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THE Sydney Roosters have emerged as a possible new home for exiled Wallaby Lote Tuqiri.
The Sunday Telegraph understands Roosters powerbrokers are considering tabling Tuqiri an offer to join the Bondi Junction outfit next season.
Roosters recruitment guru Peter O'Sullivan stressed the dual international would have to take a massive pay cut and incoming coach Brian Smith would have to rubber-stamp any deal.
"If the coach was in agreeance and the price was right, then we'd consider it,'' O'Sullivan said.
The Roosters believe Tuqiri could have the same crowd-pulling power as his close mate at St George Illawarra, Wendell Sailor.
However, Roosters chairman Nick Politis refused to comment, suggesting the issue was a matter for Smith.
The Roosters are close to their $4.35million salary cap for next season, but O'Sullivan said any offer would be nowhere near what Tuqiri could command on the open market.
Wests Tigers are the only other NRL club in the race for Tuqiri, with chief executive Stephen Humphreys confirming the club was in talks with his agent Les Ross.
The Tigers see the fact that Tuqiri resides in Balmain as a strong selling point and intend to have further negotiations with him next week.
"If Lote was seriously interested in returning to the NRL then we're definitely interested to talk to him about that,'' Humphreys said. "We have had some preliminary discussions and we're looking for those to continue next week.''
Wherever Tuqiri decides to play next season, the axed Wallaby will have to take a huge pay cut from the $1 million a season he was collecting from the Australian Rugby Union.
"At this stage, I haven't spoken to anyone personally, but I know my manager has been busy and hopefully I can sort something out in the next couple of months,'' Tuqiri said.
"I've heard there's been a lot of interest from rugby league and union, but at this stage it's a bit too early to be making any sort of call.''
Bulldogs chief executive Todd Greenberg said the Homebush-based outfit had closed the door on Tuqiri after upgrading Bryson Goodwin and signing Mickey Paea and Junior Tia Kilifi.
Gold Coast chief executive Michael Searle said a move to the Titans appeared unlikely. "I haven't spoken to him or his manager, so I can't see anything coming of it,'' Searle said.
Tuqiri's case against the ARU for breach of contract is continuing in the NSW Supreme Court.
Tuqiri has filed his statement of claim against the ARU, but lawyers for both parties successfully argued to have one paragraph removed.
After a three-month break since his last official game for the Waratahs on May 16, Tuqiri played club rugby for West Harbour Pirates yesterday against Warringah at Pittwater Park.
The Sunday Telegraph understands Roosters powerbrokers are considering tabling Tuqiri an offer to join the Bondi Junction outfit next season.
Roosters recruitment guru Peter O'Sullivan stressed the dual international would have to take a massive pay cut and incoming coach Brian Smith would have to rubber-stamp any deal.
"If the coach was in agreeance and the price was right, then we'd consider it,'' O'Sullivan said.
The Roosters believe Tuqiri could have the same crowd-pulling power as his close mate at St George Illawarra, Wendell Sailor.
However, Roosters chairman Nick Politis refused to comment, suggesting the issue was a matter for Smith.
The Roosters are close to their $4.35million salary cap for next season, but O'Sullivan said any offer would be nowhere near what Tuqiri could command on the open market.
Wests Tigers are the only other NRL club in the race for Tuqiri, with chief executive Stephen Humphreys confirming the club was in talks with his agent Les Ross.
The Tigers see the fact that Tuqiri resides in Balmain as a strong selling point and intend to have further negotiations with him next week.
"If Lote was seriously interested in returning to the NRL then we're definitely interested to talk to him about that,'' Humphreys said. "We have had some preliminary discussions and we're looking for those to continue next week.''
Wherever Tuqiri decides to play next season, the axed Wallaby will have to take a huge pay cut from the $1 million a season he was collecting from the Australian Rugby Union.
"At this stage, I haven't spoken to anyone personally, but I know my manager has been busy and hopefully I can sort something out in the next couple of months,'' Tuqiri said.
"I've heard there's been a lot of interest from rugby league and union, but at this stage it's a bit too early to be making any sort of call.''
Bulldogs chief executive Todd Greenberg said the Homebush-based outfit had closed the door on Tuqiri after upgrading Bryson Goodwin and signing Mickey Paea and Junior Tia Kilifi.
Gold Coast chief executive Michael Searle said a move to the Titans appeared unlikely. "I haven't spoken to him or his manager, so I can't see anything coming of it,'' Searle said.
Tuqiri's case against the ARU for breach of contract is continuing in the NSW Supreme Court.
Tuqiri has filed his statement of claim against the ARU, but lawyers for both parties successfully argued to have one paragraph removed.
After a three-month break since his last official game for the Waratahs on May 16, Tuqiri played club rugby for West Harbour Pirates yesterday against Warringah at Pittwater Park.
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