Turner snubs Titans

[Buzz]

RENEGADE NRL wing Steve Turner continues to thumb his nose at Gold Coast - snubbing the Titans orientation week and refusing to return phone calls from club officials.

In the latest twist in the Turner tug-of-war, Gold Coast warned the Melbourne flyer last night that he must honour his contract or risk sitting on the sidelines for the next three seasons.

Turner insisted he intended to stay in Melbourne after Storm's grand final defeat, and he has previously declared a willingness to take the NRL to court to remain with Storm in 2007.

But Gold Coast remains furious with the defiant wing, who continues to ignore attempts by the Titans to make contact and resolve the issue.

The majority of the Titans playing squad assembled for an orientation day last Tuesday before heading into a three-day camp at Robina.

Turner's future remains unclear.

"Our position hasn't changed since the first day we heard of Stephen trying to back out, and I don't think our position will change," Titans managing director Michael Searle said.

"At some stage, Stephen has got to come to the realisation he has made an agreement to play football with the Titans.

"This is a whole-of-game issue.

"It is setting a fairly ugly precedent if you allow a player to unilaterally terminate a playing contract agreement.

"The role that Melbourne played in facilitating that contract is quite questionable.

"You would hate to infer that someone has induced a player to terminate an agreement but it's certainly looking that way.

"Realistically, he's looking at three years on the sidelines if that's the way he wants to go."

Turner agreed a three-year deal with the fledgling Gold Coast outfit last July before doing a backflip in August and signing another contract with Storm.

The NRL has refused to register the Melbourne contract.

NRL chief executive David Gallop was on the Gold Coast yesterday to launch the 2007 season draw, and he maintained that Turner would not be allowed to play for Storm next year.

"The situation still in our view is that he entered into a contract to play for the Titans," Gallop said.

"We then received a contract from Melbourne Storm - which we have said we won't register.

"While we can't make him play for the Titans, we can certainly ensure that he doesn't play for the Storm.

"Clubs and players have to realise that contracts are something you can't just walk away from."

[Mike_The_Undertaker]

"Clubs and players have to realise that contracts are something you can't just walk away from."

IS Gallop the biggest idiot running a Sporting Org worldwide??????

[Cartman_86]

"Clubs and players have to realise that contracts are something you can't just walk away from."

IS Gallop the biggest idiot running a Sporting Org worldwide??????

Yes he is! If you get a chance, go on to the 2SM website and download Gallop's interview with Graeme Hughes. This proves that he is a waste of space!

[simo]

"Realistically, he's looking at three years on the sidelines if that's the way he wants to go."

dam It is 3 years he will have to face if it goes that way.
1 you could do, but 3 is too much.

[StormFront]

"It is setting a fairly ugly precedent if you allow a player to unilaterally terminate a playing contract agreement.
"The role that Melbourne played in facilitating that contract is quite questionable.
"You would hate to infer that someone has induced a player to terminate an agreement but it's certainly looking that way.
"Realistically, he's looking at three years on the sidelines if that's the way he wants to go."
Turner agreed a three-year deal with the fledgling Gold Coast outfit last July before doing a backflip in August and signing another contract with Storm.

The NRL has refused to register the Melbourne contract.

NRL chief executive David Gallop was on the Gold Coast yesterday to launch the 2007 season draw, and he maintained that Turner would not be allowed to play for Storm next year.

"The situation still in our view is that he entered into a contract to play for the Titans," Gallop said.

"We then received a contract from Melbourne Storm - which we have said we won't register.

I can see 2 problems with this
1: The precedent has been set in the past with another NRL player (Can't think of his name but Buzz may remember

2: The contract with the Titans was never signed or registered with the NRL, so how is that a binding contract. A verbal agreement may have been made, but that was never formalised in the proper way.

I just wonder if this was another club but Storm and to make it worse the Titans, whom the NRL are bending over backwards to support - far beyond anything the Storm recieved, would this situation still be the same.

IMO it is going to get so much more worse before it is resolved.

Maybe we can start the save "Steve Turner" group

[TC]

I wonder what would happen if Storm used the defence "They can't fit him under the salary cap" and demanded the titans allow the NRL to fully audit them? No way are they under the cap (and the anti tampering rules never seemed to be applied to them either).

[luvin.the.storm]

"Our position hasn't changed since the first day we heard of Stephen trying to back out, and I don't think our position will change," Titans wanking director Michael Searle said.

"At some stage, Stephen has got to come to the realisation he has made an agreement to play football with the Titans... even if it means putting up with me."

The NRL has refused to register the Melbourne contract because it would go against everything they stand for - which is ensuring Melbourne has a very short lifespan in their Northern Rugby League competition

NRL chief executive David Gallop was on the Gold Coast yesterday to launch the 2007 season draw, and he maintained that Turner would not be allowed to play for Storm next year due to the fact Turner has a hott girlfriend, great life and rewarding career which makes Davo jealous.

"We then received a contract from Melbourne Storm - which we have said we won't register (reasons above).

