LOTE Sacked

[cyclopath]

Regardless of what happened - the fact that nobody is none the wiser about what happened 24 hours later is just plain weird...

Where's that dribbler Danny Weidler when you need him??

Up a League player's arse somewhere...oh, I see your point!

 

[Cutter]

You know,.. .the more I get a chance to think about this the more I resent JON and the whole frikken ARU establishment. They are a bunch of tossers.

If Tuq's has molested a teenager, then fine - this is the way to handle it. But if this is a repeat so & so,.. or anything non-police related, then the timing and manner of all this sucks and stinks of disrespect to all the players. Where is the Players Association on this - no comment at all? JON has his agenda buried deep on this for sure.

No one deserves to be sacked from any business like this. Where was Tuq's chance to come out to the media first and say what was going on? Why not let him retire gracefully or give him time to find a contract elsewhere while the 3N was distracting everyone else. He could have come out in a couple of weeks and said that since his Wallaby days were seemingly over he was going to go experience the world, but no, the ARU shot him in both knees and have basically ruined any hope he had of even returning to Aus at all. What a way to look after your own hey.

While we can't afford to have Lote win big in court, I hope he makes the pricks at the top of this organization look like massive jerks,.. Heads could role on this one.. It's like the princess di cover up!..

There was a princess Di cover up?!

I think you might be getting a bit over excited. You would expect the highest paid bloke in an organisation to behave in a certain way and if he doesnt to be disciplined. Lote is no angel. He wont have any trouble getting a contract anywhere and the June 30 league deadline is a complete red herring.

EDIT: Oh, and as to why the ARU didnt let Lote retire gracefully, when has Lote ever done anything graceful? He's not exactly a bloke who oozes class like the Eales, Larkhams, Horans and, even, Baxters of this world.

 

[Grandmaster Flash]

Regardless of what happened - the fact that nobody is none the wiser about what happened 24 hours later is just plain weird...

Where's that dribbler Danny Weidler when you need him??

Danny's "mail" tonight was that Lote was offered a "significant payout by the ARU", which he turned down and was then sacked. Went on to say that O'Neill is not a Tuqiri fan and he threatened to sack Knuckles if he didn't drop Lote in 2007 for turning up to training with an alcohol reading.

Can watch Weidler's good oil here: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/video.aspx?videoid=6da1b5c7-60b9-4307-ba9c-a50f0dbfed10

 

[naza]

On another note, where the fuck's Nick the Aussie? Haven't seen him around for yonks.

Er, where the hell have you been ? Those aliens who kidnapped you finally finished with their anal probe tests then ?

 

[naza]

I think you might be getting a bit over excited. You would expect the highest paid bloke in an organisation to behave in a certain way and if he doesnt to be disciplined. Lote is no angel. He wont have any trouble getting a contract anywhere and the June 30 league deadline is a complete red herring.

EDIT: Oh, and as to why the ARU didnt let Lote retire gracefully, when has Lote ever done anything graceful? He's not exactly a bloke who oozes class like the Eales, Larkhams, Horans and, even, Baxters of this world.

Where's fatprop and his world's smallest violin ? Waa waa its not fair.... :

 

[Cutter]

It will be interesting to see whether Lote plays for West Harbour this weekend. Does anyone know if he has been at training? He deserves more credit than I give him if he keeps playing for them.

Interesting that despite JON inviting Lote to explain why he was sacked Lote has been silent. Interesting also that NSW agreed with the decision.

http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au/br...emains-over-tuqiri-sacking-20090702-d5rf.html

Mystery remains over Tuqiri sackingJuly 2, 2009 - 6:54PM
Lote Tuqiri and his representatives have declined to take up an invitation from Australian rugby boss John O'Neill to make public details of the incident which resulted in the Wallaby winger's contract being torn up.

O'Neill again refused to disclose the reason for Tuqiri's sacking at a tense media conference on Thursday, at which he said it was up to Tuqiri or his management to reveal what had happened.

Bailed up by reporters at the front of his Sydney home, Tuqiri refused to shed any light on what had led to his sacking.

"It's a legal matter. It's with the lawyers," he said.

"It's a contract dispute and we're going from there."

"I have a really supportive family which is really good and a wife and kids who love me and I love them.

"Thanks for your support and hopefully you'll see me playing somewhere soon.

Earlier O'Neill had said: "Lote Tuqiri and his management are aware of the reasons for the termination.

"If they want to discuss the situation with you (the media) we have no problem with that."

O'Neill stone-walled the majority of questions at the media conference, continually answering questions with the mantra: "Lote's contract has been terminated, we have no further comment."

