LOTE Sacked

[Cutter]

Better late than never, but this should be his 5th game for West Harbour since he was sacked, not his first.

If you'd been given the arse, were in a legal battle with your former employer, and were being hounded by the media would you front up to club rugby? I don't know, I'm kinda not surprised myself.

The media would have disappeared after a week of Lote saying "no comment". The only reason the media waited outside his house is because he made himself inaccessible. "Guys I dont have anything to say about my sacking, but I'm really looking forward to the game against X this week. We played well in patches last week but are looking for more consistency."

As for the rest, do you reckon there are others who havent been in the same or worse situations? Lote showed that he doesnt care about West Harbour, that he wasnt committed to the side and that letting his team mates down was not a concern for him.

 

[Lindommer]

from The Australian today

Tuqiri payout could reach $2m

AUSTRALIAN rugby was awash with rumours last night that the out-of-court settlement reached between Lote Tuqiri and the Australian Rugby Union would see the former Wallabies and Waratahs winger paid $2 million.

The tight secrecy that has prevailed ever since Tuqiri's $900,000-a-year contract was torn up by the ARU on July 1 following an alleged breach of the players' code of conduct remains in place, with details of the settlement subject to strict confidentiality clauses. But informed sources have told The Australian that Tuqiri, who took legal action against the ARU for alleged unfair dismissal, was pursuing his former employers for the full $3.6-$4m he stood to earn - including anticipated match payments - by the time his contract expired at the end of 2012. Whatever damages settlement Tuqiri receives would be tax-free. Sources close to the 29-year-old winger described him as being "over the moon" at the settlement, which requires him to discontinue his legal proceedings against the ARU and the NSWRU. It is understood the ARU made at least one attempt to settle with Tuqiri - for a quickly-rejected rumoured $250,000 - before the two parties last Friday entered into a day-long mediation process conducted by a retired judge. "Mediation is where the court would have instructed us to go anyway," said ARU chief executive John O'Neill last night. "Mediation is about getting a commercial settlement, not about liability."

Asked why the ARU had agreed to go down the mediation path if its case against the high-profile dual international winger was so strong, O'Neill replied: "There were lots of pragmatic reasons. It was not in the best interests of the game to see this matter dragged through the courts for an extended period of time."

No sooner has one vexing problem been resolved than another looms for the ARU, with O'Neill not able to say whether any ARU payout to Tuqiri would come from player-generated funds or from the union's coffers. But Tuqiri's career as a fulltime rugby professional in Australia is over with O'Neill squashing speculation that the crowd-drawing dreadlocked winger might be allowed to continue in the game with the new Super 15 franchise likely to be awarded to Melbourne later this year. "The answer to that is no," O'Neill said. "Any Super rugby contract requires the ARU to be a party to it and we do not believe there is a place for Lote in professional rugby moving forward in this country."

Presumably a commitment by Tuqiri not to attempt to pursue his rugby career in Australia was required under the settlement. Otherwise the ARU could well find itself fighting a new legal battle against him, this time for restraint of trade. Yet there is nothing to prevent Tuqiri continuing in rugby abroad, with French Top 14 club Bayonne believed to be pressing him to make a decision on his future. There would be no impediments to him resuming his footballing career in the NRL if he chooses to stay in Australia and return to rugby league.

But while Tuqiri is now officially gone from the game, the ramifications of his controversial dismissal are yet to play out within the ARU. Even if the rumoured figure of a $2m settlement proves to be a wild exaggeration, the payout figure still is likely to put a massive strain on the ARU's bottom line.

WTF! I thought the ARU had a watertight case for sacking him. Doesn't look good for JON.

 

[Scotty]

It better not be $2M. That is ridiculous.

 

[naza]

Yet another John O'Neill fuck up. The guy is the CEO equivalent of Donut Dunning.

Where are his defenders now ?

 

[PaarlBok]

Ja fire him. He is no good for the game. :

 

[fatprop]

No one knows, this is all supposition, the ARU and Lote are saying nothing.

There would have been confidentiality agreements all over this.

But it is in Lote's interest for any "rumours" to talk up the payment for justification for him being "wronged" and it is in the ARU's interest t talk it down.

 

[fatprop]

Lote Tuqiri banned from returning to NRL unless he comes clean

By Paul Kent
August 26, 2009

The NRL has worked too hard and suffered too many bruises to allow Lote Tuqiri to play rugby league.

Unless he comes clean.

NRL boss David Gallop on Tuesday night closed the door on Tuqiri returning to the NRL unless he is willing to reveal what it was that got him sacked by the Australian Rugby Union.

Unless that happens, Tuqiri's only option is to play overseas.

Gallop is absolutely correct.

"We owe it to our stakeholders, particularly our players, who we hold accountable for their behaviour, to understand the reasons for his contract being terminated before we would consider registering him to play in our competition," Gallop said.

