Fien will be a Giant in 2010

Quote :

Nathan Fien will leave the Warriors at the end of the season with the World Cup-winning Kiwis halfback on the verge of signing a three-year deal with Huddersfield.

The 29-year-old has been in the sights of the UK Super League club since last July, when Nathan Brown was recruited as coach soon after it was announced he would be replaced at the Dragons in 2009 by Wayne Bennett.

Fien was close to a deal last year before the Giants shifted their efforts to former Canberra bad boy Todd Carney and they doubled their efforts when Carney was denied a UK visa this year.

The Warriors refused to release Fien, saying it was too close to the start of the NRL season, but they seem powerless, or unwilling, to act now. "We are very close to do a three-year deal with Huddersfield," his agent Jim Banaghan said.

"Unless something miraculous comes from the Warriors in the next few days, I would say it's a given that Nathan will agree to the Huddersfield deal by the end of the week.



"Nathan Brown is determined to have Nathan Fien as part of his plans next year. He nearly had him last year but went for Todd Carney and, as Nathan Brown admits, that was a big mistake in a number of ways because Fien is a better player and, it appears, a better character.

"The Warriors would dearly love to have Nathan Fien as part of their plans, but they might not be in a position to do a three-year contract with him. They would like to wait until about May before making an offer, which is a little bit strange because they have seen him play for four years now and he did play in the World Cup and won it.

"I would have thought they were in a position to make a decision straight away but apparently they're not and, as a result, Nathan may be lost to them."

Fien has been a fixture of the Warriors since his arrival from the Cowboys in 2005, and is only three games short of bringing up his century of games for the Auckland-based club. He has spent time at hooker and five-eighth but was outstanding for the Warriors as a halfback in the back end of 2008 and carried that form through to the World Cup.

He started in the No 7 jersey against the Eels last night, with newcomer Joel Moon at five-eighth, but it's well documented the Warriors have considerable options in the halves for a change.

Stacey Jones wasn't considered because of a calf injury, while Liam Foran, Aaron Heremaia, Isaac John and Daniel O'Regan are waiting in the wings.

Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah said they would be disappointed to lose Fien but weren't in a position to counter the Huddersfield offer. "We're just not ready," he said.

"We haven't entered discussion with him. We have a new combination in the halves and we wanted to see how the season unravels first so, from our point of view, we weren't looking to make any offers until we had seen them play a bit.

"I suspect that if we did lose him, it was because of money we couldn't offer or we weren't prepared to make an offer. Nathan made it quite clear and we appreciate it that his priority is to look after his family [because he has three young children]. But he loves it here."

Banaghan said Fien loves Auckland so much that he intends settling here when his Huddersfield career ends and was hopeful of getting into coaching and player development.

LINK

Great news! Lets hope it comes off - and they start applying for his visa now!!

At Who's expense? Brown, Robinson, Faiumu?

Great news just wonder what the knock on effect will be for our current squad.

I could see Robinson going unfortunately.

With Fien at 7 and Fulton at 13 that would be the two playmkers we need

Is a top player! Would add real strength to us. We are becoming a draw even for top players.

Durham Giant wrote:

I could see Robinson going unfortunately.

With Fien at 7 and Fulton at 13 that would be the two playmkers we need

I think Fein and Fulton would require us to lose someone off he quota. On that basis I would keep robinson and get rid of Faiumu. Chances are if he is convicted at his trial at the end of the season he would not be granted entry back in any event

Yes i am not sure about Faiumu but he showed glimpses of his ability last season but this season seems a bit of a no show. Any ideas why he did not play yesterday.

Durham Giant wrote:

Yes i am not sure about Faiumu but he showed glimpses of his ability last season but this season seems a bit of a no show. Any ideas why he did not play yesterday.

Sure I heard that Faiumu and Eorl got injured during training on saturday morning. But don't think they were serious injuries so don't panic!

Meltham Giant wrote:

Durham Giant wrote:

Yes i am not sure about Faiumu but he showed glimpses of his ability last season but this season seems a bit of a no show. Any ideas why he did not play yesterday.

Sure I heard that Faiumu and Eorl got injured during training on saturday morning. But don't think they were serious injuries so don't panic!

Quote :

Huddersfield Giants have made 2 changes to their 19 man squad with David Faiumu and Eorl Crabtree ruled out of today's clash with Castleford and replaced by Keal Carlile and Shaun Lunt.

Crabtree and Faiumu suffered adverse reactions following a training session and will be replaced by Lunt and Carlile who come into contention for the clash at The Jungle (6pm).

Giants Managing Director Richard Thewlis recieved permission from the RFL to make the late change. He explained:

"Eorl and David suffered reactions and were unable to take their places in the 19 man squad, we requested the changes and recieved full permission from the RFL, and therefore Keal Carlile and Shaun Lunt take their places."

LINK

Durham Giant wrote:

I could see Robinson going unfortunately.

With Fien at 7 and Fulton at 13 that would be the two playmkers we need

I thought Fulton was only on loan for this season and with Fein not arriving til 2010 doubt they will play together. Or do you know something I don't DG?

Presuming Fulton is only a season loan, and no one really knows, we can assume Fien will take his place at the end of the year. If Fulton is here for longer my eyes would turn imediatley turn to Faiumu for the chop. Like I said above if he is convicted he will not be back anyway. Otherwise I think you are looking at Jammer, I think he is in the last year of his contract.

JudgeB wrote:

Durham Giant wrote:

I could see Robinson going unfortunately.

With Fien at 7 and Fulton at 13 that would be the two playmkers we need

I thought Fulton was only on loan for this season and with Fein not arriving til 2010 doubt they will play together. Or do you know something I don't DG?

I saw some press release about Fulton and the way i read it was that he was being released rather than coming on loan. I get the feeling he could come here for longer if he gets in and we want to keep him

Faiumu is a class act. I'd like to keep him.

joek wrote:

Faiumu is a class act. I'd like to keep him.

Me too. Great sidestep.

Quote :

Banaghan, who represents Monaghan, also warned that another of his clients, New Zealand scrum-half Nathan Fien, will pull out of a proposed move to Huddersfield next season unless the Giants can come up with "government-approved financial arrangements".

Is this signing now in doubt due to the loop-hole being closed? It is believed this will cost the club/player 12% of their salary.

I think closing the loophole is fair. If they want to work and live in this country they should pay their fair share of tax.

if the agent is demanding things like this tell him to take a hike, if fien was that brilliant he would be snapped up by an nrl team.. he is a good player coming for his pension , he would be a good signing but not a world beater over a three year period

l´m not to bothered either way, l think McNally is head and shoulders above anyone in the Championship, should not be too much of a step up for him in SL.
with the right coaching, and the right protection on and off the field, it should not take him long to get up to speed, fitness for an 18 year old should not be a problem
a bit more muscle, and stamina training, polish up his act, and away we go.
if their good enough their old enough.

boomer wrote:

l´m not to bothered either way, l think McNally is head and shoulders above anyone in the Championship, should not be too much of a step up for him in SL.
with the right coaching, and the right protection on and off the field, it should not take him long to get up to speed, fitness for an 18 year old should not be a problem
a bit more muscle, and stamina training, polish up his act, and away we go.
if their good enough their old enough.

i might be behind here , but where does mcnally play??? position i meant , i know he plays for whitehaven

Closing this loop hole might be the best thing for League in this country for a long time.

adelaide-giant.no9 wrote:

boomer wrote:

l´m not to bothered either way, l think McNally is head and shoulders above anyone in the Championship, should not be too much of a step up for him in SL.
with the right coaching, and the right protection on and off the field, it should not take him long to get up to speed, fitness for an 18 year old should not be a problem
a bit more muscle, and stamina training, polish up his act, and away we go.
if their good enough their old enough.

i might be behind here , but where does mcnally play??? position i meant , i know he plays for whitehaven

Scrum half in British talk. Sorry, can't interpret that into Ozzie-speak.

d`yer mean this when it sounds like a schoolboy cap size ivor??

BO JANGLES wrote:

Closing this loop hole might be the best thing for League in this country for a long time.

Thats what i was saying. For every Aussie playing in the SL there is one less British person.

Ivor C&G Scarf wrote:

Scrum half in British talk. Sorry, can't interpret that into Ozzie-speak.

Oh 7/3rds init?

Gem Bob wrote:

BO JANGLES wrote:

Closing this loop hole might be the best thing for League in this country for a long time.

Thats what i was saying. For every Aussie playing in the SL there is one less British person.

That said I could name one Aussie who has been worth his weight (and more) in gold this season...

dannablue wrote:

Gem Bob wrote:

BO JANGLES wrote:

Closing this loop hole might be the best thing for League in this country for a long time.

Thats what i was saying. For every Aussie playing in the SL there is one less British person.

That said I could name one Aussie who has been worth his weight (and more) in gold this season...

Fein ain't coming, but I know who might be.........