Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Sydney Roosters Aim To Sign Tuqiri

By Byron Riley

Collectors of rugby league memorabilia have a new reason to be excited because the Sydney Roosters are poised to sign former Wallaby star Lote Tuqiri. Team brokers are preparing to make Tuqiri a significant offer to get him to Sydney for the next season. Tuqiri will have to take a pay cut but it may be worth it to him to get back into the league after being dismissed from the league and having his contract terminated.

If Tuqiri accepts the Roosters' offer, the value of rugby league signed merchandise bearing the player's name is certain to greatly increase. The deal looks likely, though it does hinge on a few factors - new Roosters coach Brian Smith's assent and if the team drops Setaimata Sa's contract. Collectors sadly won't be seeing any West Tigers jerseys or other Tigers-related rugby league memorabilia with Tuqiri's name, since the Tigers have dropped out of negotiations following Tuqiri's announcement that he had no intention of signing with the club.

All of the negotiations are currently going well under the radar, with the Roosters even denying that they've been talking with Tuqiri or anyone on his management team. Rugby league memorabilia collectors and fans may just have to be patient to see this star player take the field once again as well as having the chance to get their hands on new gear with Tuqiri's name emblazoned on it.

Tuqiri is a fan favorite and the Roosters would definitely like to be able to add this star to their team. Right now it all comes down to whether the club will be able to make Tuqiri an offer which is too good to pass up. It currently appears that the Roosters are the only team in contention to sign Tuqiri, with the Bulldogs out of the running due to the increase in Brian Goodwin's contract and their signing of Junior Tia Kilifi and Mickey Paea. The Gold Coast Titans have announced that they've also decided not to pursue Tuqiri.

While all of this is going on, the rugby league Supreme Court is reviewing Tuqiri's expulsion from the league with lawyers from the league and Tuqiri's management both in favor of the dispute being resolved in an expedient manner. As for Tuqiri himself, he's been playing club rugby after taking three months away from the game.

In the meantime, Turqiri's case is still being reviewed by the leagues Supreme Court and lawyers from both sides are arguing for changes in the dispute. Turqiri himself has been playing club rugby after a three month break

The biggest rugby league memorabilia are balls, jerseys and shorts. Having rugby league signed gear makes it worth a whole lot more. Rugby is a rough game so most of the gear that has been used in game play shows the tears and stains that make it look authentic. And that is where the real value is. Of course, the best is getting signed gear from big name players like Turqiri.

Fans all over the world are thrilled by the prospect of seeing him play again and the Roosters have high hopes for their club should they be able to lure Tuqiri to their roster.

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