But he did confirm Tuqiri's behaviour was not a police matter, other players were not involved, the winger had received a warning in writing in 2007 and that Super 14 franchise NSW had been consulted and agreed with the decision.

The ARU chief executive and managing director also denied the sacking was part of a personal agenda or an attempt to rein in costs.

Asked if he had a personal agenda against the 67-Test veteran, O'Neill said: "That's ridiculous, completely. That's completely untrue and anyone who suggests that should think again."

Of Tuqiri's massive salary - reportedly $700,000 a year plus third-party deals - he said: "That wasn't part of our consideration."

When it was suggested the termination must have been the result of a significant issue, O'Neill said: "Cleary the decision to terminate a contract is one that requires a lot of consideration.

"We gave that consideration and reached the conclusion with our eyes wide open."

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans denied Tuqiri's non-selection for Australia's first four internationals this year had been designed to phase the 29-year-old out.

"Lote was in the squad previously so ... he would have been considered (for the Tri-Nations series beginning later this month)," he said.

The ongoing mystery resulted in guarded comments from the Waratahs and the Rugby Union Players Association (RUPA), while most former Wallaby greats contacted refused to comment until the reason for the sacking was known.

Waratahs coach Chris Hickey said he was yet to contact Tuqiri.

"Lote's career at the Waratahs and his performance over that period of time speaks for itself," was as far as his praise went.

RUPA boss Tony Dempsey hit out at the ARU for failing to inform him of the decision, which he learned about on Wednesday night through a call from AAP.

"I would have thought the ARU would have extended us the courtesy of advising us of their actions before advising the general public," he said.

"(Tuqiri) has proved to be a strong role model in the community at large, as typified by his ambassador roles in (a number of) charities."

"A lot of the team members of his that I've spoken to are quite bewildered and astonished by it as well.

"They saw him as a good leader within the team, a good role model and a valuable contributor."

Asked if he had concerns the ARU had been looking for a way to cut Tuqiri loose, Dempsey said: "I don't know the answer to it but I've certainly had a lot of people ask me that question."

Tuqiri's options for the future appeared to narrow to French or Japanese rugby, with nearly all NRL clubs saying they would not be able to fit him under the salary cap despite league boss David Gallop flagging the possibility of him playing after the June 30 contracts deadline.

 

[OZGOD]

Regardless of what happened - the fact that nobody is none the wiser about what happened 24 hours later is just plain weird...

Where's that dribbler Danny Weidler when you need him??

Maybe he's still following Money Bill around?

 

[OZGOD]

On another note, where the fuck's Nick the Aussie? Haven't seen him around for yonks.

Er, where the hell have you been ? Those aliens who kidnapped you finally finished with their anal probe tests then ?

Ey Naz, long time no see mate. I've been marooned here in Boston, home of the Red Sawx and Patties for the past couple of years. Good to see you still lighting up the place mate. :thumb

 

[eddo]

You know,.. .the more I get a chance to think about this the more I resent JON and the whole frikken ARU establishment. They are a bunch of tossers.

If Tuq's has molested a teenager, then fine - this is the way to handle it. But if this is a repeat so & so,.. or anything non-police related, then the timing and manner of all this sucks and stinks of disrespect to all the players. Where is the Players Association on this - no comment at all? JON has his agenda buried deep on this for sure.

No one deserves to be sacked from any business like this. Where was Tuq's chance to come out to the media first and say what was going on? Why not let him retire gracefully or give him time to find a contract elsewhere while the 3N was distracting everyone else. He could have come out in a couple of weeks and said that since his Wallaby days were seemingly over he was going to go experience the world, but no, the ARU shot him in both knees and have basically ruined any hope he had of even returning to Aus at all. What a way to look after your own hey.

While we can't afford to have Lote win big in court, I hope he makes the pricks at the top of this organization look like massive jerks,.. Heads could role on this one.. It's like the princess di cover up!..

why such hate for the top?

Because JON/ARU doesn't think twice about burning bridges.

Because all the talk right now is that Union is a step above league, .. and we're classier and more educated. Well, that may be. But I'd rather we were respectable and known for looking after our mates, like rugby is world wide at club level. This (and a number of other things done by the ARU) show that they think they're above the rugby culture themselves.

Lote's last warning was in 2007 ?? WTF ?? How long does a warning last for? He can't drink for a whole 5yr contract? We may as well sign him up to be a mormon. Rugby players drink,.. I used to play my best when my prop used to drag me away from the bar at 3am on a friday night. Not to get into an argument on drinking etc,... but it is 2009 now?

I'm pissed at the disrespect to RUPA,.. which is continuous.

