ARU Confirm: Lote's just here for marketing purposes.

[RugbyReg]

He's just on tour to give quotes to the media and give the teenagers someone to look up to.

INJURED winger Lote Tuqiri will remain with the Australian rugby squad until the end of their European tour - even if he is unable to play a match.

Tuqiri has not played since undergoing knee surgery after Australia?s 28-24 loss to New Zealand in mid-September and was only cleared to make six-week spring tour the day before the Wallabies departed.

He said in Hong Kong before the tour-opening clash with the All Blacks that he was targeting the showdown with England as his comeback match.

But despite watching Tuqiri train the house down over the past fortnight, Wallabies coach Robbie Deans today admitted the dual international was not even close to gaining selection for the Cook Cup Test at Twickenham.

"He's just now starting to work on the field and starting to do more rugby-specific work and we'll just monitor his progress,? Deans said.

Deans said before the tour that Tuqiri would be sent home if he suffered any setbacks but has since decided the 66-Test veteran is better off remaining with Wallabies, where he can receive specialist care from the team doctors, physios and - most importantly - conditioners.

"As he alluded to himself, he's not very good training by himself," Deans said.

Deans said both he and his first-choice winger remained hopeful a comeback would occur against either France, Wales or the Barbarians in the three remaining fixtures after the England Test.

But there are no guarantees and Tuqiri could well finish the tour as a passenger.

Teammates Timana Tahu (hamstring) and Berrick Barnes (knee) have already been ordered back to Australia after suffering tour-ending injuries against Italy, reducing Deans squad to 32 players.

 

[formeropenside]

He's just on tour to give quotes to the media and give the teenagers someone to look up to Essex girls a little piece of Lote.

Fixed that for you.

 

[fatprop]

It is a lot of money to make sure he does his training

 

[naza]

Make him wear this

 

[Scotty]

Is that all true, Noddy, or have you been a bit creative?

If it is true, it truly is a joke.

 

[RugbyReg]

I haven't changed a thing within the quote.

 

[Scotty]

So they can't trust Lote to have the motivation to train by himself, yet they still want him playing for his country.

WHAT A FECKIN JOKE.

 

[hi-jinks]

It is a lot of money to make sure he does his training

Add Tahu to the paid to lift weights payroll.
I reckon Naza would hook into the gym too if he was paid 500 big ones a year to look fit.

 

[Henners]

and in terms of marketing purposes he is a poor mans Wendell Sailor.

 

[hi-jinks]

Who are both very poor men's Ellery Hanleys.

 

[naza]

There is only one Martin 'Chariots' Offiah.

 

[hi-jinks]

Chariots was no Henderson Gill.

 

[RugbyReg]

Who was no Garry Schofield

 

[rugbywhisperer]

So how many people other than the ARU seem to think Lote and Timana are a waste of money - I think all but the ARU.
Enough, lets get back to growing our own.
If a league player wants to convert, please by all means but lets NOT buy them - let them prove themselves worthy first of all

 

[barbarian]

So how many people other than the ARU seem to think Lote and Timana are a waste of money - I think all but the ARU.
Enough, lets get back to growing our own.
If a league player wants to convert, please by all means but lets NOT buy them - let them prove themselves worthy first of all

I am not against buying high-profile league players per se, I just think we need to find the right ones. A big name convert injects a lot of interest into the S14 and tests, and undoubtedly gets fans through the gates. The problems arise once the 'honeymoon period' is over and we all start to realise that Wendell, Lote, Matt, Nathan, Clinton and Timana really aren't that good at rugby.

Find more Ryan Crosses and less Wendell Sailors, that is the answer. A well-picked leaguie can do provincial rugby the world of good- its just that we haven't really seen one in NSW yet.

 

[Major Spliff Biggins]

Actually thought Clinton Shif. was a decent signing and value for money based on the Reds backs predicament at the time.

Let's not forget Andrew Walker as well. If he could have got his personal life together he would have played for the Wallabies and Brumbies for several more years. Immensely gifted and adaptable in a numbedr of positions.

Lote has made the ARU look ridiculous with the way he has behaved and lack of performance on field.

Having said that, we should be happy that at least we have a coach with the cahones to leave him out of the team. Well done Robbie!

 

[Cutter]

Actually thought Clinton Shif. was a decent signing and value for money based on the Reds backs predicament at the time.

Let's not forget Andrew Walker as well. If he could have got his personal life together he would have played for the Wallabies and Brumbies for several more years. Immensely gifted and adaptable in a numbedr of positions.

Lote has made the ARU look ridiculous with the way he has behaved and lack of performance on field.

Having said that, we should be happy that at least we have a coach with the cahones to leave him out of the team. Well done Robbie!

Walker played first grade for Randwick before he switched to league. He's hardly a poach.

 

[Spook]

Funny how the best of the lot has been Cross. A relatively cheap buy I imagine.

It's very obvious that Lote can't be trusted by himself. I daresay he needs to be breathalised and drug tested quite often. In the meantime someone like Gerard who was the best 15 in the S14 with Sheperd would have been bloody handy on the tour as a genuine kicking 15.

 

[fatprop]

The video of the Wallabies training had Lote doing ball work with the team.

 

[hi-jinks]

Who was no Garry Schofield

Maybe, but Schofield was no Launghing Lee Crooks.


On the Ryan Cross issue: I think going to the Force was a great option for him. It took him away from the dreaded Sydney media and the dreaded Clovelly Hotel. He was a former Aussie Schools rugby player from Waverly from memory. Obviously the aru remembered this.
On another mungo side note. I always thought Peter Ryan was a great buy for the Brumbies. He really added some steel to their defence. And yes, he too (believe it or not) was in the 88 Aussie schools rugby side.