Leeds plan to sue hooker James Segeyaro if he fails to return to England
UK Super League giants Leeds plan to sue want-away hooker James Segeyaro and have slapped a $425,000 transfer fee on his head.
Leeds Rhinos boss Gary Hetherington confirmed his club had engaged Australian-based lawyers to sue Segeyaro for refusing to return to England for the final two years of his deal.
The impending transfer fee severely hinders his hopes of an NRL return given the $425,000, and Segeyaro’s subsequent contract, would be counted on a club’s salary cap.
The overall fee to snare Segeyaro could reach almost $1 million because clubs will need to offer the rake a deal at market value and be forced to pay a 50 per cent loading — $212,500 — on the transfer fee, although that would be exempt from the cap and is directed to the NRL’s welfare and education fund.
James Segeyaro’s short stint at Leeds might not be done yet.
That figure would place Segeyaro in the top pay bracket reserved for the game’s elite like Johnathan Thurston.
Segeyaro
told The Sunday Telegraph nine days ago he was homesick and had no intention of returning to Leeds next month, despite being contracted until the end of 2018.
He has been heavily linked with premiers Cronulla as a replacement for retiree Michael Ennis.
It’s understood Segeyaro’s management has already written to Leeds, informing them the 26-year-old will not return.
“When James’ manager Sam Ayoub sold him to us, he described him as a ‘world-class player with very special talents’, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that someone with that status commands a healthy value,’’ Hetherington said of the transfer fee.
Leeds say they are planning to sue James Segeyaro if he fails to return to England.
Hetherington, who has been in Australia on holidays, said last week he would not release Segeyaro, and he was contracted until November 2018.
He said at the time it was a matter of principle, and the “whole integrity of the game starts to be challenged’’ when players and clubs don’t honour contracts.
The legal action completes a forgettable year for Segeyaro who was issued a police warning for consorting with criminals before being released by Penrith after he struggled to win back the No. 9 jumper from Peter Wallace.
Leeds say they are planning to sue James Segeyaro if he fails to return to England.
Not only do Leeds believe Segeyaro has breached his contract, they also feel they will suffer financially by not having him back in action. There will also be an impact on merchandise and membership sales.
“We’re very disappointed in James because he clearly came to us initially on an arrangement until the end of the season, and with a clear intent to extend that arrangement if he was happy, which he did on September 1,’’ Hetherington told The Daily Telegraph.
“James could have ended our arrangement and signed with an NRL club, but he didn’t, and gave a firm commitment to the club.’’
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