Cash isn't king, Sailor tells Poore
St George Illawarra winger Wendell Sailor has urged off-contract teammate Justin Poore to put premierships before dollars and re-sign with the Dragons.
The in-form Poore has become one of the hottest properties on the free-agent market with Cronulla and Parramatta both putting three-year deals worth in excess of $1 million on the table.
The Dragons offer is believed to be almost $100,000 per year less, but Sailor - who won grand finals with Brisbane in 1997, 98 and 2000 - said no dollar value could be put on premiership success.
"I know at the Broncos I played for a lot of years there and you take a lot less to play in premiership sides," Sailor said.
"I was lucky to win a couple (of premierships) ... they're priceless, you can't put a figure on it.
"You've got to weigh up whether you want the money or you want to be involved in finals football and that's one of the things that enticed me to stay at the Broncos a long time.
"This club can build towards that over the next couple of years ... I'd like to see a lot of those players that have come through the system like Justin Poore take a little bit less and stay.
"I'd hate to see him don a Parramatta jersey or a Cronulla jersey next year but that's entirely up to him - whatever he does I'll support him."
Sailor knows just how tempting the almighty dollar can be having taken the money and run with his four-year dalliance in rugby union from 2002-06.
But Sailor had spent nine seasons with the Broncos before jumping ship, where he bought into the same culture former Broncos coach Wayne Bennett has now attempted to instil at the Dragons.
"That's Wayne's big play - take a bit of a pay cut, win premierships and play together as mates," Sailor said.
"In a short time he's brought a pretty good camaraderie here ... Wayne makes you a better person not just a better footballer."
While Poore looks headed elsewhere despite Sailor's pleas, the dual international said he was willing to forfeit a new deal with the club if it meant retaining fellow winger Brett Morris.
The Dragons re-signed centre Beau Scott to a three-year deal on Wednesday to make it three key signatures in five days following the retention of Dean Young and Ben Creagh.
That leaves Morris as next cab off the rank with the Bulldogs chasing hard to reunite him with twin brother Josh in the blue and white in 2010.
But Sailor said the Dragons should do all the could to retain Brett, even if it came at his expense.
"I'm not saying I'll just take whatever's left, but I'd like to see them sign Brett Morris," Sailor said.
"It was a shame to lose Josh Morris, I'd love to see them keep Brett Morris.
"I think the club knows I feel that way .. they (Poore and Morris) should be the priorities."
Scott, who has been a defensive standout since switching to right centre, will remain in the red and white through to the end of the 2012 season.
"It's good to get it sorted out for another couple of years," Scott said.
"It's obviously in the back of your mind but the sooner it's over and done with the better."
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