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5 hours ago | Andrew Ferguson
The Gold Coast would field an impressive backline when it debuts in 2007 if it signed the players linked to the NRL's newest club.
Only a week after being invited to be the NRL's 16th team, the Gold Coast has a player wishlist not even Santa could deliver.
Even if the salary cap went up in 2007 as quickly as economists are tipping interests rates to rise, the new boys on the block would still not be able to buy half the players reportedly packed and ready to hit the holiday strip.
Several quality players squeezed out of the NRL who've been plying their trade in chilly England could be tempted by the Gold Coast's inviting climate.
But the club couldn't hope to fit all the stars mentioned in the past week under the NRL's $3.25 million dollar salary cap.
If they did though - oh what a backline.
Fullback: Preston Campbell with wingers Matt King (also a centre candidate) and UK-based Darren Albert.
Centres: Willie Tonga and former test centre Jamie Lyons with Bulldog Jamaal Lolesi another candidate.
Halves: Benji Marshall, who went to school on the strip and Matt Orford who comes off contract with the Storm at the end of 2006.
And with names like big Willie Mason, Luke Bailey, Kiwi Ali Lauiti'iti, Luke Priddis and David Solomona they'd have a forward pack which would command instant respect from any team.
Gold Coast executive director Michael Searle will head to the UK next month to remind expats like Lyons, Albert and Solomona of the lovely conditions on the Gold Coast.
He said the club had been contacted by Lyons' manager over the weekend along with several other player agents expressing interest.
"The call came out of the blue," said Searle after returning from Sydney where he was briefed by the NRL on what was expected of the new franchise.
"We've had lots of expressions of interest from player agents and managers but we won't be doing anything until after the anti-tampering deadline expires.
"We're expecting a lot of players forced out because of the salary cap to come back home."
With a full bank balance to work with, Searle expected his club would be able to compete with some of the big spending clubs chasing the big guns on the the open market.
But he promised the club would act responsibly and not pay players more than their market value.
Searle would not claim Campbell as the club's first big name signing even though the Penrith five-eighth declared last weekend he was coming back home to the Gold Coast.
"Preston would be a wonderful signing," he said.
"He's from the Gold Coast, he's a good style of a person and great talent and of course we'd love to have him."
The Coast is expected to make some player and coaching announcements early in July.