THE Tim Moltzen soap opera has taken a dramatic twist with St George Illawarra referring the contract dispute to the NRL and calling in their lawyers after Wests Tigers appeared to perform another backflip over the release of the fullback.
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Wests Tigers chief executive Stephen Humphreys yesterday told his counterpart, Peter Doust, of his desire to hold Moltzen to his contract even though he had also signed for the next three seasons with the Dragons. Moltzen, who had been contracted to the Tigers until the end of next season, had not been given a signed release to join the Dragons.
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Doust confirmed last night he had been informed the Tigers were standing firm even though Humphreys had publicly stated on Monday it was likely the club would release Moltzen to the Dragons.
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''We have been investigating our legal position over the past days,'' Doust said. ''Certainly some sections within the NRL rules are worth exploring in protecting the Dragons' interests. Clearly this is not something that we have been able to resolve with the Wests Tigers and we will now continue to press our contractual position in relation to Tim Moltzen and his manager's intentions for the 2012 season and beyond by formally referring the matter to the NRL.''
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In a long statement last night which was heavily critical of the Tigers, Doust said that, on July 8, the day the Dragons announced they had agreed to terms with Moltzen, ''it was certainly clear to me from our conversation that the Wests Tigers intended to release Tim Moltzen from the final year of his contract with their club''.
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He said Moltzen's manager, Martin Tauber, also advised the club the release was ''no issue''.
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''Given these expressions of intent that we received, in good faith, we included Tim Moltzen as part of our roster and planning for 2012 and provided a three-year contract, which Tim Moltzen and Martin Tauber signed on July 12,'' Doust said.
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Doust also detailed public statements by Tauber, Tigers coach Tim Sheens, Moltzen as well as teammate Benji Marshall that confirmed he was going to the Dragons.
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''Tim Moltzen has met with our incoming head coach, Stephen Price, where a number of matters were discussed including the fact that Tim had indicated that he would be moving to Wollongong,'' Doust said.
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''It is quite obvious that some circumstances at the Wests Tigers have changed in recent times, otherwise why only now three months later are we made aware that there is an issue?''
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He said in 11 years as Dragons boss verbal releases had been considered ''a formality and a situation such as this has never previously presented''.
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''Admittedly if we did have the signed release from the Wests Tigers then we would not be in this situation,'' he said. ''However, we strongly believe this matter should be judged on the principles of intent and actions arising in good faith.''
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To prove his point, Doust admitted the Dragons had yet to sign release documents for Darius Boyd and Peni Tagive but said the club had no intention of holding them to the Dragons as he had given verbal agreements.
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''If things were to suddenly change at our club, as they appear to have for the Wests Tigers, we would not be reconsidering our position as we would stand by our conversations, assurances and undertakings that our club had given to these players and their managers,'' he said. ''In our opinion, that is not the right thing to do for any of the parties concerned.''
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Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/dragons-refer-moltzen-release-saga-to-the-nrl-after-tigers-stand-firm-20111012-1ll4s.html#ixzz1aZiXFyAx
This saga just went into extra time.
Seriously, our club needs to pick a stance and stick with it. This constant back flipping is pathetic.
