Tigers wait to seal Tuqiri deal

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Tigers wait to seal Tuqiri deal
January 29, 2013
MICHAEL CHAMMAS, BRAD WALTER - SMH
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Wests Tigers are waiting for the NRL to announce this season's salary cap before extending Lote Tuqiri's contract at the club.

The dual international has agreed to a one-year deal with the Tigers but is awaiting confirmation from the NRL on the cap, which is expected to be close to $5.8 million, before finalising the deal.

Tuqiri has trained all off-season in anticipation of an official announcement from the NRL, and will sign the moment it's confirmed. He is still eligible to play in the Tigers' trial matches but has until round one to finalise the deal.

Tigers recruitment manager Warren McDonnell said it was just a waiting game. ''It's pretty close,'' McDonnell said. ''It's not sorted yet, but it will be. He hasn't signed anything as yet but we've agreed to a one-year extension. No one knows what the final salary cap is going to be and every club is in the same boat with players in a similar position. We need to know what we're working with before anything is finalised. It's the NRL that's holding it up.''

NRL officials are monitoring the flood situation in Brisbane but do not have any plans to shift next week's annual All Stars match from Suncorp Stadium.

While the streets around the stadium were again flooded, the water levels aren't expected to reach the levels of 2011 when the playing field resembled a giant swimming pool.

''We've been in contact with the stadium during the day. Currently the stadium is in good shape,'' NRL interim chief Shane Mattiske said. ''Our concerns are minor when compared to the devastation that so many communities are again experiencing.''

 

[alexaki]

Suppose I can handle a 1 year extension….has no real impact on future recruitment/retention... that's the main point...imo

 

[Joel Helmes]

Maybe he will become impatient and sign with the Sharks.

Oh wait that already happened with another winger.

 

[tigersrule4life]

One year is fine we should have money to sign top players for 2014 season.

 

[happy_tiger]

I still get the feeling this could be a smokescreen

Won't be surprised to hear that we don't sign Tuqiri

If he was a priority it would've happened already because there is always the risk someone else signs him

Put yourself in Lote's shoes , he would want his future secured at this late stage

 

[Blackandwhite]

I still get the feeling this could be a smokescreen

Won't be surprised to hear that we don't sign Tuqiri

If he was a priority it would've happened already because there is always the risk someone else signs him

Put yourself in Lote's shoes , he would want his future secured at this late stage

I agree Happy it should have already happened and maybe it will happen but whenever I hear this salary cap talk about not signing players alarm bells ring…bit like full support of the board.

Lote is putting a lot of trust in Wests Tigers to leave it so late.
Maybe the Wests Tigers have changed or maybe the only thing that has really changed is just the coach.

 

[tigerbenji]

I dont think Lottie has alot of options, I think he will sign with us very soon.

 

[happy_tiger]

I dont think Lottie has alot of options, I think he will sign with us very soon.

I agree in Australia Lote has few options , but if he was to return to Rugby he would

Very obvious no one in the NRL is interested though

 

[tigerbenji]

Yes i should of stated he has few options in the NRL, but in Union who knows, i might get a game with them but you are right Happy.

 

[innsaneink]

I still get the feeling this could be a smokescreen

Won't be surprised to hear that we don't sign Tuqiri

If he was a priority it would've happened already because there is always the risk someone else signs him

Put yourself in Lote's shoes , he would want his future secured at this late stage

If it were a smokescreen wouldnt it be Lote and his agent doing the talking, not the clubs recruitment officer in Wazza Mac
Lote woulda already been snapped up by now if someone wanted him bad enuff…

 

[clontarfkid]

Well,Lotes shocking run of injuries coupled with his even more shocking form over the past two seasons means that at his age he doesnt have any options anywhere-even Rugby!
Unfortunately were a little down on experienced wingers so we cld use Lote circa 2010 for one year..but its a huge gamble to pay him big $$ only to see repeat of the past two seasons mediocrity.
My guess is if were half smart(???)he'll be on a heavily weighted incentive contract…he's come to grips with that ,& is prepared to back himself.
Maybe Ive been watching too many moneyball replays??

 

[happy_tiger]

I still get the feeling this could be a smokescreen

Won't be surprised to hear that we don't sign Tuqiri

If he was a priority it would've happened already because there is always the risk someone else signs him

Put yourself in Lote's shoes , he would want his future secured at this late stage

If it were a smokescreen wouldnt it be Lote and his agent doing the talking, not the clubs recruitment officer in Wazza Mac
Lote woulda already been snapped up by now if someone wanted him bad enuff…

I think you answered your own question Ink

The Tigers are blowing smoke up Lote's butt , not their own butt , thats why they MAY turnaround and say something along the lines "We thought we were getting more in the cap , and unfortunately Lote we can only offer you $80k ." "Not the 180k we originally offered " See my point Ink

And as I said later on , if someone did want Tuqiri he would of been snapped up