My secret life - Lote Tuqiri revealed
By Danny Weidler
**February 2 2003**
For a start, no one pronounces his name correctly. Not the Tuqiri part, but Lote, which is not pronounced Loti. "The correct way to say it is Lortay," he says. "I'm used to it. It's not a big deal at all to me."Since he is looming in rugby union as a massive figure, sure to be talked about this season just as much as Wendell Sailor, Mat Rogers and George Gregan, getting his name right isn't a bad thing to do when you talk to him or about him.
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Then there was the decision to switch codes.
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Tuqiri spent plenty of time discussing his plans with Bennett last year when he was trying to make up his mind about his future. He would change his mind several times an hour about what he was going to do, he said. For the first time he has revealed he had an opportunity to stay in rugby league and earn far more than he is making in union. He wouldn't reveal which club he could have played with, but The Sun-Herald has learned the Sharks weighed in with a massive offer just before he switched to rugby.
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Tuqiri is critical of the NRL's role in his negotiation process.
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"All I'll say is that I had the opportunity to stay in league," he said. "I couldn't play with the Broncos, where my heart was, and I could have played for a club, made a lot more money, but my heart wasn't going to be in it.
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**"I am a person who has to believe in something and can't just do it for the money.** >
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"I was disappointed that certain parties couldn't help the Broncos out. "I know that Wayne Bennett was upset by the process. And Mum and Dad were not that happy that I was going to Sydney. "I could have stayed in league and been comfortable as an inter-national. But ever since I was a kid I wanted to play in a World Cup."
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full article here…....http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/02/01/1043804576911.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Found this Article ........when Lortay switched to Union Interesting........
I think he might of changed his tune on the money bit over the years........
By Danny Weidler
**February 2 2003**
For a start, no one pronounces his name correctly. Not the Tuqiri part, but Lote, which is not pronounced Loti. "The correct way to say it is Lortay," he says. "I'm used to it. It's not a big deal at all to me."Since he is looming in rugby union as a massive figure, sure to be talked about this season just as much as Wendell Sailor, Mat Rogers and George Gregan, getting his name right isn't a bad thing to do when you talk to him or about him.
>
Then there was the decision to switch codes.
>
Tuqiri spent plenty of time discussing his plans with Bennett last year when he was trying to make up his mind about his future. He would change his mind several times an hour about what he was going to do, he said. For the first time he has revealed he had an opportunity to stay in rugby league and earn far more than he is making in union. He wouldn't reveal which club he could have played with, but The Sun-Herald has learned the Sharks weighed in with a massive offer just before he switched to rugby.
>
Tuqiri is critical of the NRL's role in his negotiation process.
>
"All I'll say is that I had the opportunity to stay in league," he said. "I couldn't play with the Broncos, where my heart was, and I could have played for a club, made a lot more money, but my heart wasn't going to be in it.
>
**"I am a person who has to believe in something and can't just do it for the money.** >
>
"I was disappointed that certain parties couldn't help the Broncos out. "I know that Wayne Bennett was upset by the process. And Mum and Dad were not that happy that I was going to Sydney. "I could have stayed in league and been comfortable as an inter-national. But ever since I was a kid I wanted to play in a World Cup."
>
full article here…....http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/02/01/1043804576911.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Found this Article ........when Lortay switched to Union Interesting........
I think he might of changed his tune on the money bit over the years........
