SSFC Hitman
Juniors
- Messages
- 882
Galuvao rages at Rabbitohs
By Josh Massoud
July 10, 2007
FORMER New Zealand international Joe Galuvao branded South Sydney "shallow" last night for dumping him to the Queensland Cup.
The relationship between Galuvao and the Rabbitohs soured further yesterday, when the four-Test forward was told to pack his bags and see out the year with feeder club Brisbane Easts.
Seeking space under the salary cap to snare Sydney Roosters wing Amos Roberts, Souths have been trying to offload Galuvao for six weeks.
Rabbitohs co-owner Russell Crowe suggested last month that Galuvao should join the Ministry.
The 2003 premiership winner is convinced yesterday's move is further evidence the club is going all-out to make him quit the final 15 months of his $350,000-a-year deal.
"It's pretty obvious what they are trying to do ... they want me out of there," a shattered Galuvao said.
"Cronulla have done the same thing, making Josh Hannay and Brett Seymour play park football.
"At the moment, I feel a bit shallow about what's going on. I'm angered."
Galuvao - who turned 29 on Sunday - said it was "too soon" to decide his next move.
The former Penrith star met Souths chief executive Shane Richardson yesterday morning, but he emerged from those discussions convinced he would not play Queensland Cup until 2008.
When told later by the media that Easts officials were expecting him to line up at Langlands Park on Saturday, he sheepishly replied: "That's news to me.
"I thought I would be playing with North Sydney (the Rabbitohs' New South Wales Rugby League feeder team). I've spoken with Shane Richardson and he told me nothing about it.
"I had factored going to Queensland next year - not next week."
Richardson maintained, however, that he made it clear during the meeting with Galuvao that the player would head to Brisbane "this week".
"Joe must not have listened closely enough," he said.
Galuvao fired back: "So, what is he saying ... that I'm a liar?"
Richardson admitted that Galuvao was "not in our coaching staff's plans going forward", but he denied the Brisbane move was a strong-arm tactic to force the player out of the club.
"We could have made him play in the park for Kingsford ... the Queensland Cup is a high-standard competition," Richardson said.
"We've got a lot of good young back rowers at the club, and the coaching staff want to have a look at them in Premier League (for Norths)."
Easts coach Michael Booth confirmed the side's "star recruit" was expected to report for training on Thursday night.
"There's a motel 200m form our ground, so we'll probably put him up there," Booth said.
"He will also be fed down at the club - all of that would have been worked out."
But Galuvao gave no guarantees he'd play.
"It's all pretty raw at the moment," he said.
"I've not really sat down with my wife and talked about this stuff.
"I don't know what I'm going to do."
If Galuvao should continue with Souths, Richardson assured fans that the club could accommodate both him and new signing Craig Wing under next season's cap.END
I feel for Galuvao but he is not a $350,000 player.
By Josh Massoud
July 10, 2007
FORMER New Zealand international Joe Galuvao branded South Sydney "shallow" last night for dumping him to the Queensland Cup.
The relationship between Galuvao and the Rabbitohs soured further yesterday, when the four-Test forward was told to pack his bags and see out the year with feeder club Brisbane Easts.
Seeking space under the salary cap to snare Sydney Roosters wing Amos Roberts, Souths have been trying to offload Galuvao for six weeks.
Rabbitohs co-owner Russell Crowe suggested last month that Galuvao should join the Ministry.
The 2003 premiership winner is convinced yesterday's move is further evidence the club is going all-out to make him quit the final 15 months of his $350,000-a-year deal.
"It's pretty obvious what they are trying to do ... they want me out of there," a shattered Galuvao said.
"Cronulla have done the same thing, making Josh Hannay and Brett Seymour play park football.
"At the moment, I feel a bit shallow about what's going on. I'm angered."
Galuvao - who turned 29 on Sunday - said it was "too soon" to decide his next move.
The former Penrith star met Souths chief executive Shane Richardson yesterday morning, but he emerged from those discussions convinced he would not play Queensland Cup until 2008.
When told later by the media that Easts officials were expecting him to line up at Langlands Park on Saturday, he sheepishly replied: "That's news to me.
"I thought I would be playing with North Sydney (the Rabbitohs' New South Wales Rugby League feeder team). I've spoken with Shane Richardson and he told me nothing about it.
"I had factored going to Queensland next year - not next week."
Richardson maintained, however, that he made it clear during the meeting with Galuvao that the player would head to Brisbane "this week".
"Joe must not have listened closely enough," he said.
Galuvao fired back: "So, what is he saying ... that I'm a liar?"
Richardson admitted that Galuvao was "not in our coaching staff's plans going forward", but he denied the Brisbane move was a strong-arm tactic to force the player out of the club.
"We could have made him play in the park for Kingsford ... the Queensland Cup is a high-standard competition," Richardson said.
"We've got a lot of good young back rowers at the club, and the coaching staff want to have a look at them in Premier League (for Norths)."
Easts coach Michael Booth confirmed the side's "star recruit" was expected to report for training on Thursday night.
"There's a motel 200m form our ground, so we'll probably put him up there," Booth said.
"He will also be fed down at the club - all of that would have been worked out."
But Galuvao gave no guarantees he'd play.
"It's all pretty raw at the moment," he said.
"I've not really sat down with my wife and talked about this stuff.
"I don't know what I'm going to do."
If Galuvao should continue with Souths, Richardson assured fans that the club could accommodate both him and new signing Craig Wing under next season's cap.END
I feel for Galuvao but he is not a $350,000 player.
