November 19, 2006
The Sunday Mail
The Gold Coast has rejected a shocking bid to give them Queensland centre Adam Mogg in exchange for Steve Turner being allowed to stay in Mellbourne.
Titans managing director Michael Searle last night told The Sunday Mail Turner's agent David Riolo had suggested Mogg not join Catalans as planned and the storm also pay the Gold Coast compensation.
Fullback or winger Turner has signed with Gold Coast and Melbourne for next season with the NRL saying the binding agreement with the Titans must be honored.
"David came to us with the idea a few weeks ago," Searle said. "But unfortunately Melbourne couldn't come up with the difference when it came to the compensation."
"I think Adam had some personal family issues which have apparently now been resolved because he went to France a couple of weeks ago. So we are where we were before."
National Rugby League cheif executive David Gallop said on Friday the league may refuse to register Turner with Melbourne even if a court rules in the Storm's favour.
Searle said: "If they had come to us in the beginning something might have been able to be worked out."
"But Melbourne thought they had found a loophole and just signed him. He came to us for a release but there were no compassinate grounds, he just wanted to stay in Melbourne.
"He has to decide if he wants to play rugby league ot sit out the next three years."
Searle said he wanted Turner at training by tomorrow week but that did not constitute a deadline.