knights players celebrate a try. Source: Getty Images

“The NRL are talking very seriously with Wests,” Knights chairman Brian McGuigan told Fairfax Media.

“It hasn’t been done yet, and a number of other alternatives have come out of the woodwork.

“But as we’ve always said, it’s got to be someone who has the best interests of Newcastle at heart and the capacity to run the club for another decade.”

CORDNER: LATRELL WILL BOUNCE BACK

Young Roosters star Latrell Mitchell took his resting “really well”, according to co-captain Boyd Cordner.

The barnstorming centre was overlooked for the Roosters’ game against Newcastle on Saturday after a couple of poor performances against the Sea Eagles and Broncos.

When asked on NRL Tonight whether Mitchell would face the Dragons on Anzac Day, Cordner said: “I’m not sure if he’s going to play or not.

“He took it really well, I’m sure he’ll be the first to admit the past couple of weeks he hasn’t been at his best.

“But a week off and he’s been training nearly every day ... so hopefully that motivates him and makes him more hungry.”

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