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http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,25527242-5012658,00.html
HE has been sacked by four NRL clubs for off-field offences but the Wests Tigers have thrown serial bad boy Arana Taumataa lifeline.
The Sunday Telegraph understands the Tigers have offered the five-eighth a $20,000 contract and will consider asking the NRL to register a contract this year.
The NRL has been paying for counselling sessions for Taumata, but chief executive David Gallop stressed it was unlikely they would register him this season.
"We've actually been assisting him financially in funding some courses that he's been attending,'' Gallop said. "If we're satisfied that he's made some inroads into his issues then we would consider registering him for 2010.''
A young Kiwi blessed with blistering speed, Taumata has been axed by the Broncos, Roosters, Bulldogs and Melbourne for a litany of off-field issues.
The Storm showed him the door in February after a drunken altercation. Storm boss Brian Waldron said at the time: "Arana's come to the club with the understanding that he's had one opportunity and unfortunately he has transgressed and left us with no choice.
"We're disappointed for a number of reasons, certainly from an image of the club point of view.
Arana's got some issues to deal with personally, we've tried to help him through those but he understands that when you make choices there are consequences.''
Still, Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy had such a high opinion of the pivot the Storm have continued to keep him involved with the club since tearing up his contract.
But the Tigers have snuck under the Storm's guard, with the club considering lobbying Gallop to allow Taumata to return to the playing field this season.
Since being dumped by the Storm for his involvement in a street fight in February, Taumata has undergone counselling and worked as a labourer in Brisbane.
Surprisingly, Tigers chairman Kevin Hammond was unaware of the move to sign the junior Kiwi, while football manager Warren McDonnell denied a deal had been done. "I'm not aware of any contract being signed but that's not unusual, I wouldn't normally be consulted about those sorts of issues,'' Hammond said.
There have been suggestions off-contract Tigers five-eighth John Morris was shopping around for a club in England but the versatile former Country Origin representative has strongly denied the move.
Morris told The Sunday Telegraph that his first priority was to remain at the Tigers, where his agent Wayne Beavis has begun discussions with a view to extending his current deal.
"I love the club, I'm happy here and I want to stay, hopefully something is going to get sorted out,'' Morris said.
If the Tigers do come to terms with Taumata, the flashy five-eighth could be a dynamic utility.
The move would also give coach Tim Sheens options if star playmakers Robbie Farah or Benji Marshall were missing.
What do you think about this?
HE has been sacked by four NRL clubs for off-field offences but the Wests Tigers have thrown serial bad boy Arana Taumataa lifeline.
The Sunday Telegraph understands the Tigers have offered the five-eighth a $20,000 contract and will consider asking the NRL to register a contract this year.
The NRL has been paying for counselling sessions for Taumata, but chief executive David Gallop stressed it was unlikely they would register him this season.
"We've actually been assisting him financially in funding some courses that he's been attending,'' Gallop said. "If we're satisfied that he's made some inroads into his issues then we would consider registering him for 2010.''
A young Kiwi blessed with blistering speed, Taumata has been axed by the Broncos, Roosters, Bulldogs and Melbourne for a litany of off-field issues.
The Storm showed him the door in February after a drunken altercation. Storm boss Brian Waldron said at the time: "Arana's come to the club with the understanding that he's had one opportunity and unfortunately he has transgressed and left us with no choice.
"We're disappointed for a number of reasons, certainly from an image of the club point of view.
Arana's got some issues to deal with personally, we've tried to help him through those but he understands that when you make choices there are consequences.''
Still, Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy had such a high opinion of the pivot the Storm have continued to keep him involved with the club since tearing up his contract.
But the Tigers have snuck under the Storm's guard, with the club considering lobbying Gallop to allow Taumata to return to the playing field this season.
Since being dumped by the Storm for his involvement in a street fight in February, Taumata has undergone counselling and worked as a labourer in Brisbane.
Surprisingly, Tigers chairman Kevin Hammond was unaware of the move to sign the junior Kiwi, while football manager Warren McDonnell denied a deal had been done. "I'm not aware of any contract being signed but that's not unusual, I wouldn't normally be consulted about those sorts of issues,'' Hammond said.
There have been suggestions off-contract Tigers five-eighth John Morris was shopping around for a club in England but the versatile former Country Origin representative has strongly denied the move.
Morris told The Sunday Telegraph that his first priority was to remain at the Tigers, where his agent Wayne Beavis has begun discussions with a view to extending his current deal.
"I love the club, I'm happy here and I want to stay, hopefully something is going to get sorted out,'' Morris said.
If the Tigers do come to terms with Taumata, the flashy five-eighth could be a dynamic utility.
The move would also give coach Tim Sheens options if star playmakers Robbie Farah or Benji Marshall were missing.
What do you think about this?
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