The Steve Turner Discussion Thread.

[Just Another Member]

so how much of the cap would that free up for another winger/utility back?

[Darren Lockyer]

NRL supports Titans' fight over Turner
Wednesday, August 16, 2006 - 6:51 PM

The National Rugby League has sided with Gold Coast in a bitter tug-of-war between Melbourne and the Titans over in-form winger Steve Turner.

The NRL will refuse to register the Storm's contract with Turner, despite the 21-year-old re-signing with the competition leader for another three years.

Titans managing director Michael Searle met with NRL chief executive David Gallop in Sydney to plead his case after the fledgling club trumpeted the recruitment of Turner on a three-year deal on June 19.

But Turner had a change of heart and re-signed with the Storm until the end of 2009, infuriating Gold Coast officials who claim he had broken a "partly written, partly verbal" agreement with the franchise.

Turner admitted he had told the Titans he would play for them next season, but he had never signed a contract nor any pre-contract agreement.

"There was no letter of intent signed and when my manager (David Riolo) came to me with the contract, I said `look, I want to stay here with the Storm' and he said we'd see what we could do.

"My goal is to be a Storm player for 2007 and years to come."

Gallop said the NRL would review the documentation from the Titans but he was satisfied the club had struck a legally binding agreement with Turner.

"Our preliminary view is that a deal was struck between the player and the Titans," said Gallop, adding he had received an email from Riolo supporting the Gold Coast's case.

"We would in that situation support the Titans in securing the player.

"Everyone must accept that a deal is a deal once made and can't be ignored unless both parties agree."

It is understood the Storm offered Turner an extra $100,000 to stay in Melbourne after initially saying they couldn't fit him under the salary cap.

Searle said Turner had made frequent references to joining the Titans in the media and had spent two days in June looking for property on the Gold Coast.

"Yesterday morning the kid was on national radio saying how much he was looking forward to playing with the Titans and playing fullback," Searle noted.

The Storm - involved in a similar dispute over Parramatta prop Fuifui Moimoi two years ago - said it would fight to the hilt to ensure Turner's new contract with the club was declared legal.

Melbourne's position is that according to NRL rules, clubs have 10 days after a contract is entered into to lodge the paperwork - and the Titans had not done so.

"I'd like to think commonsense would prevail - I certainly wouldn't want to have an employee in my business who didn't want to be there," Waldron said.

"The reality is he's a signed Melbourne Storm player. The contract has been lodged within the rules.

"We have it documented between us and Steve that we have a three-year deal, and we'll push forward and support that 100 per cent."

Searle said there would be no hard feelings against Turner, whom he believes was pressured into re-signing with the Storm.

"This hasn't diminished our position on him," Searle said. "He's a 21-year-old kid that's obviously been easily influenced."

The contractual dispute overshadowed an announcement that Gold Coast business ABC Brick Sales will be the club's sleeve sponsor for the next three years.

Source: AAP

[philstorm]

Pressured into re-signing? What rubbish. He decided to stay after witnessing the great streak/culture the club is slowly developing. I love how journalists throw in remarks like "He was offered an extra $100,000 to stay at the Storm".

He's now contracted to the Storm and as far as I see it (i'm probably wrong lol), the NRL and the Titans don't have a leg to stand on considering that his signature was required on paper to be legally binding. I spoke to a mate of mine who is a lawyer and he said that was the only way for it to be binding in sporting codes?

The NRL shouldn't get involved! :dizzy:

Edit: Can I just say, where was the NRL during the Moi Moi saga for the Storm? ...

[Darren Lockyer]

Pressured into re-signing? What rubbish. He decided to stay after witnessing the great streak/culture the club is slowly developing. I love how journalists throw in remarks like "He was offered an extra $100,000 to stay at the Storm".

He's now contracted to the Storm and as far as I see it (i'm probably wrong lol), the NRL and the Titans don't have a leg to stand on considering that his signature was required on paper to be legally binding. I spoke to a mate of mine who is a lawyer and he said that was the only way for it to be binding in sporting codes?

