First Grade - Rumours
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09 October 2009
Posted in
First Grade -
Rumours
Tuqiri, 30, will link with a Tigers team that already boasts one of the most electrifying backlines in the competition, headed by superstar five-eighth Benji Marshall and powerhouse Taniela Tuiaki.
The Daily Telegraph has been told Tuqiri could put pen to paper on a two-year deal as soon as next week.
The Tigers have put forward two offers for Tuqiri - a pre-Christmas contract and a post-Christmas deal, which would allow him a lucrative short stint with European or Japanese rugby union.
One well-placed source at Wests Tigers said last night: "The deal is about 95 per cent done. I don't think an announcement is far off at all. It could happen within days."
Tuqiri will follow Mat Rogers (Titans), Wendell Sailor (Dragons) and Timana Tahu (Eels) as poached rugby stars returning home to rugby league.
Tuqiri's manager Les Ross will meet with Tigers CEO Stephen Humphreys this afternoon.
Tuqiri has already been in touch with Tigers coach Tim Sheens this week.
Even though the deal is not 100 per cent secured, Wests Tigers have discussed playing Tuqiri on the wing early next year before a mid-season switch to fullback.
Tuqiri was on the verge of signing with French rugby union clue Bayonne but the deal soured.
Humphreys was playing it straight last night, saying the Tigers were more hopeful than confident of securing Tuqiri.
"We will meet with Lote's manager over the next few days," he said. "We think there might be some clarity there as to his intentions. If that is the case, we can either work out a deal or not. We have expressed our interest."
The Daily Telegraph revealed last month that Balmain great Benny Elias was attempting to organise third-party agreements for Tuqiri.
Tuqiri was sacked by the ARU for breaking strict team rules on taking a woman to his Wallabies hotel room. At the time, Tuqiri was on his "last warning" for previous behavioural issues.
NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley said the NRL would seek an explanation from Tuqiri about the incident before allowing him back into rugby league. "We have said in the past that it is normal practice in any business, where an employee has left an employer, to privately ask the reason why," he said.
"Not for publication, but to understand the reasons. Our position hasn't changed."
Source: Daily Telegraph
