Gasnier hasn't shut the door on
union

Barely an hour after his arrival for the Australian Tri-Nations camp, Dragons centre Mark Gasnier conceded he would be "mad" to turn his back on a lucrative rugby offer.

Gasnier will reportedly be the target of a $2 million Australian Rugby Union deal - worth about $766,000 a season - once his contract with the Dragons expires at the end of next season.

While still buzzing over his selection for the 23-strong Australian Tri-Nations rugby league squad, Gasnier said the thought of becoming a dual international was "appealing".

"It's very appealing ... I think any international stage is great," he said.

"If you are lucky enough to represent your country at any level for any sport is a great honour - I don't think union would be any different."

Asked if he had considered closing the door on the rugby offer, Gasnier said: "You'd be mad to close it. If they have something to say I am more than happy to listen.

"I've got next year on my contract (and) at this stage that's all I am really focussing on.

"If and when I have to make a decision then I will do it quickly.

"There is no way I would want it to drag out and the team be distracted by anything because of me.

"All I know is that I am hoping to get a spot in an Australian team and hopefully win a Tri-Nations series."

But his Dragons skipper and fellow Tri-Nations squad member Trent Barrett backed Gasnier to stay with league.

"Obviously rugby would be mad if they didn't try and sign him," he said.

"He's a great player, a great athlete, he's still young.

"But ... I'm sure he wants to stay in league.

"I think they are at pretty long odds to get him.

"But they want the best for their game, they want the best players and he is one of them."

But Barrett admitted the Dragons would be hard pressed to keep their all-star team together with several such as Gasnier off contract next season.

Dragons chief executive Peter Doust recently confirmed that the club would have to take "immediate" steps to get under the salary cap due to performance bonuses.

"It would be nice to keep the whole side together but it's going to be hard with the way the salary cap is and the way our young blokes are developing," Barrett said.

"We know that they are going to attract big money from other clubs."

After the Dragons crashed out of the NRL playoff race in the preliminary final, Barrett said: "I'm ready to play. I feel the best I have felt for a long time.

"We didn't go out the way we would have liked, it was really tough to sit there and watch the Tigers win the grand final on the weekend, knowing we could have been there.

"But that is in the past now. This is another challenge and one that I am really looking forward to."

Barrett has played seven tests, but hasn't played for Australia since 2002.

On his Tri-Nations selection chances behind fellow pivot and skipper Darren Lockyer, Barrett said: "Obviously Locky's done a great job over the last year playing five-eighth.

"I certainly won't be hanging myself if I am not chosen at that spot.

"I will be trying really hard to make the 17 somewhere.

"This is an opportunity I haven't been given a chance to do for a few years, so I am pretty determined to make a go of it. I'm not here to make up the numbers."

More info: www.tri-nations.com.au Discussion: Tri-Nations Forum at http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/forumdisplay.php?f=130