NRL return unlikely for Tuqiri

NRL return unlikely for Tuqiri

3.07.2009
A return to the NRL for Lote Tuqiri seems unlikely, with only one club expressing a serious interest after the ARU terminated his contract.

Of all 16 NRL clubs, only the Gold Coast have said they would actively pursue negotiations with Tuqiri if he was interested in returning to rugby league.

"If he wants to come back to rugby league and if he`s comfortable coming back to rugby league wouldn`t affect his legal case, which it shouldn`t, then we`d talk to him," Titans chief executive Michael Searle said on Thursday.

But any negotiations would depend on the circumstances surrounding Tuqiri`s contract termination with the Australian Rugby Union and whether the former Brisbane, Queensland and Australia winger would be willing to take a substantial pay cut.

"He`d have to take a pay cut, that`s a rhetorical question really, he`s got no alternative but to because no one in rugby league can afford his current salary," Searle said.

St George Illawarra, coached by Tuqiri`s former Brisbane mentor Wayne Bennett, refused to rule out interest, but weren`t actively pursuing the flyer.

Both Tuqiri`s former club, the Broncos, and Parramatta, denied they were in the hunt despite reports suggesting interest.

Eels football manager Andrew Hill said despite Tuqiri`s appeal on and off the field, they were not in a position to make a reasonable offer.

Broncos chief executive Bruno Cullen said the club`s salary cap was completely used up for the next two seasons, regardless if fullback Karmichael Hunt heads overseas to play rugby at the end of 2009.

"Anything we`re able to offer Lote would be an insult," Cullen said.

Another roadblock is the NRL`s seeming reluctance to grant Tuqiri an exemption with the June 30 deadline on 2009 registrations having passed.

"There is an exceptional circumstances clause but generally we don`t register players after the 30th of June," said NRL chief executive David Gallop.

"I don`t know enough about it. I don`t know anything about the reason why he`s been terminated."

But it was the lack of room for a marquee player under the salary cap which forced clubs to say they would not be chasing Tuqiri, despite many admitting he`d be a dream signing.

"For us to even consider him, he`d have to be paid about a fifth of what he`s currently being paid and do five times more work," Bulldogs boss Todd Greenberg said.

"There`s no way he`s going to earn that amount of money in rugby league and that`s something for him to consider."

In 2007, South Sydney came close to signing Tuqiri before he turned down a reported $1 million a season deal.

And the Rabbitohs say they will not be pursuing the dual international again despite their previous interest.

"There`s not a cent. We had room in the salary cap then, but we don`t have it now," Rabbitohs boss Shane Richards said.

"We`re not really interested, we`ve got Rhys Wesser at fullback, Nathan Merritt, Fetuli Talanoa on the wings. We`ve gone in a different direction now."

North Queensland, Newcastle, Penrith, Roosters, Canberra, Melbourne, Sharks, Warriors, Manly and Tigers all said they would not be looking to sign Tuqiri.

It leaves a lucrative rugby union deal overseas with either a Japanese or French club the most likely option for Tuqiri.

AAP

Share this article:

07/03/2009 The Adjudicator verdict - NRL R17
With a full schedule of eight games to worry about, The Adjudicator still finds time to spare a thought for Scott Prince`s budgie smugglers and give the people a chance to vent
07/03/2009 The legend of Mt Ventoux
The 2009 Tour de France will cover nearly 3500kms of gruelling terrain over a three-week period
07/03/2009 Tuqiri mystery deepens
The Wallabies` strict protocols on player behaviour on tour are believed to be behind the ARU`s decision to terminate winger Lote Tuqiri`s multi-million-dollar contract on Wednesday
07/03/2009 The Adjudicator verdict - AFL R14
Round 14 is like Christmas in July for footy fans. The gifts are some cracking games. The annoying uncle with bad jokes is The Adjudicator. Let`s have a laugh together
A nightmare build-up was bad enough, but nothing compared to the suffering that awaited New South Wales at Suncorp Stadium.

When the dust settled on a spiteful clash, Queensland had staked their claim as Origin`s greatest by sealing a record fifth straight Origin series with a 34-6 victory.

But more pain is expected for fiery NSW backrower Luke O`Donnell.

The Maroons faithful in the 52,452-strong crowd went into party mode as Queensland continued their golden run - a 10-4 win-loss record since their winning streak began in 2006.

Only Queensland`s 13-3 record from 1922-26 is better.

It was going to take something special to take the focus away from the Andrew Johns racial row that had marred NSW`s shocking countdown to Origin II - but it became a subplot after O`Donnell`s brain explosion.

The Cowboys enforcer was considered lucky not to be sent off in the 26th minute when the match erupted following his ugly spear tackle on Maroons winger Darius Boyd.

He was placed on report - but that may be the least of his worries.

After O`Donnell`s shocking tackle sparked an all-in, the fired-up North Queensland forward could be seen headbutting David Taylor as the Queenslander was restrained by NSW`s Joel Monaghan.

While O`Donnell appeared to come off second best in the end after Sam Thaiday had finished with him, the Cowboys backrower looks set to have an even bigger headache when he appears before the judiciary considering his NRL rap sheet.

Not much had gone right for NSW in the countdown to arguably their most important clash in Origin`s 30-year history.

And the trend certainly continued from the kick-off.

Days after Johns` now infamous racial slurs rocked the countdown to Origin II, the question remained: ``How would the Maroons` indigenous stars respond?``

The fired-up Suncorp Stadium crowd didn`t have to wait long for the answer.

In the third minute a pumped Greg Inglis - the focus of Johns` rant that cost him his NSW assistant-coaching gig - had dragged two defenders over to score.

By the 12th, Israel Folau - another reportedly in Johns` sights on last week`s Blues bonding night - had latched onto a floating Willie Tonga pass and crossed with one of his first touches of the game to make it 10-0.

Asked how the Johns saga had affected him, Inglis told Channel Nine: ``It showed in my game tonight.

"I was pretty upset about it, and it`s pretty disappointing."

Cameron Smith gave NSW a sniff when he inexplicably kicked the ball out on the full not once but twice.

Yet by halftime Queensland had crossed again through Darius Boyd (35th minute) to make it 16-0.

It could have been worse. Billy Slater`s 31st minute effort was called back due to a dubious forward pass ruling.

It was more of the same in the second half as Queensland kept scoring, and players kept biffing.

The niggling act between Inglis and NSW centre Beau Scott boiled over in the 57th minute when the pair went toe to toe.

But there was no stopping the Maroons juggernaut as they blew out to a 34-0 lead through Tonga (44th), Folau (48th) and Cooper Cronk (62nd).

After Brett Morris was called back in the 74th minute for off-side, NSW finally got on the board through prop Brett White in the final minute, ensuring Queensland did not seal a record-breaking victory over the Blues.

It was the only solace for a badly beaten Blues outfit on Wednesday night.

In another headache for NSW, Paul Gallen was placed on report for a 23rd minute high shot on Nate Myles.

"I told you I was going to get him back," Gallen could be heard saying on the referee`s microphone.

AAP

Maroons embarrass woeful Blues   06/16/2010
09. 2010
Mo Tu Wd Th Fr Sa Su
12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
27282930


Google


Categories: News Headlines Business News Entertaiment News Hi-tech & Science Sport
Global: Americas Europe Africa Australia Asia Middle East