The NRL shouldn't get involved! :dizzy:

They should get involved because with out them both teams wouldn't go any where

[philstorm]

They should get involved because with out them both teams wouldn't go any where

I suppose so mate, but the NRL technically doesn't have the right to make any decision and i'm sure the Storm would take it to the courts if necessary. I don't see how there can be any arguement when Turner never actually signed on the dotted line?! ... eace:

[Manly_Titan]

They should get involved because with out them both teams wouldn't go any where

What does everybody think of Michael Crockett from the Tigers or Tame Tupou (not sure whether he has re-signed with Bronco's or not)? Two possible replacements for Turner.

[Super Cronk]

I suppose so mate, but the NRL technically doesn't have the right to make any decision and i'm sure the Storm would take it to the courts if necessary. I don't see how there can be any arguement when Turner never actually signed on the dotted line?! ... eace:

Well the NRL can actually refuse to register Turners contract with the Storm.

The NRL seems to think that a verbal agreement is legally binding...which i find extremely hard to believe! hopefully the Titans dont take it to the court room and just leave it as it is...move on and use another youngster.

[philstorm]

Well the NRL can actually refuse to register Turners contract with the Storm.

The NRL seems to think that a verbal agreement is legally binding...which i find extremely hard to believe! hopefully the Titans dont take it to the court room and just leave it as it is...move on and use another youngster.

They'd set an enormous precedent by doing that SC, so i'm not sure if they'd do that!

[Manly_Titan]

They'd set an enormous precedent by doing that SC, so i'm not sure if they'd do that!

Another David Riolo stuffup! What a goose!

[philstorm]

Another David Riolo stuffup! What a goose!

What did he do before Manly? Don't tell me Ruben Wiki is one of his!

[Grimmace]

How can a verbal contract be biniding seriously why do the GC want him if his heart is set on staying with the storm its like spending money and getting the worst out of them and when his contract is up chances are he will leave. I think its in the best interest of the GC if they let him stay at melbourne and get a player who acutally wants to be at the club not a player who wants to be at another club

[philstorm]

How can a verbal contract be biniding seriously why do the GC want him if his heart is set on staying with the storm its like spending money and getting the worst out of them and when his contract is up chances are he will leave. I think its in the best interest of the GC if they let him stay at melbourne and get a player who acutally wants to be at the club not a player who wants to be at another club

I think the impression i'm getting grimmace is that Mr Searle wants to preserve the reputation of the club by at least attempting to protect the contractual rights of his club.

In all seriousness, if Turner does go, I feel as you say, his heart really wont be in it.

That said, after reading so much into this over the past few days, i'll be crushed if he leaves us again!

[Manly_Titan]

What did he do before Manly? Don't tell me Ruben Wiki is one of his!

He's just very money hungry. He did the same thing with Frank Pritchard with Manly. They agreed to terms (same as Turner) and obviously as it wasn't June 30 yet they (Manly) couldn't announce it. Pritchard never wanted to go to Manly, it was Riolo acting as a driving force trying to pursway him. Been told by a few blokes within Penrith he's being investigated about not acting on the best interests of his clients (Pritchard). Oh and btw guys, wasn't he Fuifui Moimoi's manager as well? Cause he did the same thing a year or two ago?

[philstorm]

He's just very money hungry. He did the same thing with Frank Pritchard with Manly. They agreed to terms (same as Turner) and obviously as it wasn't June 30 yet they (Manly) couldn't announce it. Pritchard never wanted to go to Manly, it was Riolo acting as a driving force trying to pursway him. Been told by a few blokes within Penrith he's being investigated about not acting on the best interests of his clients (Pritchard). Oh and btw guys, wasn't he Fuifui Moimoi's manager as well? Cause he did the same thing a year or two ago?

You're kidding, so he WAS Fui's manager! :curse:

[Manly_Titan]

Not entirely certain but I think he may have been.