Jeff Lima

[Chris]

Here's throwing a spanner in the whole situation…..

I'm not leaving Storm, insists Lima
AAP - September 28, 2009, 3:22 pm

Several Melbourne players will have their last game in a Storm jersey in Sunday's NRL grand final but prop Jeff Lima is adamant he's not one of them.

The 27-year-old New Zealand international has been linked with a move to Wests Tigers, which would ease the pressure on the Storm's salary cap.

However Lima said on Monday he was staying put and got a laugh out of the story when he read it in a magazine last week.

"I don't know where you've got that from, I've got two more years with the club," Lima said.

"That's the first I've heard of it, when I saw it in Rugby League Week last week and I thought it was pretty funny."

Lima, the club's joker, left a few journalists scratching their heads at the Storm's media open day on Monday when he switched identities with fellow prop Adam Blair and he also jested Blair may be responsible for his rumoured departure.

"It was probably Adam who said something stupid to the media about it," Lima said.

 

[fergiefurr]

**I'm not leaving Storm, insists Lima**
By Melissa Woods AAP Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:05:44

Several Melbourne players will have their last game in a Storm jersey in Sunday's NRL grand final but prop Jeff Lima is adamant he's not one of them.

The 27-year-old New Zealand international has been linked with a move to Wests Tigers, which would ease the pressure on the Storm's salary cap.

However Lima said on Monday he was staying put and got a laugh out of the story when he read it in a magazine last week.

"I don't know where you've got that from, I've got two more years with the club," Lima said.

"That's the first I've heard of it, when I saw it in Rugby League Week last week and I thought it was pretty funny."

Lima, the club's joker, left a few journalists scratching their heads at the Storm's media open day on Monday when he switched identities with fellow prop Adam Blair and he also jested Blair may be responsible for his rumoured departure.

"It was probably Adam who said something stupid to the media about it," Lima said.

Plucked from the relative obscurity of rugby league in France in 2006, Lima will be lining up for his third grand final with the Storm.

He said that the Melbourne coaching staff, led by Craig Bellamy, had the a rare ability to create stars from average players.

"The coaching staff seem to teach us things that turn stars into superstars and part-timers into stars.

"When I first came to Melbourne I didn't know what was going on," he said.

"I thought I was playing good football but it obviously wasn't good enough.

"They sat me down and told me the things I need to improve to be a better player and a better person.

"You've just got to listen to what they say and work hard and it pays off."

http://www.nrl.com/newsviews/latestnews/newsarticle/tabid/10874/newsid/56923/im-not-leaving-storm-insists-lima/default.aspx
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DAMN IT!

its grand final week. the last thing he would want to talk about is changing clubs. i take this article with a grain of salt.

 

[Aladinsane]

Well yeah, I was just going off player we've been linked to.

Moi Moi is the most in form front rower in the comp. Obviously he'd be my first choice. But I haven't read anything saying the Eels are looking to release him, or that we've been linked to signing him. (Please correct me if I'm wrong here) If he was available I'd want the Tigers to do everything in their power to sign him.
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That's why I agreed with your order…Fui is not Linked to us Colonel.....just IMO, with his best mate inTnT , he would be the prefect fit......maybe not 2010, but with God getting $500,000/season and Parra wanting to tie up Mortimer next year, Fui might not have a choice but leave

 

[red_dogg]

while the storm are preparing to win another grand final i would doubt jeff lima will come out and announce his departure. He is talking to the tigers and if this means the tigers have insulted him on there offer well thats whats behind this. otherwise im thinking he is pushing the media away to concentrate on the GF.

 

[king_sirro]

Tunks just said he heard a "very strong rumour that Lima has signed with the Wests Tigers".

 

[Geo]

That's why I agreed with your order…Fui is not Linked to us Colonel.....just IMO, with his best mate inTnT , he would be the prefect fit......maybe not 2010, but with God getting $500,000/season and Parra wanting to tie up Mortimer next year, Fui might not have a choice but leave

They would more likely get rid of Cayless and Mannah before Fui….but it's nice to dream.....

