Waratahs unlikely to raid NRL ranks to replace Tuqiri and Tahu
July 23, 2009 New South Wales Waratahs are confident of securing quality reinforcements following the shock loss of backline aces Lote Tuqiri and Timana Tahu in the space of two short weeks.
The Waratahs admit to being blindsided on both occasions but remain hopeful of filling their huge shoes, although it is highly unlikely they will be raiding the NRL ranks again any time soon.
The termination of Tuqiri's contract with the Australian and NSW Rugby Unions and Tahu's apparent desire to walk away from the 15-a-side game come on top of the Waratahs also losing fellow dual internationals Wendell Sailor and Mat Rogers to rugby league in the past two seasons.
"Never say never, but I'd argue that we don't take them straight from league itself," Waratahs chief executive Jim L'Estrange said.
"Clearly it's disappointing that so many of the players are going back."
While neither the NSWRU or the ARU had heard anything official from Tahu's camp as of late Thursday afternoon, L'Estrange was resigned to the 28-year-old having played his last game for the Tahs.
"From what you read in the papers and on the basis of some coincidental behaviour like not going to (Wallabies) training, I'm a little bit worried," L'Estrange said.
"It doesn't look good."
Nor does L'Estrange hold out much hope of retaining Tuqiri, who is scheduled to take his grievances with the ARU to court next month.
While Wallabies utility Drew Mitchell could serve as a readymade replacement for Tuqiri, L'Estrange said the Waratahs were now hunting for another winger and lock, the only two positions where they are short.
"But the good thing about our backline at this stage is there's a good bit of versatility there between the Drew Mitchells, the Lachie Turners and the Kurtley Beales and the Robbie Hornes.
"They can all play a variety of positions.
"And even Josh Holmes, our second halfback, is playing really well at inside centre for Warringah, where Brett Sheehan's the halfback.
"But clearly we are looking for some more outside backs and we'll be on the case as we speak.
"There's still plenty of time. It's July and the season doesn't start til February."
Despite being disgruntled at his lack of game time with NSW and the Wallabies, Tahu still managed to show enough to win the Waratahs' best back award this season.
"The last six weeks of the Super 14, particularly in Africa, Timana was really starting to understand his role and was really starting to enjoy his football and he was great for us," NSW captain Phil Waugh said.
"He was a standout towards the end of the Super 14. Most importantly, I thought he was really enjoying the culture and really enjoying the environment and it's just really disappointing to end this way.
"Lote was a huge loss for us and obviously throw in the experience of Timana ... and just that experience and presence that he has around the squad, it's a big loss."
Waugh coyly indicated the Waratahs may have a major signing announcement next week and there was some speculation former Wallabies lineout king Dan Vickerman may cut short his studies at Cambridge to return to Sydney.
If Vickerman was to come back next season, it would give him time to re-establish himself in the Wallabies fold in time for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
Agence France-Presse
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...002381,00.html
Waratahs' dual loss may pave the way for marquee player
Wayne Smith | July 24, 2009
Article from: The Australian
THERE may be a silver lining for the Waratahs in the joint losses of former rugby league stars Timana Tahu and Lote Tuqiri, with their departure perhaps freeing up enough money for NSW to chase a marquee player to replace them.
It was rumoured recently that the Waratahs were showing interest in brilliant French centre Yannick Jauzion.
But while they apparently went cold on those negotiations when it seemed they might have a chance of netting disaffected Reds pair Berrick Barnes and Digby Ioane, Jauzion could again drift back into their sights if the two Wallabies eventually re-sign with Queensland.
NSWRU chief executive Jim L'Estrange admitted a marquee player was very much back in the Waratahs' thinking.
"It's absolutely an option we're considering now," L'Estrange said yesterday. "If this is a reality (Tahu deciding to take up a three-year contract with NRL club Parramatta), and we now can merge the dollars (previously set aside for him and Tuqiri), then a marquee player is something we very definitely are thinking about."
It sounds bizarre that the chief executive of the Waratahs has to preface his thoughts with the conditional phrase "if this is a reality" but neither NSW nor the ARU has actually spoken with Tahu yet and are getting all their information about his intended plans from media reports.
But even if Tahu confirms the Waratahs' worst fears and NSW sets to work immediately to find a marquee outside back to help fill the hole in their player list, it's debatable whether there are any suitable yet uncontracted players available for the taking.
With the exception of Barnes and Ioane, who tease Reds officials by not committing, virtually every quality Australian outside back is under contract for next year.
With the northern hemisphere club season set to start in early September, even a cashed-up NSW might find they are entering the marketplace too late in the recruiting cycle.
Although NSW is awaiting the outcome of the preliminary hearing in the NSW Supreme Court of Tuqiri's suit against them and the ARU before deciding what to do about filling his spot, no thought is being given to him turning out for the Waratahs next season -- irrespective of the legal battle's outcome.
Waratahs coach Chris Hickey, meanwhile, insisted he had no regrets about selecting Tahu on the NSW bench for most of the Super 14 season -- triggering the disgruntlement that appears to have pushed the dual international back to rugby league. "That thought never entered my head," Hickey said.
"You can only select on a player's form. That's how it works. But we're fortunate to have an exciting young player like Rob Horne coming into his third season of Super 14 next year. He'll have to step up and fill that role."
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...015651,00.html
