Lote Tuqiri is hoping to play 'a few more years' for Tigers
HAVING regained his mental mojo after a "nightmare" year with injury, Lote Tuqiri is hoping to finalise his future over the next fortnight.
Nearing the end of a three-year deal at Wests Tigers, the dual international has drawn enough hunger to play on after surviving a cursed 12 months that featured a broken arm, staph infection, ankle syndesmosis, quad strain and wrist reconstruction.
And Tuqiri, who will turn 33 in September, has a genetic wildcard in his favour, with Tigers officials mindful that Fijian-blooded athletes tend to defy Father Time.
Slowly resurrecting his form and confidence ahead of his seventh outing of 2012,
against the Cowboys today Tuqiri is not contemplating retirement.
"I'm just waiting to see how the body comes along," he said. "With the amount of (rehab) work I've put in over the past six months, it's feeling pretty good.
"I think the body will tell me when it's time and it's not telling me that now.
"I'll probably sit down at the table with the Tigers soon.
"There's other interest out there but I've not gone down that path of talking to different parties.
"Hopefully next week, or the week after that, I'll be able to talk to the Tigers."
Starting with a broken arm last March, 2011 degenerated into an all-time low for a cult figure who's tasted the highs of premiership glory and Rugby World Cups.
Tuqiri managed to return for the finals, but has now revealed he suffered through August and September with a torn left wrist ligament.
It required reconstructive surgery in December that limited Tuqiri's pre-season to running and cardio.
"Last year was a nightmare for me," Tuqiri said.
"I would get injured then comeback and do something totally unrelated.
"To be honest, I'm just getting over it now.
"I'd never been through anything like that and I didn't think it would hinder me as much mentally.
"I'm still not setting the world on fire and there's a lot of room to improve. But it helps that I'm back on the field and the coaching staff have shown a lot of faith in me."
Whether that faith extends to a new deal remains to be seen, with the club's 2013 roster filling fast after the recruitment of Braith Anasta, Eddie Pettybourne and Bodene Thompson.
But having guided Fijian evergreens Noa Nadruku (Raiders and Cowboys) and Petero Civoniceva (Australia), Tigers coach Tim Sheens has an appreciation of Tuqiri's potential longevity.
"The Fijian blood tends to go pretty good, so I'm thankful to my parents for that," Tuqiri laughed. "As long as I can keep my body in good shape and do everything right off the field I can hopefully still play for a few more years."
