Filling in for injured Kiwi halfback Stacey Jones in England is not on the cards for the New Zealand Warriors' Brent Webb despite the fallout over his NRL club's salary cap breaches.
After the NRL board penalised the Warriors four competition points and $430,000 for breaches related to the 2004 and 2005 seasons, Webb was linked as a stand-in at Super League club Catalans Dragons for Jones (broken arm) who is out for up to two months.
Speculation is rife in England that Webb has been targeted by the Dragons but the Warriors fullback's manager Jim Banaghan laughed off the rumour.
"I don't know anything about it," Banaghan said.
The Dragons are desperately searching for a replacement for Jones who last week had a metal rod inserted into his right arm after going down in only the Catalans' second game of the Super League season.
The Dragons already have a full, three-strong overseas quota but can de-register Jones and sign another import player during the New Zealand halfback's recovery.
Webb has been named as the hot tip by several English newspapers, forcing the Dragons to issue a statement denying they had already bolstered their player squad.
"Following on recent speculation in local newspapers the Catalans Dragons would like to confirm that they have not signed any additional players," the club statement said.
"Under RFL rules, if a player sustains an injury that will prevent them from playing for a lengthy period of time, such as in the case of Stacey Jones, the club has the right to de-register the injured player and register another.
"The Catalans Dragons are therefore looking at all available opportunities."
Dragons chief executive Grant Mayer said the task of finding a temporary replacement for Jones would be tough.
"We are looking at the options but it is hard to find anyone for a short-term period," Mayer told BBC Sport.
The Dragons have had a disrupted start to their Super League debut season.
Besides skipper Jones' injury, the side has only just appointed a replacement for sacked coach Steve Deakin - Australian Mick Potter.
The former St George, Canterbury and Perth fullback has spent the last four years as St George Illawarra's Premier League coach.
Potter does not receive the Dragons' reins until their third home match against Leeds on March 11.
The Dragons have won just one of their opening three games.
Source: AAP
https://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/536641/669304
After the NRL board penalised the Warriors four competition points and $430,000 for breaches related to the 2004 and 2005 seasons, Webb was linked as a stand-in at Super League club Catalans Dragons for Jones (broken arm) who is out for up to two months.
Speculation is rife in England that Webb has been targeted by the Dragons but the Warriors fullback's manager Jim Banaghan laughed off the rumour.
"I don't know anything about it," Banaghan said.
The Dragons are desperately searching for a replacement for Jones who last week had a metal rod inserted into his right arm after going down in only the Catalans' second game of the Super League season.
The Dragons already have a full, three-strong overseas quota but can de-register Jones and sign another import player during the New Zealand halfback's recovery.
Webb has been named as the hot tip by several English newspapers, forcing the Dragons to issue a statement denying they had already bolstered their player squad.
"Following on recent speculation in local newspapers the Catalans Dragons would like to confirm that they have not signed any additional players," the club statement said.
"Under RFL rules, if a player sustains an injury that will prevent them from playing for a lengthy period of time, such as in the case of Stacey Jones, the club has the right to de-register the injured player and register another.
"The Catalans Dragons are therefore looking at all available opportunities."
Dragons chief executive Grant Mayer said the task of finding a temporary replacement for Jones would be tough.
"We are looking at the options but it is hard to find anyone for a short-term period," Mayer told BBC Sport.
The Dragons have had a disrupted start to their Super League debut season.
Besides skipper Jones' injury, the side has only just appointed a replacement for sacked coach Steve Deakin - Australian Mick Potter.
The former St George, Canterbury and Perth fullback has spent the last four years as St George Illawarra's Premier League coach.
Potter does not receive the Dragons' reins until their third home match against Leeds on March 11.
The Dragons have won just one of their opening three games.
Source: AAP
https://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/536641/669304
