COME HOME NENE
Cowboys make a play for ho mesick Cairns j unior
THE Cowboys are closing in on the first piece of their rebuilding puzzle as Maroons hopeful Nene Macdonald eyes a move to North Queensland.
Macdonald is homesick at the Dragons and contemplating leaving St George Illawarra to link with North Queensland next season.
The Cowboys are on the hunt for a new winger to replace the retired Antonio Winterstein, who pulled the plug on his career immediately a fortnight ago due to a chronic knee injury.
Macdonald (left) is contracted to the Dragons next season, however is weighing up requesting a release to return to North Queensland.
The Papua New Guinea international was raised in Cairns and a move to Townsville would take him closer to home.
MELBOURNE Storm has tabled a formal offer to premiership captain Cameron Smith to play on next season.
The one-year deal, currently before Smith’s manager, Isaac Moses, would put the NRL games record-holder within striking distance of reaching the unprecedented 400-game mark.
Smith, 35, has played 377 games over the past 17 seasons. He eclipsed Darren Lockyer’s (355) long-standing record last year.
The champion hooker could add up to seven more matches to his tally this season.
Storm chief executive Dave Donaghy confirmed yesterday a formal offer had been lodged with Smith’s Sydney-based manager.
The reigning premier received a major boost with Smith cleared of a potentially serious foot injury.
Smith was due to have an ultrasound yesterday after experiencing a “sharp pain” down the back of his heel during last Friday night’s 10-point loss to South Sydney.
He left the field in the 73rd minute and did not return.
Initial fears were the skipper had sustained achilles damage, which was discounted post-game and again on Sunday. Smith, who has been diagnosed with tendon irritation to his toe, pulled up significantly better than expected over the weekend.
The veteran has been cleared to resume full training this week. Storm football director Frank Ponissi said Smith is expected to play on Sunday against Cronulla Sharks.
“He did not require scans because he pulled up so well,” Ponissi told News Corp yesterday. “The injury is a tendon irritation to his toe.”
Despite the scare, it is unlikely Storm will have to manage Smith’s workload for the rest of the season to prevent any further flare-ups.
“He gets managed well regardless of any injury just because of his age and so on … if it was recurring I’d imagine they’d look at that,” Ponissi said.