Clubs in tussle for big Schonig
A PLAYER raid on one of the Northern Pride’s rising stars is being blocked as the club prepares to be embroiled in a bizarre contractual showdown for its star prop.
The Sunshine Coast Falcons appeared to have snared damaging frontrower Darryn Schonig late last week on a one-year deal that guaranteed him a trial match with the Melbourne Storm in February.
But the Pride hit back, declaring the Far North junior was under contract for 2019 after signing a two-year deal with them following his 2017 debut season.
Falcons chief executive Chris Flannery said the club would request a copy of Schonig’s Pride contract from the QRL in a bid to resolve how the former Australian schoolboy representative ended up with two deals for next season.
“The Falcons’ goal at the end of the day is we want to get guys to the NRL, and we believe we’ve been pretty successful at that,” Flannery said.
“If one of our players came to me with the same set of circumstances (as Darryn), I would release that player. That’s just our stance. I don’t want to speak for the Pride though.”
In a bid to sweeten the deal, it’s understood the Far North club is now scrambling to secure Schonig a trial run with its NRL affiliate, the Cowboys.
“I have heard whispers that they’re trying to source something similar with North Queensland,” Flannery said.
“Hopefully, he can get a trial with the Cowboys out of it because he’s good enough.”
Pride chairman Tony Williamson spoke to Schonig yesterday, informing the 22-yearold man mountain he must honour his existing agreement.
“No doubt Darryn’s naturally disappointed but he’s still on the Cowboys radar and he has been for some time,” Williamson said.
“I understand why he was excited by the offer but this isn’t an NRL contract.
“Part of all the Pride contracts stipulate that we will release them if they get an NRL deal. When that happens, I’ll be the first person to shake Darryn Schonig’s hand.”
Schonig’s current representation, Pacific Sports Management, didn’t negotiate his Pride contract and said they were unaware their client was locked in for next season.
“We didn’t do the Cairns deal and Darryn is of the belief he was only under contract for 2018,” managing director Chris Orr said last week.
“If he’s under a contract to the Pride we would take that into consideration.”