Lote Tuqiri thread

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State of Origin might lure Lote Tuqiri back to NRL with Wests Tigers
By Brent Read

October 08, 2009 Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens suspects the lure of State of Origin might entice Lote Tuqiri to return to rugby league with the Tigers.

Tuqiri, who is yet to announce his plans after being sacked by the Australian Rugby Union, has been in talks with the Tigers over returning to the NRL next season.

Although he has significant offers on the table from overseas rugby union clubs, Sheens is hopeful the Tigers can lure him back to the NRL. Playing Origin again for Queensland - Tuqiri made six appearances for the Maroons before switching codes - shapes as a significant attraction.

"We're in ongoing discussions," Sheens said.

"He's still looking at his options in union. I have spoken to his manager but until he sorts out his rugby, whether he goes fulltime or part-time, there will be no decision."

Sheens leaves for England with the Australia side next week and he doesn't know whether a decision will be reached before then. The Tigers are ready to weigh in with a three-year deal for the 30-year-old, who had his lucrative deal terminated by the ARU in July for breach of contract.

"I would like it to be done today but I don't know where he stands," Sheens said.

"Until he sorts out his rugby league he is on a standby situation. I think he has got the bug that he would like to play State of Origin - have another shot at it again.

"There would be no reason to come back otherwise. I sense that a bit."
 
Willow, how can the Wests Tigers fit Lote and Fitzy in for next year and stay under the Cap….wow , if they pull it off...2 Marquee Players for 2010 :laughing:
 
@Aladinsane said:
Willow, how can the Wests Tigers fit Lote and Fitzy in for next year and stay under the Cap….wow , if they pull it off...2 Marquee Players for 2010 :laughing:
Click to expand...

See it's started already….....FWO :righton:

Fitzy and Lote will fit.........Lote will probably be backloaded in 2012.....when we need to hold onto Lawry, Moltz, Asyh, Dwyer, Benji et al........

Fitzy and Tui battle it out for most tries for WT....bring in on.......
 
**Queensland Reds look to exploit legal loophole and sign Lote Tuqiri**
Former Wallabies coach John Connolly is behind an audacious plot to exploit a legal loophole and recruit Lote Tuqiri to play for Queensland Reds.
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Tuqiri was sacked by the Australian Rugby Union in July and is unable to be registered as a professional rugby player in Australia but can still play as an amateur.
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It is understood Connolly's proposal involves Tuqiri signing on for the Reds as an amateur while receiving a salary from a third-party benefactor.
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The theory is the ARU is party to all contracts for professional players but does not have jurisdiction over amateurs.
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A Queensland Rugby Union official confirmed he was aware of the proposal but directed enquiries to chairman Rod McCall, who did not return calls.
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Legal opinion on the matter was mixed on whether the proposal would circumvent the ban placed on the dual international by the ARU.
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And three separate player managers, who did not wish to be named, were sceptical the deal could be done . . . but all suggested it was worth exploring.
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The incentive-based deal could earn the former Wallabies winger $350,000 a year, made up of a retainer of $200,000 and match payments of $10,000.
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It is more than he could hope to earn if he returned to the NRL but well short of the riches on offer in French or Japanese rugby.
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French club Bayonne has pulled out of negotiations because the asking price of $800,000 was too steep but The Courier-Mail has reported another club was still in talks with Tuqiri's management.
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Tuqiri reached a settlement with the ARU in August following the termination of his $2 million contract and the outcome was widely believed to have ended his professional rugby career in Australia.
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The ARU sacked Tuquiri on July 1 and ARU boss John O'Neill has refused to reveal the nature of Tuqiri's breach.
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At the time O'Neill ruled out the possibility of Tuqiri joining the 15th Super side, which will be based in Melbourne and enter the competition in 2011.
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"His contract that we terminated would have expired at the end of 2012 and the ARU has to be a party to all contracts in Australia for professional players, therefore there won't be an opportunity for Lote to play for that fifth team," O'Neill said.
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In a further snub to ARU chief executive O'Neill, the Reds remain interested in signing Connolly as an interim head coach for next season.
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O'Neill and Connolly are known to have a tense working relationship.
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Connolly, who was dumped by the Reds in 2000 after 12 seasons in charge, and former New South Wales Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie were interviewed by Reds officials on Friday.
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It is widely believed the QRU is considering appointing Connolly for the 2010 season to warm the hot seat for his long-time lieutenant Michael Foley who is now serving as NSW's forwards coach.
 
