By Melissa Woods
November 14th 2009 @ 2:57am
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Barnes to be top of Melbourne’s wish-list
Wallabies vice-captain Berrick Barnes will be at the top of Melbourne’s wish-list to lead the new Super 15 side but don’t expect an influx of other league players.
The 23-year-old played a season of NRL with the Brisbane Broncos before switching back to rugby and has played the past three seasons with the Queensland Reds.
Signed to the NSW Waratahs for 2010, Barnes has an exit clause and intends talking to the Melbourne franchise before making any decisions on his future.
“It’s something we’ll look at at some stage next year,” his manager Peter Rogers said.
“We’ll talk further with the Waratahs, we’ll talk back at the Reds and obviously with Melbourne.
“We were aware that Melbourne was a possibility (when he signed) and it’s something we’ll have a look at.”
The stocks of the five-eighth/inside centre shot up with his recent appointment as Australia vice-captain, although he was unable to fulfil that role on the current grand slam tour after injuring his ankle at training before the Bledisloe last month in Tokyo.
Melbourne-born Wallabies skipper Rocky Elsom and Paris-based Mark Gasnier, who played league for the St George Illawarra Dragons before switching codes, are also certain to be in Melbourne’s sights.
However leading rugby league player manager David Riolo, who also manages Waratah Kurtley Beale, said league players were unlikely to rush to sign up with the new franchise.
He said those tempted to switch codes were more likely to chase the huge money on offer overseas.
“The rugby blokes will all be interested because there’s only four teams here so it gives them another option.
“I can’t see as many league players changing unless the ARU facilitate it … and the Australian Rugby Union doesn’t have the money in the coffers that they had when they took Wendell Sailor, Mat Rogers and Lote Tuqiri,” Riolo said of past star signings from the NRL.
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