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Cowboys deny Lui NRL recruitment
By Russell Jackson
19:31 AEST Wed Oct 19 2011
The off-season NRL player merry-go-round is in swing with North Queensland distancing themselves from throwing Wests Tigers half Robert Lui a rugby league lifeline.Denials over interest in Lui came as Cronulla moved closer to announcing the signing of troubled star Todd Carney.
The Cowboys were thought to be interested in signing Lui, who is tipped to be released by the Tigers after his court appearance on October 27 over the alleged assault of his girlfriend.
But when contacted by AAP on Wednesday, a Cowboys spokesman said as far North Queensland were concerned, Lui was still under contract and that he wasn’t on their recruiting radar.
The spokesman said the Cowboys were happy with their stocks in the halves with the likes Johnathan Thurston, Ray Thompson and Ben Jones.
The Tigers are reportedly keen to keep Tim Moltzen and play him at halfback despite the talented playmaker signing with St George Illawarra.
The Daily Telegraph reported that NRL salary cap auditor Ian Schubert would hand down a recommendation on where he thinks Moltzen should play next year.
Tigers boss Stephen Humphreys will reportedly abide by Schubert’s decision but was unavailable for comment on Wednesday.
While the Cowboys denied rumours of snaring Lui, Cronulla captain Paul Gallen offered to help mentor Carney should he join him at the Sharks next season.
Carney has been tipped to sign with the Sharks by the end of the week and Gallen made it clear he’d love to have him at the club.
He was also ready to lend his off-field support to the dumped Canberra and Sydney Roosters five-eighth and 2010 Dally M Medal winner, who has a history of off-field misdemeanours, often alcohol-related.
“I think I could help him a little bit,” said NSW skipper Gallen after announcing he’d signed a new two-year contract on Wednesday that will keep him at Cronulla until the end of the 2015 season.
"I’ve had a few issues over the years and I’m probably no angel myself.
“Obviously, things haven’t gone to plan for him but I just think he deserves to play in the NRL and I’d love to see him here.”
Meanwhile, Sydney Roosters parted ways with veteran prop Jason Ryles who is tipped to join either Melbourne or St George Illawarra next year.
The Canberra Raiders signed former Test utility Shaun Berrigan on a two-year deal that will likely see him end his career in the nation’s capital.
The 32-year-old Berrigan, who played 19 games with grand finalists the Warriors this year, has committed to the Raiders until the end of the 2014 season.
A 14-Test veteran, Berrigan has also played 15 State of Origin matches for Queensland and was the Clive Churchill Medallist in Brisbane’s premiership win over Melbourne in 2006.
Raiders coach David Furner said he was looking forward to having a player of Berrigan’s experience and versatility on the team with his ability to play halfback, five-eighth and hooker.
“His playing experience come game day is going to be important as he can cover a number of positions,” Furner said.
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I wonder what is the chances that Lui actually goes to the Sharks ??They are probably sitting back awaiting the outcome before they decide on Lui Or Carney
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Sack lui now so we dont waste our time go timmy moltzen!!!
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The shortage of halfbacks will be what Lui gets picked up for. I personally don’t rate him.
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I think he’s a budding Cliff Lyons
Actually someone else thought that and I borrowed their opinion
But his career’s probably over, in terms of form. Look what happened to Tiger Woods when he got hit by a personal scandal. shit like that can affect someone’s performance
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He’s sooooooo going to the Cowboys. The ‘spokesman’ mentioned that he wasn’t on their radar as he is still contracted to Wests Tigers, so in other words, once he is likely sacked, he will then pop on their radar and a low key announcement of his signing will be made in the middle of the pre-season
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He’s going to NQ…dont kid yourself!!..I wouldn’t be surprised if the deal is already done
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Sack lui now so we dont waste our time go timmy moltzen!!!
I don’t think we can. There isn’t sufficient grounds unless he is found guilty.
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Lui’s manager is going out all stops to try and get Lui ‘sacked’ so he can go to Nth Qld. I posted this 15 months ago.
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Sack lui now so we dont waste our time go timmy moltzen!!!
I don’t think we can. There isn’t sufficient grounds unless he is found guilty.
Wasn’t the case with Greg Bird at the Sharks. They sacked him and he was later found not guilty.
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@happy tiger:
I wonder what is the chances that Lui actually goes to the Sharks ??They are probably sitting back awaiting the outcome before they decide on Lui Or Carney
Carney to Sharks seems pretty much set in stone unless Rusty starts working the phones… Lui to NQ looks almost in the probable pile. It’s not surprising the Cows are a bit cagey given what’s happening with the Dragons and Moltzen. I’m guessing they’d want a written release before they offer him anything. They may also be playing wait and see with RL’s court appearance approaching. It’s a long shot but his bail reporting conditions might not even allow him to move states.
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Sack lui now so we dont waste our time go timmy moltzen!!!
I don’t think we can. There isn’t sufficient grounds unless he is found guilty.
Wasn’t the case with Greg Bird at the Sharks. They sacked him and he was later found not guilty.
I think they had a folio of prior indiscretions mate.
With the NRL already prepared to deregister Bird for the upcoming season, last night’s deferral came as a shock. Sharks officials had entered the meeting confident that the controversial pivot had accrued a long enough rap sheet to warrant dismissal from his current four-year deal.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/bird-is-still-in-the-game/story-e6frfgfo-1111118227787
I would assume it’s like any employment contract, you need to have some decent grounds to sack anyone. Someone being charged isn’t anything unless they are found guilty.
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Sack lui now so we dont waste our time go timmy moltzen!!!
I don’t think we can. There isn’t sufficient grounds unless he is found guilty.
Wasn’t the case with Greg Bird at the Sharks. They sacked him and he was later found not guilty.
I think they had a folio of prior indiscretions mate.
With the NRL already prepared to deregister Bird for the upcoming season, last night’s deferral came as a shock. Sharks officials had entered the meeting confident that the controversial pivot had accrued a long enough rap sheet to warrant dismissal from his current four-year deal.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/bird-is-still-in-the-game/story-e6frfgfo-1111118227787
I would assume it’s like any employment contract, you need to have some decent grounds to sack anyone. Someone being charged isn’t anything unless they are found guilty.
Not having a go with you but I think being charged with assulting your girlfriend twice and playing in a football tournament without permission of the Tigers would warrant dismissal.
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@Balmain Bug:
Lui’s manager is going out all stops to try and get Lui ‘sacked’ so he can go to Nth Qld. I posted this 15 months ago.
i doubt lui’s manager enticed him to allegedly assault his girlfriend.
why dont we get rid of moltz and lui and just go for carney? cheap halfback who was previously dally m medal winner to play along side marshall… mmm yum
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Not having a go with you but I think being charged with assulting your girlfriend twice and playing in a football tournament without permission of the Tigers would warrant dismissal.
Mate, it’s a terrible crime. But western society works on innocent until proven guilty. There was a post just the other day on the forum about a boxer who was put behind bars for 20 years for something he didn’t commit. We don’t know the full story on Lui.
I agree on the football tournament and forgot about that. It actually may be enough for dismissal. But usually I think you need a few warnings from your employer first?
