This article appears to say that it's all just "hot air", nothing more
Aussie ace Lote Tuqiri could stay on at Leicester Tigers
Wednesday, January 20, 2010, 08:00
Leicester Tigers' hopes of keeping hold of Australian Test winger Lote Tuqiri have taken a dramatic U-turn.
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The 30-year-old veteran of 67 internationals for the Wallabies seemed set to be on his way out of the club at the end of the season because of the financial implications of trying to keep the marquee player on their books.
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Tigers head of operations Simon Cohen said in mid-December: "We would like to keep Lote because he is a world-class player. But he was brought in as an injury allowance under the salary cap as a replacement for Geordan Murphy for a certain period of time.
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"If that dispensation is not available for next year, it is going to be very difficult to find the money to keep him."
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However, Tigers head coach Richard Cockerill revealed yesterday that Tuqiri, who joined Tigers in October, is enjoying his time at the club so much that the financial side of any deal might not now be such a stumbling block.
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"I would like Lote to stay and he has settled in really well," said Cockerill.
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"He would be quite keen to sit down with us and see if that is a possibility.
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"All indications, from everybody's point of view, are that it won't be a financially-driven thing. His family are very happy here and he is very happy here. He will have interest from all over the place because there are clubs who will pay more money than us, but he sees the value in the structure."
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Cockerill also said for the first time that Tuqiri's contract at Tigers runs until the end of March, giving the winger the option of a return Down Under for the start of the Aussie Rugby League season.
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But he said the Tigers were keen to sit down soon and offer Tuqiri the option of an extended stay at Welford Road.
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"We will see what happens," said Cockerill.
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"There is a long way to go and we have to fit it in within the salary cap.
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"But the indications are that he will make a rugby decision and a family decision rather than a financial one, which says a lot about the set-up and infrastructure here."
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Tuqiri, who has started 10 consecutive games since his debut as a substitute against South Africa, said he was really getting into the swing of things.
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"The way we have been playing over the last month has been pretty invigorating," he said.
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"We have been scoring tries, getting a few bonus points and I have enjoyed it.
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"We (my family) have our roots in Australia but it's not been too bad being away from home.
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"If I am thinking about it (a new deal), that should be another two or three years away so I guess I will have to start thinking about that soon."
