Puletua let go, but not Turner
By James Hooper
November 28, 2006 GOLD Coast coach John Cartwright has defended the Titans' decision to release Frank Puletua on "compassionate grounds" despite refusing to budge on the controversial Steve Turner contract fiasco.
Denying the move was double standards, Cartwright said the Titans were fully aware of Puletua's reluctance to head north midway through last season.
"I've been aware of it for a while. It got to the stage where Frank was going to retire," Cartwright said.
Puletua has "extenuating family circumstances" surrounding his decision and will remain playing in the NRL with Penrith.
But the Titans will continue to take a hardline stance against Turner, who has been the subject of a tug of war between the Gold Coast and Melbourne.
"Steve Turner hasn't given us any compassionate reasons at all other than he's got cold feet," Cartwright said.
"Frank's is a family-related issue and I can guarantee you if I was in the same position I would do exactly the same thing myself.
"If people come to that conclusion (double standards) without knowing the circumstances then that's a pretty narrow-minded view."
Turner is refusing to join the Gold Coast and is prepared to launch legal action or sit out the 2007 season.
The grand final winger said yesterday his stance had not changed despite NRL chief executive David Gallop brokering a meeting with Turner and Gold Coast supremos last week.
"Nothing has changed for me but I'll be interested to hear the reasons why Frank has been allowed a release but the Titans won't let me have one," Turner said.
Turner's agent David Riolo said his client's case had turned into a power struggle between Gold Coast chief executive Michael Searle and Melbourne counterpart Brian Waldron.
The Titans signed Canberra forward Kris Kahler in September to compensate for the anticipated loss of Puletua.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,20830047-23214,00.html
