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Dumped Wallabies winger Lote Tuqiri has revealed he is weighing up whether to return to rugby league or chance his arm in the overseas rugby market.
Tuqiri hasn’t shed any light on the mysterious reason for his sacking on Wednesday but admits he is considering his options for the future.
The 67-Test former flyer has regularly broadcast his thoughts on social networking site Twitter, where he said on Friday:
“Don’t know how long all this legal football will take so got to look beyond. OS Rugby or Rugby League???,” he posted.
Parramatta Eels coach Daniel Anderson said on Friday he thought Tuqiri would end up playing overseas.
“Every club would love to have a player of Lote Tuqiri’s ability,” Anderson said.
“But I agree, rugby union in Europe he could probably get a similar contract – I’m not sure if he’ll play NRL.”
Tuqiri has left five entires, or Tweets, informing his fellow members, dubbed Twittees, what he’s been up to on Friday.
He confirmed he left Sydney on Thursday night, posting that it was pleasing to give a pack of waiting journalists the slip at Sydney Airport.
“Don’t know how I sidestepped the media throng at the airport last night, David Campese would hav (sic) been proud …,” he said from an unknown location.
The dual international was cut from his lucrative ARU deal on Wednesday and both parties have refused to disclose the reasons for the unceremonious dumping, citing legal concerns.
While the 29-year-old mulls over a return to the 13-man game or a move abroad to earn the euro or yen, he has vowed to stay fit.
“Hav (sic) to get off my backside and do some training this arv, will b a good stress outlet! Those focus mitts better look out!!.”
Tuqiri also thanked his fans, who have been offering their words of support.
“Food 4 thought with all your tips re future employment tweeps … Thanks guys.”
Although some NRL clubs initially sounded out a league return for Tuqiri, they now say salary caps will make it too difficult to have him.
Tuqiri played 99 NRL games for the Brisbane Broncos and five rugby league Tests for Australia before he switched codes in 2003.
Former Wallabies’ coach Eddie Jones was reported on Friday saying he would consider taking Tuqiri to Japanese club Suntory, where he is coaching director.
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LeftArmSpinner said | July 4th 2009 @ 9:49am | Report comment
tweeting is good. It relies on giving the tweetees something interesting and invariably that means something personal or entertaining.
I am therefore amazed that Tuqiri, having just been sacked from his job, a job that includes 700-1,000K a year and the opportunity to represent his country as a Wallaby, with a RWC looming, he would be very reflective, quiet, worried and distracted about the future.
Not our Lote!
He goes on with the publicity circus, once agains showing that he has lost the balance between being a rugby player and a celebrity.
Is he going to return the favour and help out his teammates by playing for the West Harbour Pirates today when they changed their game plan to accommodate hims and his attempts to break back into the Wallabies???
That would say a lot more than tweeting!!!
mattamkII said | July 4th 2009 @ 10:08pm | Report comment
Leftie Leftie Leftie – so so bitter? Why?
Now you judge his character for keeping in touch with fans?
Anyway mate, I agree with you on a lot of things but you really need to let the Lote thing go. Did he kiss your Mrs or something?
joeb said | July 6th 2009 @ 3:52pm | Report comment
LeftArmSpinner, quote: “Is he going to return the favour and help out his teammates by playing for the West Harbour Pirates today when they changed their game plan to accommodate hims and his attempts to break back into the Wallabies???”
Lol. As if O’Neill would permit such, breaking back into the Wallas that is. Tuqiri should switch allegiance – loyalty? It’s out the window now, Elsom take note – and follow his former Broncos mate Thorn to the ABs, or look for a lucrative contract in France. That’d be the go – Paris! What an experience. Whatever happens he needs to now put his head down, concentrate hard on his fitness and his game and stick with union. Even a switch to the Boks perhaps.
What a shame this has happened as Deans to my mind seemed to be saving Lote as ‘heavy artillery’ for the TN series. But maybe as others have intimated in other threads here, the ARU coffers must be hurting and having someone on big bucks bench warming they were sweating on him putting a toenail out of line, and they got their dastardly wish. You could sense something was brewing over his contract for a while now.