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A legal feud over Tigers five-eighth Tim Moltzen’s contract negotiations with the Dragons last year threatens to overshadow Friday’s much-anticipated clash between the two clubs
Just a few days before their WIN Jubilee Oval showdown, Dragons chief executive Peter Doust confirmed St George Illawarra would proceed with action on two fronts regarding Moltzen’s decision last year to renege on a three-year contract with the club.
The Dragons were in contact with the Accredited Player Agent body last week, fine-tuning the club’s argument against the conduct of Moltzen’s manager, Martin Tauber.
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Separately, the club is assessing its case for damages against Wests Tigers for that club’s refusal to commit to a deed of release when Moltzen signed with the Dragons.
Doust said the club was in the process of ‘‘quantifying the damages claim’’ against the Tigers, but would not be drawn on a deadline for legal proceedings to begin, or a ball-park figure.
‘‘I’m not prepared to comment on what factors go into quantifying the final figure,’’ he said.
‘‘That would be subject to our legal advice and that’s a too-detailed response for me to make.’’
The Dragons announced on July 8 last year that they had signed Moltzen from 2012 onwards, despite Tauber not securing a written release from the Tigers before Moltzen entered into another contract.
The protracted negotiations were originally referred to the NRL, before the Dragons changed tack and decided to pursue the matter themselves.
Players’ Managers boss Neil Cadigan confirmed yesterday that Tauber’s actions were under investigation following a directive from the NRL.
Tauber declined to comment.
‘‘I’m still gathering information from the parties involved, but as is the case with such complaints, we don’t think it’s appropriate to make comment until the matter is finalised,’’ Cadigan said.
‘‘Certainly, there’s been no determination made by the committee at this stage.’’
It’s understood Doust and Tigers boss Stephen Humphreys have not spoken since the feud broke out last year.
Humphreys returned fire yesterday, signalling the Tigers would vigorously defend their actions.
‘‘It’s a bit hard to comment on hypotheticals,’’ he said.
‘‘Nobody likes the threat of legal action but we’re very confident in defending our actions, if it comes to that.
‘‘We’ve said what we’ve wanted to say about it publicly and we’ve moved on.’’
To which Doust replied: ‘‘I’m not surprised by his generalised comment about defences and circumstances, but in saying that, he was always telling me during the whole process that it would be okay and that a release would be signed.’’
Doust rejected suggestions that the timing of his announcement in July - hours before a Wests game - had any impact on the Tigers’ subsequent refusal to formally release Moltzen.
‘‘The convention has always been, in my view, that the club signing the player chooses a time to make the announcement,’’ Doust said.
‘‘When Newcastle announced Beau Scott last week, I didn’t ring up and whinge and moan about that to Newcastle, because that’s the convention.
‘‘In my view, the agreements were made, in this case the contract was signed by the player and his manager in July and the deed of release was a formality that was to occur subsequently.’’
Moltzen is contracted to Wests Tigers until the end of this season.
‘‘We’ve not had any conversation for beyond that at this point,’’ Humphreys confirmed.
‘‘Tim, his manager and ourselves will let Tim play his football and we’ll see where that leads us in the months to come.’’
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Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/dragons-to-pursue-tigers-over-moltzen-contract-backflip-20120313-1ux8z.html#ixzz1owtuXAiI
Just a few days before their WIN Jubilee Oval showdown, Dragons chief executive Peter Doust confirmed St George Illawarra would proceed with action on two fronts regarding Moltzen’s decision last year to renege on a three-year contract with the club.
The Dragons were in contact with the Accredited Player Agent body last week, fine-tuning the club’s argument against the conduct of Moltzen’s manager, Martin Tauber.
Advertisement: Story continues below
Separately, the club is assessing its case for damages against Wests Tigers for that club’s refusal to commit to a deed of release when Moltzen signed with the Dragons.
Doust said the club was in the process of ‘‘quantifying the damages claim’’ against the Tigers, but would not be drawn on a deadline for legal proceedings to begin, or a ball-park figure.
‘‘I’m not prepared to comment on what factors go into quantifying the final figure,’’ he said.
‘‘That would be subject to our legal advice and that’s a too-detailed response for me to make.’’
The Dragons announced on July 8 last year that they had signed Moltzen from 2012 onwards, despite Tauber not securing a written release from the Tigers before Moltzen entered into another contract.
The protracted negotiations were originally referred to the NRL, before the Dragons changed tack and decided to pursue the matter themselves.
Players’ Managers boss Neil Cadigan confirmed yesterday that Tauber’s actions were under investigation following a directive from the NRL.
Tauber declined to comment.
‘‘I’m still gathering information from the parties involved, but as is the case with such complaints, we don’t think it’s appropriate to make comment until the matter is finalised,’’ Cadigan said.
‘‘Certainly, there’s been no determination made by the committee at this stage.’’
It’s understood Doust and Tigers boss Stephen Humphreys have not spoken since the feud broke out last year.
Humphreys returned fire yesterday, signalling the Tigers would vigorously defend their actions.
‘‘It’s a bit hard to comment on hypotheticals,’’ he said.
‘‘Nobody likes the threat of legal action but we’re very confident in defending our actions, if it comes to that.
‘‘We’ve said what we’ve wanted to say about it publicly and we’ve moved on.’’
To which Doust replied: ‘‘I’m not surprised by his generalised comment about defences and circumstances, but in saying that, he was always telling me during the whole process that it would be okay and that a release would be signed.’’
Doust rejected suggestions that the timing of his announcement in July - hours before a Wests game - had any impact on the Tigers’ subsequent refusal to formally release Moltzen.
‘‘The convention has always been, in my view, that the club signing the player chooses a time to make the announcement,’’ Doust said.
‘‘When Newcastle announced Beau Scott last week, I didn’t ring up and whinge and moan about that to Newcastle, because that’s the convention.
‘‘In my view, the agreements were made, in this case the contract was signed by the player and his manager in July and the deed of release was a formality that was to occur subsequently.’’
Moltzen is contracted to Wests Tigers until the end of this season.
‘‘We’ve not had any conversation for beyond that at this point,’’ Humphreys confirmed.
‘‘Tim, his manager and ourselves will let Tim play his football and we’ll see where that leads us in the months to come.’’
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Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/dragons-to-pursue-tigers-over-moltzen-contract-backflip-20120313-1ux8z.html#ixzz1owtuXAiI