Sheens wants Lima .....chasing hard from what I hear......the telecrap needed to fill a few lines......

 

[RatedRKO]

its grand final week. the last thing he would want to talk about is changing clubs. i take this article with a grain of salt.

Yeah exactly. Announcing talks with another club 1 week out of the finals when you have 2 years to go on your contract isn't the best thing for the team :laughing:

 

[TimmyB]

Do people actually read the thread before they post? Deadset, about 3 times the same information has been posted. I don't want to be a dick, but it's a bit silly.

 

[X-Pac]

i dont think he will leave melbourne,if theres a fan day when storm get back i might go ask him lol and see what he says

 

[Guest]

Just more media mongering. As Geo said, the Tigers are interested so we'll just wait and see.

 

[Roysta59]

I think we should stop chasing Lote (we have some great backs and some good ones)
We NEED a big strong Prop (or 2)
- Lima
- Cayless
If we get Lote who will we lose later?
TNT, Benji, Tuopu
I also think we can do without Fulton as we have gun backrowers already (how's he doing in England anyway)
If we need to free up some money for Lima and Cayless we should offload - Gibbs first - Galae - Payne - Payton. That would give us some spending cash

 

[Defiant]

galea and payne are already gone and Gibbs is going ok late in the year.

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

gibbs is expensive off and on the field.

 

[Guest]

I think we should stop chasing Lote (we have some great backs and some good ones)
We NEED a big strong Prop (or 2)
- Lima
- Cayless
If we get Lote who will we lose later?
TNT, Benji, Tuopu
I also think we can do without Fulton as we have gun backrowers already (how's he doing in England anyway)
If we need to free up some money for Lima and Cayless we should offload - Gibbs first - Galae - Payne - Payton. That would give us some spending cash

Gibbs is contracted for quite some time yet. He won't be going anywhere for awhile.

 

[Hbom]

I read in the telegraph today that Lima has laughed off a suggestion he **has signed** a 2 year contract with the wests tigers. Others have previously stated reasons why he may not wish to confirm the possibility that he is leaving the Storm; but does this extra detail of a possible "done-deal" give us more hope? I am reluctant to use the words "hope" and "telegraph" in the consecutive sentances.

 

[Geo]

James Phelps was on MMM Grill Team….where he said that he was 'offered' to the Club by the Storm and that Lima had signed...but then went on to say that apparently the sticking point is Wests Tigers want the Storm to pick up some the contract al la Todd Payten when we got him from the Rorters ......$$$$$...and that he would more than likely stay in Melbourne.....

I say....wake up Tim.....Pay the whole lot.....A player like Lima We NEED

 

[matty_tiepie]

I agree geo we have to pay whatever is needed IMO as a player like Lima is just what we need to bloster our forwards. If we sign him i think we will be a real force next year and beyond

 

[fergiefurr]

James Phelps was on MMM Grill Team….where he said that he was 'offered' to the Club by the Storm and that Lima had signed...but then went on to say that apparently the sticking point is Wests Tigers want the Storm to pick up some the contract al la Todd Payten when we got him from the Rorters ......$$$$$...and that he would more than likely stay in Melbourne.....

I say....wake up Tim.....Pay the whole lot.....A player like Lima We NEED

heard it aswell. apparently he is ours but the club is saying they wan the storm to pay part of his contract. what a joke, why dont we just ask if they'll give us inglis and still pay his contract aswell?

 

[weststigerman]

If this is true, I don't think we'll ever sign another marquee player without fluking things like with Ellis. Even when a top front rower wants to join the tigers we still play the tight ass card. Meanwhile, we waste time playing games with Tuqiri.

 

[Hbom]

Sounds a bit strange on the surface, but then again, I don't have all the facts (salary cap, other potential signings) so I will reserve judgment on how this one is being handled until we know more (i.e. the makeup of our final 25, who we signed, who we missed out on through insufficient offers). I agree, Lima should be a priority though. If we can get LIma, Cayless and Tuqiri with astute contract management I am pretty sure the majority of tigers supporters will be quite satisfied with the club management.