"While we can't make him play for the Titans, we can certainly ensure that he doesn't play for the Storm because they'll just prove how wrong we were about them losing and leaving the comp."

"Clubs and players have to realise that contracts are something you can't just walk away from... unless you play somewhere other than Victoria"

If you're going to recruit someone at least get their name right (or advise the reporters of correct spelling ya nob!!

[Stormwarning[c]]

I wonder what would happen if Storm used the defence "They can't fit him under the salary cap" and demanded the titans allow the NRL to fully audit them? No way are they under the cap

Don't think they need too, the fact they don't have anything in writing is good enough defence.

(and the anti tampering rules never seemed to be applied to them either).

As a new club they don't fell under the rules on anti-tampering until they enter the competition which is 2007.

I did read where they said that they wouldn't actively poach players before last seasons June 20 deadline, but they would make it know which players they where interested in.....sound like an oxi-moron but they again it did come from Searle.

[Buzz]

1: The precedent has been set in the past with another NRL player

Ruben Wiki was playing with the Raiders. He signed a contract with the Warriors. He then changed his mind and signed a contract with the Raiders again. Two signed contracts. Went to court. Court decided that Wiki had the right to decide which contract was the one to enforce - he decided to keep the Raiders one.

[StormFront]

Thanks Buzz I was not on air when we spoke about it last.
Could not remember the players name until you wrote it.
It all comes back to me now - a little to late.

[TC]

(and the anti tampering rules never seemed to be applied to them either).

As a new club they don't fell under the rules on anti-tampering until they enter the competition which is 2007.

Actually, I'm pretty sure that's not correct. The moment they were accepted as a future member of the competition all rules and requirements applied.

[Mike_The_Undertaker]

Todays Austrailan had an interesting xtension to the article (in post 1).

Searle offering to meet Turner one on One to clear the air.


Bugger all has been happening Officially or through the courts..... I hope they know what they are doing.

[Cartman_86]

Todays Austrailan had an interesting xtension to the article (in post 1).

Searle offering to meet Turner one on One to clear the air.


Bugger all has been happening Officially or through the courts..... I hope they know what they are doing.

There was another article I saw about this saga in which it said that Searle hasnt actually met with Turner. He's only spoken to him through his agent. Cartwright and Sattler have only spoken to Turner. Gallop is bending over backwards for the Titans because he chose them to enter the comp. Gallop is a goose!!

[Stormwarning[c]]

The Gold Coast Titans have given rebellious Melbourne winger Steve Turner less than two weeks to start training with the new NRL club.

As the Titans undertook their first public training session, managing director Michael Searle said the club wanted the 22-year-old flyer on the Gold Coast by Monday, November 27 to help integrate with his new teammates.

"His biggest fear is that his teammates won't accept him," said Searle.

"He'll definitely get sledged by the boys but that'll be all over in a couple of days.

"I'm sure they'll come up with a nickname for the rest of the season."

The Titans announced the recruitment of Turner in June but the Penrith junior insisted he had not signed a contract and subsequently re-signed with the Storm in August.

The NRL has sided with the Titans in the bitter tug-of-war and has refused to register the three-year contract Turner had signed with the Storm.

Turner's manager David Riolo and Storm chief executive Brian Waldron are refusing to comment on the simmering issue.

Gold Coast players involved in the NRL grand final and current Tri-Nations series have been excused from training until late next month.

Preston Campbell, Daniel Conn and Jake Webster are recovering from injuries.

"They rode about 30 kilometres today on a bike," said Searle.

"The rehab group seriously works harder than the other players."

The Titans have had a taste of life under tough fitness guru Billy Johnstone, with about five players throwing up during Monday's weights session.

Once the sledging is finished with Turner, prop Michael Henderson's attention will shift to his former St George Illawarra teammates as the Titans face the Dragons in their first premiership game on Sunday, March 18 in Brisbane.

"There should be a lot of fireworks," said Henderson, who learnt his trade under Australian and NSW props Jason Ryles and Luke Bailey.

"It'll be good to get that game out of the way.

"There'll be a bit of playful banter. It's all part of it."

Titans coach John Cartwright said Henderson was guaranteed a starting spot in the front-row, with only Bailey and James Stosic the other specialist props in the squad.

"We've got three genuine front-rowers," Cartwright said.

"He's here as a starting front-rower and he'll get his chance at that through the year."

Cartwright said Henderson, 22, had all the right ingredients to form a devastating combination with Bailey.

"He's young, he's tough, he's come out of a side that's made the top four in their last three years and he's played with great front-rowers," Cartwright noted.

"He's a bit of a character in the side and he's very popular but that's not why we got him here.

"He's very talented and he wants a crack at that front-row spot."

[StormBec]

Pfft! He ain't comin to the Gold Coast that Searle is such a moron. I say let him keep opening his big fat mouth and damage his case in this matter even further.

The Storm and Steve are doing the right thing by saying absolutely nothing to the media. Don't you worry, the Storm's legal team are  preparing their case behind closed doors, there is no need for them to be mouthing off like idiots in public.