NRL recruitment officer snapped in meeting likely about pursuit of Super League star

We have seen the likes of Leeds Rhinos centre Harry Newman, Wigan Warriors halfback Harry Smith and St Helens star Jack Welsby linked with NRL moves in recent weeks and months and a meeting has taken place that could be about getting one of the three down under sooner rather than later.

The trio were all linked with the NRL in and around the England Test Series against Tonga which was a series that highlighted the class of all three. Newman was excellent in the rain in game two and played his part in three superb tries in the third test including a try of his own.

Smith had already caught the eye with his performances at the end of the Super League season and he showed excellent game management against Tonga throughout the series. Meanwhile, Jack Welsby was an terrific skipper for the first two tests which also saw him produce the pass of the series in the opening test to set up Tom Johnstone.

Recently there was a meeting held in the UK between an NRL Recruitment Director and one of the three players in question.

Now one of the reported interested clubs in the shape of Canterbury Bulldogs have been spotted holding another meeting with their recruitment mastermind Phil Gould present.

It is almost certainly about recruitment and given their recent interest in the trio it is likely that the meeting could have centred around a planned pursuit for one of them.

That said, Gould was clearly unhappy about the picture taking to social media to say: “A photo was taken of me yesterday, in a meeting at Canterbury Leagues Club, and sent to the media for publication. I never care about these things, however, the club is rightfully unimpressed. Leagues Club CCTV has recorded the person responsible.

“He has now been identified. I am told that he is a professional photographer. I have an image of him, and we also have his name. Again, these things never worry me. But I just wonder why a professional photographer happened to be at that particular venue, at that time of day, in a very quiet lounge of the club, and prepared to take the photo that he did?

“I find it hilarious. But I guess that’s the world in which we live. Hope you are all enjoying your weekend.”