Former Penrith star Craig Gower is investigating a surprise return to the NRL with Canberra or Parramatta. The dual international, who currently plays club rugby union in France and Tests for Italy, is the latest experienced half to be linked with the Raiders and Eels.
Both clubs have said they are considering signing a mature player to mentor their younger halves.
“Craig is having a great time in France but he and his wife have been away for three years now and are thinking about coming home,” 32-year-old Gower’s manager Greg Willett has told Rugby League Week.
“The guy is still playing good footy over there and is in good shape physically.
“There is a lack of experienced playmakers in the NRL at the moment and he’d be great for a club for 12 months.
“He would also be good in a mentoring role for a club like Canberra or Parra who have young halves in their ranks.”
A return to rugby league would mean Gower missing next year’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand after being groomed for the tournament by Italy.
Frenchbobo
Guest
Don't take Gower in the NRL : he play a poor rugby in flop 14. Give their chance to the youngsters grown with league ! -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Gary Russell-Sharam
Guest
I would suggest to you that Graig Gower may not make the World Cup in the Italian team and he has now been dropped to second fiddle in his french team so he is searching around for a gig to finish up his career. Whether he would be an assett to a top league club is very debatable in the twilight of his playing days. I don't know about a mentoring role within the club, while he was here in Aust he didn't have the best moral standards off the field and I fail to see how this would equate with mentoring any young player in any side that I supported. I would suggest that Graig should look around for a NH rugby side to play with for the next year or two and then call it a day, he has had a great career and has been very lucky a few times not to be castigated more than he has. So I would be quitting while I was ahead if I were him and not asking too much more from lady luck. Be thankful for what he has achieved already on the playing field.
CG45
Guest
The worrying thing for me is what sort of form is he in, currently he can't make the starting side and Bayyonne have signed french 5/8 benjamin boyet and he's taken them to second on the ladder after 6 rounds, seems to me that Craig has spat the dummy.
ptovey01
Roar Pro
Stay there Craig. Do a Quade Cooper and come back in 2012.