Each week, the Lurker trawls through your questions in a bid to deliver the truth to his fans.
Also, because that’s what we pay him for.
This week, we’ve brought in The Australian’s chief rugby league reporter Brent Read to sense check Lurker’s feedback.
Check it out below.
ARE CANTERBURY IN THE MARKET FOR LACHLAN COOTE AND SIONE KATOA?
Bennett James: Will Lachlan Coote now go to the Dogs because Moses Mbye has moved on? And is there interest in Sione Katoa from Cronulla?
Lurker says: Coote is trying to come back to Sydney, but most clubs have a fullback locked up. Cronulla would be stupid to let go of Katoa, they see him as a future star.
Brent read says: The Coote one is interesting because he’s asking for a lot of money and the Cowboys aren’t willing to go there. I think they’ve just severed ties with him, he won’t be there next year.
But the Dogs have signed Nick Meaney, the young Newcastle fullback, I think they gave him a three-year deal so it wouldn’t make sense from that viewpoint unless they are thinking of maybe playing Coote in the halves.
But again, they’ve signed Jack Cogger for next year so I’m not sure why they’d be interested in Lachlan Coote. I think his manager is scrambling around because he asked for so much money initially; we’re talking a ridiculous $600,000 to $700,000 – he was never going to get that. Apparently he does want to come back to Sydney but I’m not sure where he’ll end up.
On Katoa, Cronulla had massive raps on him. He’s played some first grade now, I’d be stunned if Cronulla let him go. Cronulla don’t have any salary cap problems, they’re in a pretty good spot.
He was one of their pretty big hopes so I’d be stunned if they let him go, there’s no need to. I don’t think that one’s going to happen either.
HOW CLOSE ARE CRONULLA TO SIGNING AARON WOODS?
Jake Donaghy: Aaron Woods and Shane Flanagan were spotted at a pre-Origin function together. Is he Cronulla-bound?
Lurker says: The Roosters have entered the equation because Cronulla want Canterbury to fork out half of his contract for the next two years. And they aren't budging.
Brent Read says: The deal is on the table. Flanno’s not budging on the figure they’ve got on the table, it’s now down to Canterbury and Woodsy to decide whether he wants to move and Canterbury whether they’ll decide if they want to make up the difference.
The interest is there, the money is there, it’s just a matter of getting the green light from Canterbury and Aaron Woods.
If Aaron Woods wants to stay he doesn’t have to go anywhere, but it’s pretty clear given the ease in which they’re willing to let him go, he’s a little bit on the outer there.
If you’re a player you can dig your heels in and play, but if you’re not wanted and you still get the same money elsewhere at a club where you are wanted, you’re probably going to go, right?