The only "logical" explanation -and I use the term very loosely- I can think of is that we're just playing ducks & drakes and trying to get WC to up their offer so we'll get better compo....or worse and not logical given our current position,we 're targeting a free agent ourselves so have decided to try and keep him as we'll forfeit the compo anyway....but if it's just because we think he's awesome and invaluable...well then....
Why even bother to get them to up their offer.
Given 500k is the average wage tell them in his first year you blokes front end his contract to 800k and we will pay 300k of it in year one.
That should get band 3 along with the length of contract. They pay less in the following seasons and we get pick 22. Thats a good bit of business right there and they owe us one down the track.
Potential to have picks 20,21,22, and 23.