CHRIS Bailey may need to ask interested clubs to form an orderly queue after his hat-trick of tries for the Newcastle Knights in yesterday's 38-26 loss to Wests Tigers at EnergyAustralia Stadium.
Off contract at season's end, Bailey has already attracted the attention of English heavyweights Wigan and two NRL clubs, believed to be Manly and Canterbury.
There could soon be other clubs clamouring to add their names to that list after yesterday's first-half treble, which should only enhance the classy five-eighth's bargaining position.
The Knights have started negotiations with his agent, Wayne Beavis, but admit they may not be able to match the financial rewards available for Bailey elsewhere.
On his form yesterday and indeed in all five of his top-grade games this season the 25-year-old would seem assured of landing a lucrative deal for 2009 and beyond, wherever he ends up.
Bailey, who carved up the Tigers with four-pointers in the 15th, 25th and 39th minutes, said afterwards he was trying to remain focused but wanted to have his future settled as soon as possible.
"All I'm trying to do is play good, consistent footy and I'll leave all that [contractual] stuff for my manager to sort out," he said.
"I'd prefer it not to drag on, because the longer it drags on the more chance there is it could become a distraction. Hopefully my manager can get it sorted out sooner rather than later."
Appearing in only his 18th NRL game, Bailey said he had mixed feelings about notching a personal milestone in a disappointing team performance.
"Bittersweet, that's the word for it," Bailey said.
"It doesn't mean too much for me when we lose the game.
"It's not quite the same feeling when you walk off."
Knights coach Brian Smith said Bailey's hat-trick "wouldn't hurt" his chances of landing a contract but added, "you'd be foolish if you run your footy club around one game, with regards to anybody's retention or acquisition".
A late bloomer, Bailey joined Newcastle from Nelson Bay in 2006 and said before the season kicked off that 2008 would be "a big year for me. I'm off contract so I guess it's up to me to perform."
He is unlikely to get a better chance to cash in, but whether the Knights can stretch their salary cap far enough to keep him on their roster remains to be seen.
"We're just trying to work out for ourselves what Bails's value is to our club a money value and other clubs will be doing the same thing," Smith said.
"Sometimes they don't finish up the same, or sometimes others finish up valuing more or less than us.
"But we know he's a quality player and he's done some good things for us. This is probably the first time that he's been able to get some consecutive games, and he's showing the benefits of that.
"But he's a terrific young bloke and a great young player."
Caption:
LATE BLOOMER: Chris Bailey. - Picture by Simone De Peak