Gallop was careful but specific in his language. The door is shut and only Tuqiri can produce the key.

There are some who might think this is rich coming from the NRL, which has seen enormous damage to its game, most of it self-inflicted.

But through all the damage the NRL has acted with the greatest integrity to its fans. It has left them in no doubt as to its stance on what constitutes acceptable behaviour.

When Sydney Roosters prop Nate Myles mistook the hallway at Terrigal's Crowne Plaza for Schlossy's shoe in July, the NRL released the details itself. It said: "This is what he did and this is his punishment."

In doing so it reinforced the contract between the game and its fans about acceptable behaviour.

How can the NRL and its clubs suspend Myles, stand down Brett Stewart, Jake Friend and Greg Inglis, drop Willie Mason, ban Reni Maitua, sack Brett Seymour, deregister Greg Bird, and allow Lote to play?

What he did might be worse than all of them. Or it might not.

For that reason, the ARU can't be so proud.

From the start, John O'Neill and his merry men said they would not release details of Tuqiri's offence - but invited Tuqiri to, if he so wished.

Tuqiri remained silent. Yet in taking that stance the ARU broke the bonds of trust between itself and its fans.

It said to every rugby fan "trust us, we know what's good for you".

But do they? And should it be the ARU's decision?

That they were aware of this break in trust, and still carried on with it regardless, reflects their concern for what happened.

Yet it achieved nothing.

It simply left the whole mess open to rumour and innuendo, with little of it favourable for Tuqiri or the ARU.

Most of all, it treated long-suffering rugby fans as mugs.

The ARU board is there for the game. The game is not there for them.

It can be confirmed, 100 per cent, that Tuqiri's roommate while in Canberra with the Wallabies, Richard Brown, was interviewed by the ARU.

Yet Brown will not reveal even to teammates what it was about.

The only public statement came from the Rugby Union Players Association, denouncing the ARU for its handling of the issue .

Yet RUPA waited almost a week to voice itself - and then only hours before court papers were lodged that muzzled further comment because of legal restrictions.

You think they didn't know that was coming?

What it all means is that Lote Tuqiri is lost to Australian football. There is no way the NRL can in good faith register him now.

Unless he tells what happened.

 

[waratahjesus]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/lid-on-goodwin-settlement/story-e6frexnr-1225764496380

Lid on Goodwin settlement

Bronx Goodwin

SEVERAL Canberra players and officials went from sweating bullets to dodging them after sacked Raider Bronx Goodwin settled his unfair dismissal claim on Wednesday.

Had the case gone ahead it would have revealed a series of scandalous incidents and cover-ups at the club, which Goodwin's lawyers were relying on to prove their client had been wrongfully punished after a late-night brawl last July.

The most damning evidence surrounded a positive in-house drug test that a first-grader survived several seasons ago. But it wasn't only the footballers who were nervously watching Goodwin's legal manoeuvrings.

Green Machine insiders have also told us his dossier included a range of allegations against top-ranking officials, who would have been left red-faced had the evidence been aired before the Industrial Relations Commission.

Make no mistake, these considerations weighed on the Raiders' mind when they met with Goodwin moments before the hearing was due to start. They made him a settlement offer that was far greater than the figure tendered during previous negotiations.

While Goodwin's lawyers were bullish, the player was more inclined to walk away because of the damage the case might have done to his friendships with ex-teammates and wedding plans.

ive heard from a couple of friends on the media side of things that lote was using a similar defence, that other players could and should have been sacked as he was, i would say the settlement would be high as the ARU doesnt want him naming people that have done similar stuff, i have a friend at Fox Sports who told me that at least two other wallabies have actually done more in the ways of breaking codes than Lote had but he was seen as expendable to send a message.

 

[Ash]

http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/lhq...e-return/2009/08/25/1251001901605.html?page=2

The Herald understands that the ARU's settlement with Tuqiri was a six-figure sum, and not, as reported elsewhere, a $2 million payout.

Given Tuqiri was believed to have the potential to earn $3.6m to $4m over the full term of his four-year contract, it appears he will depart from professional rugby close to $3m out of pocket.

Neither is the settlement payment tax-free. The ARU yesterday released a statement, which described reports of a $2m payout as ''wildly inaccurate speculation.''

 

[mark_s]

Assuming they believed their legal case was strong, the ARU would have compared the potential legal fees (and damage to the codes reputation from this being dragged through the courts) versus the required pay out to settle. For a case like this, I would expect they would be happy to settle for anything up to $750k.

It does sound like both parties have quite a bit to hide though.

 

[Epi]

ive heard from a couple of friends on the media side of things that lote was using a similar defence, that other players could and should have been sacked as he was, i would say the settlement would be high as the ARU doesnt want him naming people that have done similar stuff, i have a friend at Fox Sports who told me that at least two other wallabies have actually done more in the ways of breaking codes than Lote had but he was seen as expendable to send a message.

