General This guy wants to buy some of our Warriors

[BiggerD]

the billionaire owner of Melbourne Cup prospect Mount Athos has revealed an ambitious bid to raid the NRL of its superstars for his Super League club Salford -starting with Sonny Bill Williams.

Speaking from England ahead of his arrival in Melbourne on Friday, English entrepreneur Marwan Koukash told Fairfax Media that he will host several player managers and league officials during the Cup carnival.

“There's a few players on my shopping list,” said Koukash, who bought the struggling Red Devils a year ago. “Whether I win the Melbourne Cup or not, I will be buying marquee Australian players.

“About 12 months ago, I knew nothing about rugby league. I'd never been to a match in my life. Some people would still say I don't know much about rugby league. But I know how to build a winning team and a winning culture.


“The club I took over was the worst in the competition. The culture stunk. I changed everybody, including the players. I brought in 15 quality players, some of whom would walk into many NRL teams. For 2015, my plan is to win the competition, which will definitely mean I will have to raid your competition and take one or two of your better players.”

Asked which players he would target, he said: “To be fair to them, I'd rather not mention their names. But we are talking about the superstars of rugby (league).”

It is understood Koukash is eyeing off Kiwi stars Shaun Johnson, Simon Mannering and Ben Matulino.

He also wants to convince Williams to stay in the code.

Earlier this year, he launched an audacious $1 million bid for the dual-international, but negotiations broke down.

Typical of his aggressive style, Koukash has not given up hope of signing Williams for 2015, even though the 28-year-old is strongly tipped to head back to the All Blacks for the Rugby World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, where Sevens will be included for the first time.

“Sonny Bill, we'd be interested in him if he wanted to change his mind and stay in the league,” Koukash said. “We would love to get him.”

Koukash has bought a platoon of stars for the 2014 Super League season, including veteran Adrian Morley, English internationals Rangi Chase and Gareth Hock, and NRL players Junior Sa'u and Lama Tasi.

"I want to finish top four next year," he said. "And win it the year after."



Read more: https://www.smh.com.au/sport/horser...uper-league-20131030-2wfou.html#ixzz2jEYz04pE

 

[Jordan G]

He tried Williams previously, took a shot at Tomkins, who knows who else he's waved the coin at. Fact is despite all the money he still has to sell the idea that the players will be moving to Salford to play for a team that hasn't really shown much on the field.

He'd be much better off splashing cash to improve everything within the club and build a strong core of SL players before trying to bring in the so called "superstars". His quick fix attitude seems to highlight his lack of league understanding.

 

[drake83]

Does he not understand the concept of a salarycap??

 

[Miket12]

Does he not understand the concept of a salarycap??

He's hired the storm accountants - expect to see a new 'sponsors' tent set up next to the studium and a couple of WAGS 'cleaning' the club's offices.

 

[Sup42]

He uses Graham Lowe to wheel and deal on the clubs behalf. There was that article about Tomkins , with Lowe spinning as only he can about how Kevin Locke is a superior full back and that the Warriors are foolish buying Tokmins.

Where was you Locke bid Lowey ?

 

[Buck777]

He uses Graham Lowe to wheel and deal on the clubs behalf. There was that article about Tomkins , with Lowe spinning as only he can about how Kevin Locke is a superior full back and that the Warriors are foolish buying Tokmins.

Where was you Locke bid Lowey ?

With all respect to graham lowes history in league.....he's lost his marbles.

 

[Sup42]

With all respect to graham lowes history in league.....he's lost his marbles.

And with no respect to our tweeters Lowey has medical reasons for the brain snaps.

Interesting Lowe headed the Salford bid for Sam Tomkins , huge money , Salary cap was not an issue for them.

 

[Buck777]

And with no respect to our tweeters Lowey has medical reasons for the brain snaps.

Interesting Lowe headed the Salford bid for Sam Tomkins , huge money , Salary cap was not an issue for them.

Yes, that is true....I do respect the 80's graham lowe. Changed NZ league forever. Just forget the loss to PNG lol

 

[surfin]

Yes, that is true....I do respect the 80's graham lowe. Changed NZ league forever. Just forget the loss to PNG lol

Too often for the worse though. Nothing but a self promoting gumby.

 

[Viking]

Koukash must be oblivious to the foreign player quota too.

Surely his nickname is Cash Cow.

 

[BiggerD]

A new Billionaire like those Russian oligarchs who bought English Soccer teams
that purchase teams like Chelsea Fc

Im just wondering who the player agent is. or are... Obviously they will get a good slice of the $$

Gotta admit..its great for the Player who gets the $$

Abit sad for the fans..

However, think how Wigan supporters feel with Tomkans heading our way

(University teaches you to critically think)

 

[Gee]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/9348554/Warriors-trio-going-nowhere-Wayne-Scurrah

Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah has poured cold water on the chances of Salford's billionaire owner Marwan Koukash luring three Kiwi NRL stars to Super League.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Koukash was preparing to target Warriors skipper Simon Mannering, mercurial halfback Shaun Johnson and world-class prop Ben Matulino to bring to his Super League club.

Earlier this year, it was reported that he launched a $1 million bid for the services of cross-code star Sonny Bill Williams, but came up with nothing.
Koukash, who took over Salford last year, was understood to have targeted star English fullback Sam Tomkins earlier this season, but the former Wigan man has since joined the Warriors on a two-year deal.

Scurrah told Fairfax Media the rumours did not concern him, adding that getting top-level players to join a club like Salford, regardless of money, would be a tough sell.

"It's certainly his desire to build the club and make it much stronger, but our players are on contract - and players [who] genuinely have a desire to play in the NRL," he said.

"Whether players want to join clubs like Salford or not, I have my doubts. Those players are all contracted, anyway."

Mannering and Matulino are under contract at the Warriors until the end of 2015, while Johnson is off contract at the end of next year.

"He's probably seen our guys up there in a couple of games and thought 'these guys are pretty cool'," Scurrah said.

"But wanting them - and realistically having a chance to get them - are two different things."

Salford has made a host of signings for the 2014 Super League season, including veteran Adrian Morley, English stars Rangi Chase and Gareth Hock - and former NRL players Junior Sa'u and Lama Tasi.

Ex-Warriors utility forward Steve Rapira is also heading to Salford to take up a two-year contract. Former Kiwi internationals Tony Puletua and Francis Meli also ply their trade there.

The Brian Noble-coach side finished 14th in the Super League last season.