weststigers
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http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/lote-tuqiris-roaring-to-go-for-round-one/story-e6frexnr-1225835798094
**Lote Tuqiri's roaring to go for round one**
* Dean Ritchie
* From: The Daily Telegraph
* March 02, 2010 1:00AM
STAR recruit Lote Tuqiri will make a spectacular return to the NRL in a round-one match against Manly on Monday week after being granted an early release from English rugby union club Leicester late last night.
Despite question marks over the former Wallaby's fitness, Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens will rush Tuqiri directly into his squad, possibly off the bench, for the Sydney Football Stadium match.
Tuqiri, 30, will play his final match for Leicester Tigers this Saturday against London Irish. He will then board a flight on Sunday or Monday from Heathrow and be back in Sydney no later than Wednesday, when he will start training for his first rugby league game since 2002.
Tuqiri will only have about 10 training sessions before being thrown into the NRL cauldron against 2008 premiers Manly.
Wests Tigers chief executive Stephen Humphreys sealed the release in a phone call last night to Leicester chief executive Peter Wheeler.
Humphreys and Wheeler have built up a solid working relationship in recent weeks when discussing Tuqiri - a fact which worked in the Tigers' favour. It is unknown whether Wests Tigers offered any financial compensation to Leicester.
"Signing Lote for three years has been a massive boost for the club," Humphreys said last night. "It is just a bonus having him available for round one. We can't wait for Lote to turn out in the Tigers colours and neither can the fans."
The return of Tuqiri will ensure a bumper crowd - and a ton of publicity - for the Manly game.
Leicester have been eliminated from two of the three competitions they contested this season, another reason the club permitted Tuqiri to leave early.
Manly coach Des Hasler said the return of Tuqiri would not affect his side's preparation.
"It doesn't worry me; there's nothing I can do about it," Hasler said. "You're talking to the wrong bloke. If he plays, he plays, if he doesn't, he doesn't.
"But he will be good for the Tigers. He is a strike player."
Asked would his side put pressure on Tuqiri, Hasler said: "I haven't thought about that yet."
Then, tongue-in-cheek, Hasler added: "Maybe we might kick early and if he catches it inside his own 20, he might kick it out on the full."
Tuqiri will play on the wing before a possible switch to fullback after he rediscovers his rhythm in rugby league. Wests Tigers were paying $17 to win the NRL before Christmas but have tightened into $13.
**Lote Tuqiri's roaring to go for round one**
* Dean Ritchie
* From: The Daily Telegraph
* March 02, 2010 1:00AM
STAR recruit Lote Tuqiri will make a spectacular return to the NRL in a round-one match against Manly on Monday week after being granted an early release from English rugby union club Leicester late last night.
Despite question marks over the former Wallaby's fitness, Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens will rush Tuqiri directly into his squad, possibly off the bench, for the Sydney Football Stadium match.
Tuqiri, 30, will play his final match for Leicester Tigers this Saturday against London Irish. He will then board a flight on Sunday or Monday from Heathrow and be back in Sydney no later than Wednesday, when he will start training for his first rugby league game since 2002.
Tuqiri will only have about 10 training sessions before being thrown into the NRL cauldron against 2008 premiers Manly.
Wests Tigers chief executive Stephen Humphreys sealed the release in a phone call last night to Leicester chief executive Peter Wheeler.
Humphreys and Wheeler have built up a solid working relationship in recent weeks when discussing Tuqiri - a fact which worked in the Tigers' favour. It is unknown whether Wests Tigers offered any financial compensation to Leicester.
"Signing Lote for three years has been a massive boost for the club," Humphreys said last night. "It is just a bonus having him available for round one. We can't wait for Lote to turn out in the Tigers colours and neither can the fans."
The return of Tuqiri will ensure a bumper crowd - and a ton of publicity - for the Manly game.
Leicester have been eliminated from two of the three competitions they contested this season, another reason the club permitted Tuqiri to leave early.
Manly coach Des Hasler said the return of Tuqiri would not affect his side's preparation.
"It doesn't worry me; there's nothing I can do about it," Hasler said. "You're talking to the wrong bloke. If he plays, he plays, if he doesn't, he doesn't.
"But he will be good for the Tigers. He is a strike player."
Asked would his side put pressure on Tuqiri, Hasler said: "I haven't thought about that yet."
Then, tongue-in-cheek, Hasler added: "Maybe we might kick early and if he catches it inside his own 20, he might kick it out on the full."
Tuqiri will play on the wing before a possible switch to fullback after he rediscovers his rhythm in rugby league. Wests Tigers were paying $17 to win the NRL before Christmas but have tightened into $13.
