Lote set to become a Bunny
By Steve Mascord and Dean Ritchie
March 09, 2007 SOUTH Sydney is close to snaring Lote Tuqiri on a four-year contract after the Sharks withdrew from the race yesterday.
The Australian Rugby Union and the Rabbitohs are Tuqiri's only remaining suitors, with sources close to negotiations last night rating highly league's chances of signing him.
An announcement on the dual international is expected as soon as today.
Only a major last-minute hurdle involving third-party sponsors stands between Souths and arguably their biggest signing in history.
While some pundits rated Tuqiri an 80 per cent chance of signing with Souths, club co-owner Peter Holmes a Court refused last night to admit that the signing was "a done deal".
"But if what you guys are saying is right, that's great news," he said.
Souths have worked hard behind the scenes to convince Tuqiri's existing personal sponsors, such as Reebok, that it is in their interests for him to return to the 13-man game.
And it has previously been reported the Bunnies need around $150,000 from existing rugby league sponsors to top up their package.
Those talks have also gone into overdrive in recent days.
NRL chief executive David Gallop said last night there were no further developments to report regarding negotiations about Tuqiri with the league's stakeholders.
Tuqiri would also get one of Souths' three allotted marquee player salary cap allowances.
New prop Roy Asotasi was ranked as one of the most significant recruits in the Rabbitohs' 100-year history.
But Tuqiri, given his achievements in both rugby codes, would probably eclipse Asotasi, Phil Blake (1987) and even Australia flyer Cec Blinkhorn, who moved to North Sydney in 1919.
Holmes a Court said of Tuqiri last week that "he would walk into the top 15 rugby union players in the world and he would walk into the top 13 rugby league players".
Tuqiri's agent, Les Ross, did not return telephone calls last night.
The Rabbitohs development came after the Sharks had withdrawn from the race for Tuqiri's signature, believing the Wallabies winger wanted to stay in rugby.
Sharks officials were also determined not to be "pushed around" during negotiations.
The Sharks, however, had secured third-party sponsors and their interest in Tuqiri was genuine.
A Sharks press statement released yesterday afternoon claimed the club withdrew due to "ongoing complications involving the Australian Rugby Union negotiations".
"Respectfully, we explained to Les Ross that we would withdraw from the race," Sharks chief executive Greg Pierce said.
"We were getting a clear message that Lote is still very interested in remaining in rugby union and we are not in a position to compete with them financially.
"All the negotiations were professionally handled by Les and Lote, but we have reached a stage where we need to move on.
"We have other players Ricky Stuart is keen to re-sign, plus the season is about to begin so our energies would be better placed elsewhere."
The ARU had earlier given Tuqiri until Monday to decide on a four-year offer tabled at a meeting in Sydney on Wednesday.
Sydney Roosters, Brisbane and Gold Coast were linked to Tuqiri during the early days of the signing saga.
But one by one, they pulled out.
Source:
www.foxsports.com
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