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Newcastle Herald

Wednesday May 21, 2008

By ROBERT DILLON

THE Newcastle Knights have asked experienced prop Mitchell Sargent to shop around for a new club in a move that could help free up cash to re-sign five-eighth Chris Bailey.

Sargent is under contract until the end of the 2009 season but is yet to make a top-grade appearance this year.

He was hospitalised in the pre-season with pneumonia.

The 28-year-old has been captain of the Central Newcastle NSW Cup (reserve grade) team since the second round of the season but has not forced his way past the Knights' engine-room rotation of Ben Cross, Danny Wicks, Jesse Royal, Dan Tolar and Richard Fa'aoso.

Newcastle coach Brian Smith said last night that Sargent's opportunities had been limited "not through any fault of his own" and the Knights had offered to help him find a new club.

If no club emerges, Smith said Sargent would be welcome to stay and his contract would be honoured.

Smith said there had already been some interest from English Super League outfits.

"I've had a couple of really frank discussions with Mitch about where he sat and, to be fair, we've had a pretty good run in the early part of the season and our forwards have been doing a pretty good job," Smith said.

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Sargent facing squeeze as Knights try to keep Bailey

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"He was wondering where he was at and how he was going to fare for the rest of the year.

"In telling him where he's at, it wasn't the sort of news that a bloke at his age wants to hear that he's got to fight for his position and he's probably coming from the bottom of the pack at the moment. . . . at the same time he's had some interest from overseas, so we'll just see where that goes. But I'm more than happy for him to stay if he wants to hang around and fight for his spot."

Sargent, who has appeared in 115 NRL games, including 14 for the Knights last season, said yesterday that his preference was to remain in Newcastle, but he would consider other options if necessary.

"I'd definitely weigh it up," the 2006 Country Origin representative said. "I'm coming towards the end of my career I've probably only got three or four years left so I'm looking at what's best for me and my family.

"I've got to weigh up everything . . . if there's a better opportunity somewhere else, I'll definitely take that."

Sargent said he would even consider a mid-season move if that option presented itself.

"I'd be ready to go," he said. "I don't want to be sitting back playing reserve grade. I need to get out there and start playing NRL or overseas, if I qualify for over there.

"I'd definitely go if there was a better opportunity. If I don't think it is better, I'll stay here and stick it out."

Knights recruitment manager Keith Onslow said yesterday that he was "working through the processes" but was still hopeful of retaining Bailey, who has received offers from the Bulldogs and Manly and attracted interest from Wigan.

Asked if Sargent's release could free up cash to keep Bailey, Onslow said that was a possibility but would depend on the timing.

"It's all a juggling act," Onslow said. "That might help us, but there's also a chance that Bails could sign with another club and a week later Sarge tells us he'd like a release. That's the nature of the business."

Smith said Sargent was pressing for a top-grade call-up and had been 18th man for Sunday's loss to the Tigers.

"That shows everyone, including him, that he's close," Smith said. "But in saying that, for our next game we've got players coming back and he'll probably still be in [NSW Cup].

"When you get to his age, and you're getting that sort of news, you're entitled to know about it so that you can explore other options rather than play out your career in [NSW Cup], which could happen."

Smith was confident Sargent's situation would be resolved amicably.

"As an employer, we'd be crazy and vindictive to stand in his way if he had a chance to get a two- or three-year contract and further himself," Smith said.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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