Lote has been in union long enough to have shaken the mungo tag (though media and JON never let it go) .. It was mentioned before that he has done a lot for raising the profile of the game with the general public, with charities and hospitals and also islanders in Australia (who would have otherwise gone to league) .. But none of it counts as good points with the ARU,.. they only keep the bad ones. I can tell you the ARU would have reasons to sack all of them if they watched them 24/7, like they expect the players to be angels.

Down this road we're going to end up with those weird home-schooled type kids for wallabies. And the real mates - lose their mate when he becomes a wallaby because he can't go out with them anymore.

Its a shambles,.. no?

 

[Spook]

Lote has a history of poor behaviour. He is no different to someone like Matt Henjak who also got the ass after a series of incidents - Henjak played union his whole life so I don't buy the mungo tag theory.

I don't feel sorry for Lote. He will make money elsewhere. The Wallabies brand is very important to the future of rugby in Oz and JON is absolutely correct in protecting it. However, I won't condemn Lote personally until we find out what happened.

 

[Red Beard]

Lote may have done nothing major (it might be lost of small things), I could be well out of line but his attitude/personality just may not fit into the close knit environment Robbie Deans wants to create.

The hallmarks of the Crusaders success are modesty, honesty, loyalty and selflessness. They arent interested in guys with eyeliner, tattoos, funny hair, funny boots or any sort of pre maddonas who could let them down when the pressure goes on or jeopardise in any way their culture of success. You would never see a Deans coached Crusader shoving a team mate on the field like Lote did to SNN. The Crusaders dont really have (Dan Carter aside) any guys who can cut through a whole team and win the game by themselves. They recruit level headed players who do their jobs and fit into the team pattern. Maybe Lote doesnt fit and he is the first major casualty.

 

[fatprop]

Another rumour, this time from Silverfern

My mate is close to this story and apparently Lote has been looking for ways to get out of his contract. He's a sook and didn't take his recent selection snub well. These are all obvious but what he's been saying around town is he wants to go play for Wayne Bennett. My understanding is St George still have some money in the bank and could make an offer. Titans have all ready put an offer in. Lote feels as though he is under appreciated and the recent return to form of Wendell Sailor has tweaked his interest. Though apparently Tuqiri is to fight the termination its likely purely to save face.

 

[Scotty]

I think you might be getting a bit over excited. You would expect the highest paid bloke in an organisation to behave in a certain way and if he doesnt to be disciplined. Lote is no angel. He wont have any trouble getting a contract anywhere and the June 30 league deadline is a complete red herring.

Are we talking about Lote or JON?

 

[fatprop]

I think you might be getting a bit over excited. You would expect the highest paid bloke in an organisation to behave in a certain way and if he doesnt to be disciplined. Lote is no angel. He wont have any trouble getting a contract anywhere and the June 30 league deadline is a complete red herring.

EDIT: Oh, and as to why the ARU didnt let Lote retire gracefully, when has Lote ever done anything graceful? He's not exactly a bloke who oozes class like the Eales, Larkhams, Horans and, even, Baxters of this world.

Where's fatprop and his world's smallest violin ? Waa waa its not fair.... :

Naza

Sorry for showing empathy.

I guess it comes from standing in line for an envelop once, the thick one said you were retrenched, the thin one said you kept your job and since then having to do the same to other people.

Sacking someone to me shows failure for both parties. The employer failed in their selection and training processes and the employee by not meeting the employers requirements.

 

[spectator]

Point well made FP.

Without knowing the detail, the manner in which the sacking was made looks poor but I don't think he was providing anywhere near enough a good ROI.

 

[RugbyReg]

this from Lote on twitter:

I wonder where he's going to?

don't know how i sidestepped the media throng @ the airport last night, David Campese would hav been proud..

 

[Moses]

They said on Foxsports he's heading away as well, possibly of a trip to England to pick up a SuperLeague contract?

 

[fatprop]

They said on Foxsports he's heading away as well, possibly of a trip to England to pick up a SuperLeague contract?

I doubt that, he is fighting the termination.

If the termination notice is found to be invalid, the contract is still on foot.

 

[Ash]

I don't know if anything happened with Tuqiri or not - wouldn't be surprised on the not side. But regarding the rumours surrounding Tuqiri, a rumour I heard about him indicates to me that he must be in an open relationship, so something of an NRL activity would not have been too surprising.

PS Any non-Tahs faces, you Tah-loving sluts?

 

[Moses]

PS Any non-Tahs faces, you Tah-loving sluts?

There's a few

:dunning: :elsom: :tuqiri: