Denis Fitzgerald offers Anti
Tampering solution

Parramatta chief executive Denis Fitzgerald has proposed a one-month "trading window" as a solution to the debate over the controversial June 30 anti-tampering deadline.

But NRL chief executive David Gallop said he doubted it would solve the problem of fans discovering whether their favourite players would be wearing the colours of another club before the current season had ended.

Fitzgerald has called for players to be free to negotiate contracts from July 1 to July 31 in a scheme similar to European soccer's January transfer window.

Any players who fail to secure a new contract in that period must wait until the day after the NRL grand final to re-enter contract talks with other clubs.

"It means there's added pressure on players, if they want to leave, to get their affairs in order in July," said Fitzgerald.

"That's four weeks before the semis start so you don't have any negotiating during the semi-final period and we know it's all over and done with by July."

Gallop said the stumbling block to Fitzgerald's idea was the disenchantment of fans who knew in July that a player wouldn't be at their club next year.

"Fans connect with the game by saying `that's my team'. They don't connect with the game by saying `that was my team' in July," said Gallop.

"That's what's causing distress for fans.

"I've been in Canberra today and they're quite distressed down there (with Ruben Wiki, Joel Monaghan and Luke Davico leaving at the end of this season)."

The majority of NRL club chief executives are opposed to the current system in which players, unless given permission, are forbidden from negotiating with other clubs until after June 30.

Fitzgerald argued that by pushing the anti-tampering deadline back to October, rugby union and English rugby league clubs had "open slather" on NRL players during the season.

"Glenn Morrison probably would've signed up with an English rugby league club if we weren't able to negotiate a deal with him come July 1," said Fitzgerald.

"We've got no control over the ARU or English rugby league clubs."

Fitzgerald, Peter Doust (St George Illawarra) and South Sydney's Shane Richardson are the only NRL chief executives opposed to shifting the anti-tampering deadline.

Doust saw merit in Fitzgerald's proposal: "I think a month probably provides enough opportunity for those who want to test the market."

Meanwhile, the Dragons boss denied rumours the joint venture club was chasing Bulldogs winger Hazem El Masri, saying: "I wouldn't even know who his manager is."

It's Adam Houda, who tonight said goal-kicking ace El Masri was "getting closer" to finalising a deal after meeting with Bulldogs management on Wednesday.

The `Dogs have upped their offer to El Masri since the emotional loss of captain Steve Price to NZ Warriors this week.

"We're honest about our position, which is he wants to stay at the Bulldogs and see out his career there but it must be financially viable," said Houda, who expects the winger to announce a decision on Monday.

"They're starting to talk our language."

In transfer news, Brisbane back-rower Carl Webb on Wednesday night agreed to a two-year deal with North Queensland, knocking back offers from Canberra, Cronulla and Newcastle.

"I think he sees the Cowboys as a side on the way up," said manager Barry Collins on Thursday.

"I believe Carl will play better football in a side not dotted with 10 or 11 internationals because he's basically a quiet guy."

The Knights are now chasing Melbourne's Kirk Reynoldson after missing out on the 23-year-old Webb, who played the last of his four Origin games for Queensland in 2002.