CONTROVERSIAL playmaker Brent Crisp has turned down an offer to join Group Nine club Tumut next year.
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Only weeks after winning the Canberra competition, Crisp seemed on the cusp of signing with the Blues, but talks broke down.
It is now expected Crisp, who played for Young in the Group Nine premiership in 2011, will stay in Canberra.
Signed amid great expectation, Crisp had a mixed season with the Cherrypickers before he was axed as captain-coach.
The ex-Canterbury Bulldogs fullback starred for Belconnen in Canberra this year, capping off a stellar season with a grand final triumph with the Scholars.
A Tumut official yesterday confirmed Crisp has been in the Blues radar, but not as a captain-coach.
"He (Crisp) was wanted just in a playing capacity," the official said.
The retirement of veteran Clay Campbell has left Tumut without a coach, but the club is chasing several leads.
Southcity captain-coach Daniel Fitzhenry is keen for Tumut and other struggling clubs to recruit strongly for the 2013 season.
Fitzhenry said the "health" of Group Nine was dependant on clubs securing new talent.
"Even two signings can change the whole dynamic of a team," Fitzhenry said.
"I'd like to see all clubs stronger next year. It would be good for the health of the group."
Two weeks after Southcity lost to Albury in the Group Nine grand final, Fitzhenry said the Thunder deserved to be favourite again for the title in 2013.
"They (Albury) had a great year," he said.
Fitzhenry said the Bulls were "confident" of challenging Albury for the crown.
"Losing a grand final is always motivation," he said.
"We think we can have another good year."
The Bulls are yet to make any major signings, but Fitzhenry said he understood Brothers and Kangaroos had acquired at least "two players" each for next year.