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UFO Hunter
Despite interest from other clubs Sydney Roosters powerhouse Anthony Tupou is likely to stay at Bondi Junction.
MANLY boss Grant Mayer believes "significant pressure" is being applied on the salary cap by rival NRL clubs after conceding the Sea Eagles may miss out on Roosters forward Anthony Tupou.
While not accusing the Roosters or other teams of rorting the cap, Mayer believes player payments have reached a stage where clubs may have to shed players mid-season like the Knights did last year with Clint Newton.
"With the astronomical money being thrown around to players I believe clubs we'll be forced to rework their salary caps mid year as opposed to the end of the season," Mayer said yesterday.
"Clint Newton was the tip of the iceberg.
"I'm sure if reports that the Wests Tigers (deferring payments to players) are true, clubs will be forced to be more creative with their salary caps to move forward."
Mayer said Tupou appears likely to remain at Bondi Junction, on a deal believed to be worth more than $400,000 a year.
"We are hearing that he will be staying at the Roosters," Mayer said.
"If Nick (Roosters chairman Nick Politis) wants to keep somebody, Nick keeps somebody."
But Roosters CEO Brian Canavan said negotiations with Tupou are "on-going".
"We'd obviously like to retain him," Canavan said yesterday.
"He's come through all the ranks here and is held in high regard as a person and as a player."
Canavan said the Roosters are yet to offer a contract to Tupou.
"Not on paper," he said.
"We've discussed ball-park (figures).
"I can't say any more."
Tigers CEO Steve Noyce was quoted in The Daily Telegraph last month of asking his players to accept deferred payments on their salaries. "Like a lot of clubs, we have rearranged some contracts because of changing circumstances," he said.
"The players have put the club first. They are not pay cuts, they are deferments."
MANLY boss Grant Mayer believes "significant pressure" is being applied on the salary cap by rival NRL clubs after conceding the Sea Eagles may miss out on Roosters forward Anthony Tupou.
While not accusing the Roosters or other teams of rorting the cap, Mayer believes player payments have reached a stage where clubs may have to shed players mid-season like the Knights did last year with Clint Newton.
"With the astronomical money being thrown around to players I believe clubs we'll be forced to rework their salary caps mid year as opposed to the end of the season," Mayer said yesterday.
"Clint Newton was the tip of the iceberg.
"I'm sure if reports that the Wests Tigers (deferring payments to players) are true, clubs will be forced to be more creative with their salary caps to move forward."
Mayer said Tupou appears likely to remain at Bondi Junction, on a deal believed to be worth more than $400,000 a year.
"We are hearing that he will be staying at the Roosters," Mayer said.
"If Nick (Roosters chairman Nick Politis) wants to keep somebody, Nick keeps somebody."
But Roosters CEO Brian Canavan said negotiations with Tupou are "on-going".
"We'd obviously like to retain him," Canavan said yesterday.
"He's come through all the ranks here and is held in high regard as a person and as a player."
Canavan said the Roosters are yet to offer a contract to Tupou.
"Not on paper," he said.
"We've discussed ball-park (figures).
"I can't say any more."
Tigers CEO Steve Noyce was quoted in The Daily Telegraph last month of asking his players to accept deferred payments on their salaries. "Like a lot of clubs, we have rearranged some contracts because of changing circumstances," he said.
"The players have put the club first. They are not pay cuts, they are deferments."