Ceasefire only temporary, as Dragons rage over Moltzen
Glenn Jackson
November 4, 2011
NOW that there are no doubts he is a Wests Tigers player next season, Tim Moltzen is hoping just to ''move on and play some footy''. But he admitted last night he had learnt some valuable lessons, and he would have acted differently if he had his time over again.
The war is over, for now. The Dragons agreed yesterday not to register the three-year contract Moltzen signed with the club, avoiding the prospect of salary cap auditor Ian Schubert ruling on the spat between the two clubs. However, the club still intends to take the Tigers to court. The long-running saga, which came about after the Tigers refused to formally release Moltzen after he signed with the Dragons, is likely to linger for some time.
Moltzen expressed relief, telling the Herald the ordeal had been difficult not just for him and his family. That said, he apologised to the supporters who felt slighted by him.
''I would apologise to Dragons fans and anyone I've upset by the way that everything's happened,'' Moltzen said. ''I'm a bit disappointed the way it played out. Things were put in the papers I haven't said, and wouldn't dream about saying. But it's all sorted now and we can both move on and just look forward to next season.''
There had been suggestions Moltzen was planning to sit out next season if he were forced to play for the Dragons, but the fullback said he would not have resorted to that. ''I don't take my job for granted,'' he said. ''There's no way I'd even consider sitting out a year of footy. I never really thought it would get to that.''
Moltzen revealed he had been subjected to online abuse. ''There was plenty of abuse on [Twitter], people wanting me to break my leg,'' he said. ''Obviously they're passionate fans, and I obviously rubbed them up the wrong way. I understand that. I apologise for the way that everything's gone down.
''If I had my time over, I would have done it differently … I've learnt a few lessons, like sitting back and not rushing into things.
''It's been really tough on my dad … Some days Mum would be crying; it's not only the effect on me, it's the effect on my family. People have been saying things to them. If it was just me, it would be OK … They're a big part of what I do, and they copped a bit as well.''
The dramatic developments yesterday appeared to be a ceasefire that wasn't a ceasefire. Both clubs came to an agreement, yet the Dragons said they would investigate ''legal remedies against the Wests Tigers, for damages''.
Chief executive Peter Doust said there was ''no doubt that the actions of Tim Moltzen, [the player's manager] Martin Tauber and the Wests Tigers have negatively impacted upon our recruitment process and our roster for 2012''.
Tigers chief executive, Stephen Humphreys, said he was surprised by the legal threat but confident the club had acted properly. ''The suggestion that they may take some legal action … takes us very much by surprise, and we are confident that we have followed the rules and not done anything untoward,'' he said. ''Should there be any legal claim on us, we would defend that vigorously.''
The NRL has urged the agent accreditation committee to investigate ''the role of the agent [Tauber] in not securing a written release … prior to entering into a new contract''.
Doust, though, said the club ''will not be rushing into signing a replacement player''. Moltzen met Doust and Humphreys last Friday in a bid to avoid the prospect of Schubert being the referee. "This meeting confirmed that Tim Moltzen … was not going to honour any of his previous commitments,'' Doust declared.
