Mogg seeks Dragons release

Wednesday 17th March 2010

Australian stand-off Adam Mogg has asked Catalans Dragons to release him from the 20 months left on his contract.

The veteran former Queensland State of Origin player, who turns 33 in July, has become homesick in the south of France and has received an offer to return to his old club Canberra.

"We heard on the grapevine that Adam hasn't been too happy over there so we have spoken to him," said Canberra chief executive Don Furner. "It just comes down to whether we can work something out with Catalans. Hopefully we can come to some sort of arrangement."

Mogg has missed the Dragons' last two matches with a knee injury but his departure would be a body blow to Kevin Walters' side as they look to pull away from the foot of the table.

"He's trying to negotiate a release," said Walters. "It's not good news for the Dragons. He's been a terrific player for the club in his time here and he will be missed.

"I'm not too sure what's happening back in Australia but he's been over here four or five years and it can be difficult when you've not got the support of your family and friends."

Mogg has been a major influence on the Dragons since joining them from Canberra at the start of the 2007 season and made the Super League Dream Team that year.

He qualified to represent France last season but pulled out of the 2009 Four Nations because of injury.

At least the departure would open up a vacancy on the club's overseas quota as they look to plug the gap caused by a long-term injury to full-back Clint Greenshields, who broke a leg in last Saturday's home defeat by Castleford.

The Catalans made a late bid to sign Ulster full-back Clinton Schifcofske, an Australian of Polish descent, but fear they have lost out to Crusaders, their next opponents at the Racecourse on Friday night.