Puletua would've retired, says coach
November 27, 2006 - 12:59PM
New Zealand Test forward Frank Puletua would have retired from the NRL if Gold Coast had not granted him a release on compassionate grounds, says Titans coach John Cartwright.
On the same day renegade winger Steve Turner failed to turn up to Titans training, Puletua, 27, was allowed to stay in Penrith rather than honour his two-year contract with Gold Coast.
"I didn't want to let him go but given his circumstances I had no other choice," said Cartwright on Monday.
"It was on compassionate grounds and things I don't want to go into.
"Frank confided in me and it's a personal thing that he spoke to me about.
"I've been aware of it for a while. It got to the stage where Frank was going to retire. Circumstances prevailed that he couldn't come (to the Gold Coast)."
Penrith chief executive Mick Leary said he would move immediately to re-negotiate a contract with Puletua.
Titans managing director Michael Searle, who was unavailable for comment, had threatened to fine Turner if he was a no-show at training on Monday.
"He still doesn't want to go (to the Titans)," said Turner's manager David Riolo.
"The Turner situation is more about a clash between two CEOs rather than the actual player, who's a pawn in the middle of their battle now."
Riolo said Puletua was released because he was easily replaceable compared to Turner, who started his first grade career as a fullback before scoring 18 tries for the Storm this year as a winger.
"It's about the Gold Coast roster and in some ways I can understand that," said Riolo.
"I feel sorry for their situation. They've agreed terms with a good, young player and he's changed his mind.
"You could do that a thousand times and nothing happens but this time it's exploded in their face and it's not their fault."
Cartwright rejected any similarities between the cases of Puletua and Turner, who agreed to join the Titans for three years in June only to backflip two months later and re-sign with the Storm until the end of 2009.
"They can compare all they like but those people don't know the facts," Cartwright retorted.
"I've known about Frank for quite a long time and we were able to make plans in case it got to the stage where we did have to release him.
"We've got to that stage now and we've covered ourselves."
Cartwright said he had "washed his hands" of the long-running Turner saga, claiming it was an administration issue.
After speaking to Turner on Monday morning, Storm chief executive Brian Waldron said the 22-year-old was "very stressed".
"Steve's just having a few days to try and recharge his batteries after a stressful end to last week," Waldron said.
Searle and Waldron will come face to face at a two-day CEO's conference in Sydney starting on Wednesday.
