RUGBY LEAGUE
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THE door might still be ajar for a last-minute change of heart but Dragons lock Trent Merrin has no intention of reneging on his three-year deal with Penrith prior to round 13.
The NRL is currently reviewing it’s round 13 ‘‘cooling off’’ rule for player contracts as the saga surrounding the future of Manly star Daly Cherry-Evans – who could yet backflip multi-million dollar deal with the Titans to remain a Sea Eagle next year – continues to drag on.
Cherry Evans has been at the centre of the furore surrounding the controversial clause for the public way his management have gone about the negotiations which has drawn attention to the farcical nature of the rule.
Merrin took a far less public approach to negotiating his future before committing to the Panthers on a three-year deal worth a reported $2 million in March. While he hasn’t been subject to the scrutiny of Cherry-Evans, the dramatic turnaround in the Dragons fortunes and his own strong form under Paul McGregor have prompted rumours Merrin is considering remaining in Wollongong.
Under the rules, Merrin still has four weeks to back out of his Panthers deal but it’s not an option he’s considering.
‘‘There’s been talk about it but it hasn’t played on my mind at all,’’ Merrin said.
‘‘I made my decision at the start [of the year] and I was content with it. That really put it to bed from the start. I haven’t bought into [rumours] too much. I knew I had to get my future sorted and I didn’t really pay attention to those [round 13] clauses in or out of the contracts or anything like that. I knew I wanted to get something done that was going to secure my future and that’s done.’’
Merrin said he’s agonised over his decision in March but said having his future sorted has been behind the form that saw him claim his maiden Test jumper two weeks ago.
‘‘It was something I really wanted to get done before the season started just to clear my head and do the job I knew I needed to do for the Dragons,’’ Merrin said.
‘‘Once I knocked that on head and got my future sorted it definitely put it to bed so I could start the year strong and the way I wanted to start it.’’
It also leaves him with the inside running to claim his first starting jumper for the Blues with incumbent lock Greg Bird to miss the entire series through suspension and Paul Gallen battling to be fit for the series opener.
‘‘[Gallen and Bird] are leaders of the side and they’ve done a great job for us in years before so it’d definitely be a big loss,’’ Merrin said.
‘‘I’ve looked up to them for a few years now and they’ve really helped me become the player I am but if it does come to that and I have to start I’ll take it with both hands and accept it.’’