Bunnies Roll Red Carpet out for Loti
South Sydney rolled out the red carpet to dual international Lote Tuqiri today and took the Rugby Star on a guided tour of the club's new Erskineville training facilities.
Tuqiri is believed to be seriously contemplating a return to league following this year's Rugby World Cup, with Souths, the Sharks, Gold Coast Titans and his former club Brisbane believed to be pursuing the Wallabies wing.
Souths co-owner Peter Holmes a Court showed Tuqiri around the club's training base before the two met with new Rabbitohs coach Jason Taylor for a brief chat."I'm quite serious (about a move), I wouldn't be out here today if I wasn't even thinking about coming back and playing league,'' Tuqiri said.
The biggest obstacle facing the Bunnies is a common one, trying to find room under the salary cap to squeeze in Tuqiri.
But Holmes a Court believes the club could come up with a competitive offer.
"Lote's a very special individual and a very special athlete,'' Holmes a Court said.
"We wanted him here (today) so that when he's thinking about his future he's thinking about us.''
Sharks coach Ricky Stuart has already asked Tuqiri's business advisor Les Ross to come back to him with a price, while the wing said he hoped to speak to Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett in the next week, with the Broncos currently in England for this weekend's World Club Challenge clash against St Helens.
Super 14 rugby franchises the Waratahs and Queensland Reds are also chasing Tuqiri.
Ross said he would fly to Sydney to meet with Tuqiri next week.
