Tuqiri an Eel?

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

HE was once the most dominant rugby league winger in the NRL, winning premierships with Brisbane, Origins with Queensland and Tests for the Kangaroos.
Now the tantalising prospect of Lote Tuqiri returning to rugby league is very real, with Parramatta last night becoming the first club to publicly declare their intention to sign the discarded ARU star.
The Eels, though, will have to compete for Tuqiri's signature with the Gold Coast Titans, who have opened the door for the former Bronco to return to the sunny climes of Queensland.
David Campese's column: Tuqiri axing a crying shame
"We'd be mad not to talk to him - Lote is a marquee player and we need an outside back," said new Eels football club director Brett Kenny.
"Lote is quality, who would also help us with attendances, marketing and merchandise.
"He would be a player who would lift the young kids coming through at Parramatta.
"He's not that old, either. I reckon he would have another three years left in him."
Analysis: Warning signs were all there
Titans chief executive Michael Searle also expressed an interest in Tuqiri.
"We couldn't make him an offer that his lifestyle would be accustomed to but the cap is flexible over the years," Searle said. "We have a little in the cap for next season but not a lot.
"It would depend on Lote's expectations. It would be great to have him back in rugby league."
Tuqiri may still be able to play this season despite not being registered with the NRL before the June 30 transfer deadline.
"The rule states that under exceptional circumstances, a player can be registered after June 30," NRL chief executive David Gallop said.
"We don't know enough about it to make a decision just yet."
Tuqiri was targeted heavily by Souths in 2007 when he was tossing up whether to return to rugby league or sign a bumper new deal with the ARU.
He chose the latter - for a reported $6 million - and several NRL clubs claim they simply could not afford the former Brisbane Bronco and Kangaroos winger.
"We are on our cap this year and just about on our cap for next season," Brisbane CEO Bruno Cullen said. "We couldn't make him an offer that wouldn't be embarrassing to him."
Wests Tigers, Sydney Roosters and Souths also said they would be unable to fit Tuqiri under their salary cap for 2010.
Tuqiri played 99 games for Brisbane between 1999 and 2002 and represented the Maroons six times and the Kangaroos five times.
He still holds the record for most points in an Origin match for Queensland (18) and tries in a series (five in 2002).

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,25721378-5006066,00.html

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

It dosent look as if Bert has looked closely at our Salary Cap either. Going off what what Stags told us about our salary cap for next year.

 

[Hollywood Jesus]

Maybe we might be calling the Dogs and seeing what they want to offer for Inu?

 

[Twizzle]

Lote is now taking action against the ARU.

We haven't heard the last of this

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25719005-5016959,00.html

 

[jono]

He's still gonna be COSTA Lote , isn't he ! ( Sorry , sad but old joke)
If you look at every other LU forum , it seems like he's playing for about 10 clubs next year.

 

[Western_Eel]

I think it would be stupid to buy him, we want people longer than 3 years in our club

 

[Craig Johnston]

maybe this is the boom eels signing under wraps a couple of weeks ago? aru cut him coz they found out?

 

[AlexTheEel]

Quality player but do the eels need a winger. If we had money surely we'd go for a centre.

 

[FUIFUI_MOIMOI]

There are reports Gold Coast and Parramatta are interested.
However a spokesman for the Eels denies the club is courting him.
Tuqiri played 99 NRL matches with the Brisbane Broncos until 2002.
He was one of the ARU's highest paid players and was contracted until 2012.

 

[MarkInTheStands]

It dosent look as if Bert has looked closely at our Salary Cap either. Going off what what Stags told us about our salary cap for next year.

Bert is just doing what he did before he was a director, answering the phone when the Telegraph ring.

I am sure this gives ever, uninformed eels fan a little hope and lets them brag around the water cooler.

However with 4 drinking issues already recorded by the ARU, you have to wonder with our sweeping new culture and the light from the outside shining in on league is that the image we want to expose the younger players to?

 

[Stagger eel]

lol..Bert really needs to consult Spag, Hilditch, Hill and DA before he makes a comment like that...

 

[TheParraboy]

Id rather sign Matt Dunning than Lote tbrh....

 

[AlexTheEel]

Id rather sign Matt Dunning than Lote tbrh....

Geez is the pie shop really doing that bad since Riddell left?

 

[Gronk]

It would seem that Lote has been boned.

We can't afford him as he's earning potential in Europe is out of our league.

Kenny (and Price for that matter) should be muzzled.

 

[Craig Johnston]

i wouldn't be too quick to dismiss bert's comments. the new eels board have obviously done some homework on what sort of players are needed to attract 3rd party sponsors as has been mentioned on this board a few times.

i agree with bert that there is a marketing payoff for signing lote.

 

[benkustosgrandmother]

Is everyone avoiding the point that Lote is a beast and would look loverly on any backline in the country.

Hayne + Lote connection sonnnnnnnnn.

 

[spiderdan]

we don't need another back, least of all one that would attract the money tuquiri would.

any money that kenny thinks should be splashed at lote should be used to retain and upgrade some current players, and/or find another decent forward at a decent price.

edit: on second thought though lote is taking legal action against the aru, so if the remainder of his contract is worth a few mill $(?) and he receives a massive settlement payout he may well accept an nrl contract for peanuts with perks.

 

[Bigfella]

Given Da's comments at the ticket holders forum Kenny's comments are not a problem.

If there is any league interest Parra should be driving Lote's price up.

Gives us a better chance of picking up a bargain basement player down the track eg a Titans backrower who might subsequently become available.

Gronk and MITS are still dirty that 3P won the elction.

 

[planeteels]

Disbelieve at your peril.

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

Bert is just doing what he did before he was a director, answering the phone when the Telegraph ring.

I am sure this gives ever, uninformed eels fan a little hope and lets them brag around the water cooler.

However with 4 drinking issues already recorded by the ARU, you have to wonder with our sweeping new culture and the light from the outside shining in on league is that the image we want to expose the younger players to?

Probably not, thats probably why we wont sign him. As opposed to the old board who continiously gave Riddell and Timmy Smith chances. Then signed Finch despite his record. Oh and lets not forget the decision to make the welfare officer position redundant where not long later, Hayne has a bullet fly past his head and Timmy Smith looses it.