St George Illawarra boss Peter Doust has asked the NRL to sort out the protracted dispute with the Wests Tigers over star utility Tim Moltzen’s contract.
Doust has written a detailed statement on the Dragons’ website, saying the club is exploring its legal options and claiming Moltzen and his manager Martin Tauber have gone missing as the wrangling drags on.
The Dragons signed Moltzen on a three-year deal in July, saying they had assurances he would be released from his contract with the Tigers.
At the time, Tigers chief executive Stephen Humphreys expressed his disappointment at the timing of the announcement.
A release is still to be finalised and Doust has accused the Tigers of not acting in good faith amidst reports Moltzen has had a change of heart and after a request from Humphreys for “further discussions”.
“Our suspicions were raised earlier last week when both Martin Tauber and Tim Moltzen did not return phone calls to Dragons staff and Tim also failed to front for a pre-arranged meeting prior to his departure for an end-of-season overseas trip with other Wests Tigers players,” Doust wrote.
“It is quite obvious that some circumstances at the Wests Tigers have changed in recent times, otherwise why only now three months later are we made aware that there is an issue?”
Doust said the Dragons had investigated their legal position.
“Certainly some sections within the NRL rules are worth exploring in protecting the Dragons’ interests,” he wrote.
“Clearly this is not something that we have been able to resolve with the Wests Tigers and we will now continue to press our contractual position in relation to Tim Moltzen and his manager’s intentions for the 2012 season and beyond by formally referring the matter to the NRL.”
Moltzen was among several contracted stars the Tigers allowed to explore their options midseason as the club sought to free up some salary cap room.
The fullback starred during the side’s late-season surge into the finals, finally rediscovering his best after a knee reconstruction in 2010.
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