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.
Ken
Guest
‘Mickey Mouse season' - you mean the first untainted season in half a decade? Your troll aside, I think your basic point is well-made - Moltzen has some promise but isn't much more than a fringe first grader at the moment. The Dragons likely got him for a good price and would have liked him there as a backup but I don't think he was ever central to their plans. It's a bit late in the proceedings to look for someone else though and with Gasnier, Boyd and Tagive moving on they're going to be a little thin in outside backs if they need to cover for injuries. Also it's a bit of a dog (cat?) act by the Tigers to mess everyone around and pull this crap so there's probably an aspect of just standing up for the themselves going on too. Interesting, Doust says he still hasn't officially released Boyd or Tagive, which is a formality commonly done as they leave apparently, though he has no intention of 'paying forward' the problems the Tigers are causing.
Meesta Cool
Guest
Why all the fuss. this guy is an ordinary full back who has put in 6 good games within a team structure much different to the dragons, he is injury prone and likely to be an ongoing problem... forget him and move on.. There are lots of young full backs with as much potential as Moltzen -- just send a scout around Rugby League land and you will pick one up on a budget wage.... Ooops I just forgot, this is the Dragons I am talking about... hehehe. Premiers in the 'Mickey Mouse season'...hehehehe
BT
Guest
Obviously Moltzen is someone Dragons probably don't want now, given how he has acted in the last month. I suspect they are purely chasing some sort of financial reimbursement and would not be surprised if a play at Todd Carney is made. Its sad that this is how things are these days. It is the younger generation. Your word is no longer your word. Tigers obviously don't want him to go following the Lui saga, but Moltzen has already agreed to terms with the Dragons. If Moltzen did not want to go he should have went to the Dragons and talked directly with him, instead he has been unprepared to face up to his responsibilities and went running away like a school kid in trouble.