COWBOYS pivot Arana Taumata has requested a release from his contract with the Cowboys effective immediately to return to Sydney.
Taumata and his girlfriend have struggled with the relocation to Townsville which has lead to the 21-year-old’s manager formalizing a release from his contract.
“We spoke to the club last week and formalized it yesterday,” said his manager Sam Ayoub.
“He hasn’t settled in and his girlfriend wasn’t happy so we asked for a release, it’s pretty straight forward,” Ayoub said.
Cowboys football operations manager Peter Parr told nospam23.com.au the play maker's problems are a private matter and will not be discussed publicly.
“We’re in a process with his manager at the moment. It’s been no secret he’s struggled here," said Parr.
"The issue is of a personal nature and I’m a bit surprised anyone knows about it.
“We hope we will have it sorted out in the next few days,” he said.
However, Ayoub told nospam23.com.au that the young gun has two Sydney based NRL sides chasing his signature and his future will be known within the next two days.
“We’re close to finalizing something in the next 48 hours,” he said.
Considering the background of Wellington-born Taumata, it would be easy to speculate his release was granted due to disciplinary reasons, however Ayoub and Parr said that’s the furthest thing from the truth.
“As far as I’m aware he hasn’t done anything wrong,” said Parr.
“This is personal not disciplinary.”
Once Taumata’s future is announced, it will be his seventh NRL club in six years having been sacked from the Roosters, Bulldogs, Broncos and Storm.
He joined the Wests Tigers this year training with the first-grade side but playing for NSW Cup team Balmain Ryde before joining the Cowboys.