I suspect this is true..

 

[mark_s]

Rumours are circulating again. Not too different from the previous rumours, but they have been updated to have an ARU connection, explaining why both parties were keen to avoid releasing details.

 

[Lindommer]

Lote Tuqiri banned from returning to NRL unless he comes clean
By Paul Kent
August 26, 2009
The NRL...

And therein lies the crux of this statement from another of Channel Nine's/The Daily Telegraph's mungo apologists. Kent's not quite as rank as Danny Weidler but we should keep in mind their target audience. They rarely miss a chance to put the boot into rugby.

 

[rugbywhisperer]

it does look thought that Lote is to coin a phrase - snookered, catcha 22

 

[jason]

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26030801-5006784,00.html

FOOTBALL superstar Lote Tuqiri was sacked by the Australian Rugby Union for breaking strict team rules by having a woman in his Wallabies hotel room.

At the time, Tuqiri was on his "last warning" for previous behavioural issues.

Tuqiri's $5 million contract was torn up by ARU boss John O'Neill for taking the guest, a 20-year-old, into his room after a night out in Canberra in the week leading up to a Test.

He met the girl, a university student and the daughter of a respected Canberra family, at a nightclub in Canberra before the pair returned to the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

The Wallabies were staying at the hotel in the second week of June to prepare for a Test match against Italy.

Team management was made aware of Tuqiri's breach of rules the next day. Tuqiri was not picked in the side for the Test and is believed to have returned home to Sydney before the game. The former rugby league star was sharing a room with team-mate Richard Brown, who was questioned by an ARU disciplinary panel about the evening.

He was reluctant to co-operate because he did not want to dob in a mate. There is no suggestion Brown had anything to do with the woman being in the room.

When approached by The Sunday Telegraph yesterday, Tuqiri refused to offer any comment, other than saying: "I've signed a confidentiality thing. I'm not into legal stuff but I can't say anything."

An ARU spokesman said much the same: "We are not at liberty to discuss the Lote Tuqiri termination issue. As Lote wrote in his Sunday Telegraph column last week, a confidentiality clause exists as part of the settlement."

Tuqiri's shock sacking baffled fans. It is extremely rare for a player in any football code to have a contract torn up in such a public way without explanation.

As a result, rumours swept through rugby union and rugby league circles regarding the circumstances of his dismissal.

In the early stages, ARU boss John O'Neill publicly stated Tuqiri, a father of two, was free to disclose why he was dismissed.

Tuqiri maintained a stony silence. NRL boss David Gallop increased the public pressure on Tuqiri to reveal why he was sacked, telling the player he could not return to league unless he talked about what occurred.

During a painstaking investigation, The Sunday Telegraph discovered O'Neill chose not to go public with details of the incident - despite being accused of a cover-up - out of his respect for the woman and her family.

Even most of O'Neill's senior staff at the ARU have been kept in the dark because of his concerns over the woman being identified and embarrassed.

Tuqiri launched legal action against the ARU for wrongful dismissal. The case was settled out of court for a significant sum after both parties argued at the initial hearing for details to be suppressed from the media.

Tuqiri had a long list of disciplinary breaches, including two major incidents in 2005 and 2007, before he was labelled "Last Chance Lote" when O'Neill took over as ARU chief executive.

In 2005, Tuqiri and Wendell Sailor were fined and received two-match suspended sentences for being out late in a Cape Town nightclub. Tuqiri was also involved in an argument with team-mate Matt Henjak, who was later sent home from the tour.

In 2007, Tuqiri turned up late to a Wallabies training session and was over the limit when tested on a breathalyser. He received a substantial fine and a two-game suspension as a carry over from the incident in South Africa.

In another incident in Brisbane, he was put on a final warning after a late night during which he invited guests to his hotel room - who were later questioned over the bashing of a taxi driver.

That led to an ARU a curfew before the World Cup in France. At the time, O'Neill said: "It was unacceptable behaviour ... our conversation with them has left them in no doubt as to what the ramifications are if there is another offence."

Tuqiri's solicitor Mark O'Brien and his manager Les Ross refused to return numerous phone calls or text messages from The Sunday Telegraph.

 

[Scarfman]

Hmmmmm.

So, if this is true, then no-one here seems to have guessed right. The secrecy concerns the identity of the girl's family. Odd though - what is so terrible about having sex when you are 20 years old? Is she the daughter of the Archbishop?

Regarding the offence - pretty much nothing, if Lote's wife is cool with it.

 

[mark_s]

Is she the daughter of the Archbishop?

No someone much closer to the ARU

 

[Scarfman]

"Respected Canberra family?"

Close to the ARU?

I give up.

 

[Epi]

If that's it he should have been out there last night...

Got to be more to it than that....

 

[RugbyReg]

Who's the Chairman? Pete MGrath? He's from Canberra right?