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Wests Tigers veteran Lote Tuqiri has vowed to play on next season but admits he's no certainty to re-sign with the joint venture club.
Tuqiri, who is in the final season of a three-year deal worth an estimated $350,000 annually, will more than likely need to take a significant pay cut in order to stay in the NRL.
Speaking at Tigers training on Thursday, the dual international revealed retirement is not an option and confirmed he has commenced talks with the Tigers.
But the 32-year-old, who is likely to attract offers from rival NRL clubs as well as Japanese and European rugby union, made it clear he's keeping his options open.
"Yes and no," a coy Tuqiri said when asked if staying at the Tigers is his preferred option.
"I'll probably just keep that private but I've started talking to the club so that's where I'm at … but hopefully we'll get something knocked over pretty soon."
The giant winger, who made his NRL debut for the Broncos in 1999 before defecting to rugby union in 2003, is adamant there's still life in his ageing legs and believes his form warrants his decision not to hang up the boots.
"The body's feeling ok. I've put seven or eight games together now, last year every time I came back I got injured so it didn't help but I'm feeling good and feeling confident," he said.
"My form's going ok, getting better. I've been playing ok in a team that's winning so that always helps and scoring a few tries ... everyone's putting in for the team which is really good, there's not one bloke who's letting us down."
Meanwhile, Tuqiri is confident complacency won't be a problem for the red-hot Tigers when they host the Roosters at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday afternoon.
After a sluggish start to the season Tim Sheens' men are riding a seven-game winning streak, however Tuqiri remains wary of the visitors.
"We're going ok, we're not over confident," he said.
"I think we've slowly been getting better each week but we can't dwell on (our success).
"There's a lot of things we need to work on and the Chooks always aim up against us, so it's going to be a good one at Leichhardt on Sunday."
Tuqiri backed skipper Robbie Farah to reproduce his mammoth effort in Origin II this weekend.
"He's a professional, he's come in today and did his recovery and had massage as well," Tuqiri said.
"He's been around for a while and he knows we want him to step up again and he always turns up for Leichhardt anyway so he'll be good to go."
http://www.sportal.com.au/league-news-display/tuqiri-future-up-in-the-air-181960?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed
Tuqiri, who is in the final season of a three-year deal worth an estimated $350,000 annually, will more than likely need to take a significant pay cut in order to stay in the NRL.
Speaking at Tigers training on Thursday, the dual international revealed retirement is not an option and confirmed he has commenced talks with the Tigers.
But the 32-year-old, who is likely to attract offers from rival NRL clubs as well as Japanese and European rugby union, made it clear he's keeping his options open.
"Yes and no," a coy Tuqiri said when asked if staying at the Tigers is his preferred option.
"I'll probably just keep that private but I've started talking to the club so that's where I'm at … but hopefully we'll get something knocked over pretty soon."
The giant winger, who made his NRL debut for the Broncos in 1999 before defecting to rugby union in 2003, is adamant there's still life in his ageing legs and believes his form warrants his decision not to hang up the boots.
"The body's feeling ok. I've put seven or eight games together now, last year every time I came back I got injured so it didn't help but I'm feeling good and feeling confident," he said.
"My form's going ok, getting better. I've been playing ok in a team that's winning so that always helps and scoring a few tries ... everyone's putting in for the team which is really good, there's not one bloke who's letting us down."
Meanwhile, Tuqiri is confident complacency won't be a problem for the red-hot Tigers when they host the Roosters at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday afternoon.
After a sluggish start to the season Tim Sheens' men are riding a seven-game winning streak, however Tuqiri remains wary of the visitors.
"We're going ok, we're not over confident," he said.
"I think we've slowly been getting better each week but we can't dwell on (our success).
"There's a lot of things we need to work on and the Chooks always aim up against us, so it's going to be a good one at Leichhardt on Sunday."
Tuqiri backed skipper Robbie Farah to reproduce his mammoth effort in Origin II this weekend.
"He's a professional, he's come in today and did his recovery and had massage as well," Tuqiri said.
"He's been around for a while and he knows we want him to step up again and he always turns up for Leichhardt anyway so he'll be good to go."
http://www.sportal.com.au/league-news-display/tuqiri-future-up-in-the-air-181960?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed
