Hmm... Signing a Welsh RU player with a complicated contract situation and possible legal constraints.

Haven't we been down this road before? I seem to remember last time it cost us a lot more money than we'd anticipated...

Terry Holmes?

I was trying to think of a joke along those lines but couldn't quite put my finger on one!

Being from Wales I doubt he'd get a work kermit. I 'll get me coat!

Canberra Raiders have been in talks with the former Manly premiership winner Matt Orford since learning he wanted to return from England if he can get a two-year deal in the NRL.

Orford recently visited Canberra and toured the Raiders facilities at Bruce Stadium, where the Australian Institute of Sport is.

Sources in England say Orford was impressed by the set-up, and there is speculation he has agreed to a deal with the Raiders.

But Orford remains under contract to Bradford, and the Bulls are reluctant to release him unless Canberra is prepared to pay a transfer fee similar to the £100,000 ($166,000) they got from South Sydney for Sam Burgess.

Hmmmmmm, doesn't look does it.

If Canberra came up with the £100,000 then would you take the money and allow him to go or would fight off the deal and remind Orford that he's still contracted to the Bradford Bulls?

If he really wants out then we'd be better off taking the money and using it to pay a transfer fee for someone who wants to play for us. No point having a player here who isnt commited.

Well if you look on the Canberra forum they seem to think it's a done deal.

I guess the impasse was making sure Orford got the two year deal down on the table.

I said at the last home of the season that we won't see him next season and the silence coming from Odsal seems to suggest that these rumors have some degree of substance.

£100,000 would help us get Leon Pryce.

This is shock news. I've not heard any rumours about this or anything.

which would solve standoff problem but leave us looking for a halfback although we'd then a quota spot available so we could look down under. Or maybe a Pryce/Obst pairing would be way to go.

I must admitt that I only found out about Orford potentially going to the Australian captial this morning while watching the NRL play-offs.

Canberra lead Penrith 18-12 at half-time away at CUA.

Matthew Elliot doesn't look to have aged one bit