The QRU have come out and denied that Lote is in their plans.

They seemed pretty adament that they had no interest in him so I wouldn't worry too much about them.
 
youget the impression that Lote is running aroung like the pied piper, with alot of poeple following him.
eventually no one will bother.
 
http://www.weststigersforum.com/index.php/news-and-views/first-grade/news-a-views/50-tigers-home-in-on-tuqiri-lima
Looks like we are pretty close!
 
Wests Tigers set to sign Wallaby reject Lote Tuqiri
Exclusive by Dean Ritchie From: The Daily Telegraph October 09, 2009 12:00AM

WESTS Tigers are poised to pull off a massive off-season coup by signing sacked Wallaby winger Lote Tuqiri - the fourth big-name rugby star to return to league in the past two years.

Tuqiri, 30, will link with a Tigers team that already boasts one of the most electrifying backlines in the competition, headed by superstar five-eighth Benji Marshall and powerhouse Taniela Tuiaki.

The Daily Telegraph has been told Tuqiri could put pen to paper on a two-year deal as soon as next week.

The Tigers have put forward two offers for Tuqiri - a pre-Christmas contract and a post-Christmas deal, which would allow him a lucrative short stint with European or Japanese rugby union.

One well-placed source at Wests Tigers said last night: "The deal is about 95 per cent done. I don't think an announcement is far off at all. It could happen within days."

Tuqiri will follow Mat Rogers (Titans), Wendell Sailor (Dragons) and Timana Tahu (Eels) as poached rugby stars returning home to rugby league.

Tuqiri's manager Les Ross will meet with Tigers CEO Stephen Humphreys this afternoon.

Tuqiri has already been in touch with Tigers coach Tim Sheens this week.

Even though the deal is not 100 per cent secured, Wests Tigers have discussed playing Tuqiri on the wing early next year before a mid-season switch to fullback.

Tuqiri was on the verge of signing with French rugby union clue Bayonne but the deal soured.

Humphreys was playing it straight last night, saying the Tigers were more hopeful than confident of securing Tuqiri.

"We will meet with Lote's manager over the next few days," he said. "We think there might be some clarity there as to his intentions. If that is the case, we can either work out a deal or not. We have expressed our interest."

The Daily Telegraph revealed last month that Balmain great Benny Elias was attempting to organise third-party agreements for Tuqiri.

Tuqiri was sacked by the ARU for breaking strict team rules on taking a woman to his Wallabies hotel room. At the time, Tuqiri was on his "last warning" for previous behavioural issues.

NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley said the NRL would seek an explanation from Tuqiri about the incident before allowing him back into rugby league. "We have said in the past that it is normal practice in any business, where an employee has left an employer, to privately ask the reason why," he said.

"Not for publication, but to understand the reasons. Our position hasn't changed."
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This would be so sweet! Fingers Crossed
 
$300k per annum for tuqiri would bring in MUCH, MUCH more for the club

a very good move by the Wests Tigers!
 
Even though the deal is not 100 per cent secured, Wests Tigers have discussed playing Tuqiri on the wing early next year before a mid-season switch to fullback.

Why?
 
@Kul said:
$300k per annum for tuqiri would bring in MUCH, MUCH more for the club

a very good move by the Wests Tigers!
Click to expand...

Well said…...bums on seats plus the confidence he would bring the side.

Top shelf sign by the club.
 
@innsaneink said:
$600k for two years they mentioned on BSB.

**How about some front rowers?**
Click to expand...

It sounds like we're going to get both:

http://www.smh.com.au/news/lhqnews/tigers-eye-tuqiri-lima/2009/10/08/1254701104026.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
 
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