Elia and Williams assess league playing futures

Press, 29 July 1989, Page 12

Elia and Williams assess league playing futures

New Zealand rugby league test stars Darrell Williams and Mark Elia will both consider offers they have received to lure them away from their Sydney clubs next season. Elia, who scored two tries in this month’s series against Australia, denied a Sydney newspaper report that he had settled his dispute with Can-terbury-Bankstown over a SAIO,OOO (SNZI3,OOO) fine imposed on him for missing training. Williams, rated New Zealand’s player of the test series for his tremendous defensive work at fullback, is being chased to play for Penrith after his three-year contract with Manly expires at the end of the season. Elia has been selected for Canterbury’s first grade side to play Illawarra tomorrow but said he had been surprised to read the reported statement of Canterbury chief executive Peter Moore that he had “come to a suitable arrangement” with the club over his fine.

“Action will be taken against the fine,” the winger said. “It’s just that I’ve not got the wheels in motion yet, but I will be sending letters off to the solicitors.” Although Mr Moore was manager of the Australian team touring New Zealand, Elia said he did not discuss

the dispute with him during the tour. Elia said he had signed only a one-year contract with Canterbury, last year’s Sydney champion team, even though the club had wanted him for three years and he had already decided he would leave before his dispute flared up. “I am a freelance football player, so there is no transfer fee on me and I can go to any club in Sydney or England,” he said. He had been approached by four English clubs so far, but said his first consideration was to make the Kiwi tour of Britain later this year. Penrith chief executive Ross Gigg has publicly expressed interest in signing Williams, but the versatile back said he had not had a chance to respond to Penrith’s messages left for him to contact the club. Williams said he would be happy to play under Graham Lowe, who takes over as coach at Manly at the end of the season when Williams’ three-year contract expires.

“It’s just a matter of how negotiations go,” he said. “I would prefer to stay at Manly but obviously I’d have to look at other offers. If Penrith is offering a lot more money I’d seriously consider it." Meanwhile, the Manly rugby league club’s board of. directors is set to halve Paul Vautin’s $50,000 transfer fee, paving the way for him to join Brisbane next year. A poll of Manly’s nine board members showed most believed the club had been too harsh in imposing the maximum clearance fee for Vautin when it became clear yesterday he would not be at the club next year. Sea Eagles chief executive, Doug Daley said a special board meeting will be called probably at the week-end. It is certain the move to cut Vautin’s transfer fee to $25,000 will be ratified then. “I've had discussions with some board members today and it’s been suggested that in light of recent occurences we review the situation,” Mr Daley said.