QRL boss gives Lui green light
* Steve Ricketts
* From: The Daily Telegraph
* December 15, 2010 12:00AM
THE Queensland Rugby League yesterday defended its decision to select controversial Wests Tigers halfback Robert Lui in the 2011 Emerging Origin squad, despite his impending court appearance on serious assault charges.
Lui is back at training with Wests Tigers after his bail conditions were changed last month, enabling him to have contact with his pregnant partner, Taleah Rae Backo.
A Townsville junior, Lui faces nine charges involving Backo, including two counts of assault occasioning actual body harm. He is due back in court next week.
QRL managing director Ross Livermore said he consulted with the Tigers before giving the selectors the go-ahead to consider Lui.
Livermore said Lui deserved the presumption of innocence, but his place in the squad could come under review, depending on the outcome of court proceedings.
Lui played 17 NRL games this year after making his top-grade debut in 2009\. He is one of three halfbacks in the Emerging Squad, but Ben Barba (Bulldogs) and Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly) were chosen at fullback and five-eighth respectively as the selectors broke with tradition to name a young "shadow" Origin side.
Chairman of selectors Des Morris said coach Wayne Bennett wanted to run the emerging squad as a team, so players were chosen in position as much as possible.
With Origin winger Israel Folau having defected to AFL, Emerging Squad members Daniel Vidot (Canberra) and Justin O'Neill (Melbourne) can stake their claims.
sFolau officially became an AFL player on November 1, but was welcomed back into the league fold when the history-making Queensland side celebrated five straight series wins in Brisbane last weekend.
The QRL hosted the weekend for players and their families, with Melbourne halfback Cooper Cronk the only absentee, as he was holidaying in the United States.
The players were each presented with a sculptured hand inside a glass case, with the series wins depicted on the fingers.
"Israel was a big part of our success and was entitled to be there," Livermore said. "The team had dinner at the Tatts club on Friday and Saturday was more of a family day.
"Greg Inglis couldn't make it up until Saturday night, but he made the effort and everyone was delighted to see him."
