Dogs begin talks to keep rookie Martin
THE Bulldogs have declared their desire to hold on to boom rookie back-rower Rhyse Martin – one of the few bright spots in Canterbury’s NRL season of disappointment and turmoil.
In his first year at the club, the 25-year-old Cairns product has shown his class in his seven appearances and notched a 24point haul in the Bulldogs’ heartbreaking loss to Canberra on July 7 – an individual record for a player in a losing side.
The goal-kicking forward is off-contract at the end of 2018 and seeking a well-deserved upgrade. Coach Dean Pay said the club, despite its salary cap problems, had begun talks to hold on to Martin.
“He needs to keep improving on what he’s doing,” Pay said.
“He’s come in and played some good football for us. For the last three to four weeks he’s put some good performances in. “We’re going through those negotiations with him at the moment.”
Martin is representative of the Bulldogs’ troubles as they seek to rebuild amid a salary cap squeeze.
For the next several years, the club has been locked out of pursuing marquee players because a host of back-ended contracts – signed under the former administration – have come back to haunt them.
They must find value for money and invest heavily in youth.
“We’ve got to be really careful with who we buy and how much,” Pay said. “We’ve got spots that we need to fill and we’re working through that.”
Despite the Bulldogs’ problems, the term “rebuild” sits uncomfortably with Pay.
He says there is no reason the club can’t be competitive in the near future – pointing to the fact that seven of their 13 losses this year have been by six points or less.
Asked how he would pitch the club to prospective talent, Pay said: “There’s a great opportunity. We’ve got a good base of senior players with Klem (David Klemmer), Jacko (Josh Jackson) and (Aiden) Tolman and Adam Elliott.
“There’s an opportunity here if you want to play first grade.
“I’m not one for picking people on names. If they’re doing the job, they’ll get a start.”
Canterbury will part ways with forward Greg Eastwood at season’s end, freeing up about $800,000 of salary cap space.
Eastwood’s manager Mario Tartak confirmed his client was on the lookout for another club after being told he would not be retained by the Bulldogs.
As well, Josh Morris has agreed to a two-year deal with Cronulla and brother Brett is being courted by the Roosters and his former club St George Illawarra.
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