NRL Rumour Mill Thread (Spoilers)

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re: Moltzen

NRL have begun investingating.

Wests Tigers CEO Stephen Humphreys responded last night by saying: "St George expressed their views and sequence of events but Wests Tigers have a different view to that and how it unfolded. We will co-operate with the process and live by the umpire's decision.''
 
Moltzen wants to roll again with Tigers
Glenn Jackson
October 15, 2011

"I didn't want to upset the Dragons fans or club" ... Tim Moltzen. Photo: Getty Images
TIM MOLTZEN returned from the bright lights of Las Vegas yesterday to darkness surrounding his NRL future. But he wanted to make one thing clear: ''I want to stay with the Tigers.''

Breaking his silence on the contract stand-off between Wests Tigers and St George Illawarra, Moltzen was adamant yesterday that he wanted to remain with his present club. However, he admitted he had been disappointed a stalemate had occurred between the Tigers and the Dragons, who both have him on their rosters for next year.

''When I thought that I was going to be going [to the Dragons], I thought it was the right thing at that time,'' Moltzen said. ''I wasn't playing good footy, I wasn't enjoying myself. I thought I was going to be losing mates.

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''Then things have turned full circle. I bawled my eyes out after my last game because I thought that was my last game for the Tigers. I thought that was it for me, that group of people.

''But I think that's all changed for me now. I'd love to stay at the Tigers. I don't mean to cause any harm by what has happened. I didn't want to upset the Dragons fans or the club.''

Moltzen has been the subject of a bitter tug-of-war between the two clubs, but the 23-year-old had inadvertently escaped the frenzy, travelling to Las Vegas for a pre-arranged end-of-season trip with Tigers teammates including Beau Ryan and Lote Tuqiri.

Moltzen had to read on the internet about the feud between the clubs over his future, and had no control over the situation.

''I'm disappointed the way it's all been played out in the media,'' Moltzen said. ''I'm obviously disappointed that the clubs happen to be in the position they're in, arguing. I definitely didn't want it to play out the way it has and get to where it's got.''

Moltzen had been led to believe he would be better served moving on from the Tigers next year, and did so knowing that the futures of close friends Ryan and Chris Heighington were also in the air. After he produced a wonderful back-end of the season, and with Heighington and Ryan staying with the club, he was comfortable when Tigers officials told him they would not release him to take up his three-year deal with the Dragons. While he had signed that deal, the Tigers had not given an official release.

The case is now headed for the NRL, with salary cap auditor Ian Schubert to make a determination on which club has the rights over Moltzen. The player hopes he does not become a pawn and his own wishes are taken into account.

''I was hopeful that it could be sorted out just among the clubs, and for it not have to become a war of words. I never meant to lead them in the wrong direction, or mislead them with what I was saying.

''But if the Tigers don't want to release me, they want to hold onto me, it's their decision, and it's not one I'm uncomfortable with at all. I'd be happy to stay there, close to my family and friends, and all my really good mates.

''There's probably not too many supporters out there at the moment, but I know I've got my family and friends.

''We'll just have to see how it plays out. I hope it works out all right. I'd love to stay at the Tigers and I hope the Dragons can accept that and move on, and we can put it behind us. I don't want it to keep dragging out, and I don't think they do either.''



Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/l...#ixzz1alKalHRw
 
Paul Osborne faces claims of financial irregularities and harassment, writes Kate McClymont.

THE board of the Parramatta NRL club is in crisis following allegations of financial irregularities and a complaint against the club's chief executive, Paul Osborne.

Matters came to a head on Monday when Glenn Duncan, a director of Parramatta Rugby League Club and head of the club's major sponsor Pirtek, resigned over the board's failure to take action against Mr Osborne.

For the past three months, the board has been aware of allegations raised about Mr Osborne, including the use of a top-of-the-range series BMW provided by a club sponsor, and that he has been forced to repay the club $35,000 in unauthorised expenses incurred on his club credit card last year.
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Mr Osborne said yesterday his wife ''had used my business card and that's how it got so big''. He said he was confident he had ''cleared his debts to the club''.

The Herald has been told that a $9500 repayment was made through a cheque from a company associated with the club's chairman, Roy Spagnolo.

Mr Osborne said he was sure he had not used Mr Spagnolo's funds to repay his club debts.

Mr Spagnolo was confronted by Mr Duncan at a board meeting on October 6 about whether he had ever loaned Mr Osborne money and, if so, why had he not declared a conflict of interest in dealing with Mr Osborne's future employment.

Four days later, Mr Spagnolo sent a confidential email to his fellow directors on the board.

''At his request, and using my own resources, I advanced Paul monies not all of which have been repaid,'' he wrote.

''Having reflected on the matter, and in the interest of probity,'' Mr Spagnolo said he would not deal ''with Paul's future employment while Paul is personally indebted to me''.

He confirmed yesterday to the Herald that Mr Osborne still owed him money but refused to disclose the amount. ''It's nothing to do with the club. It is a personal situation,'' he said.

On top of his financial problems, Mr Osborne, a father of nine and a member of Hillsong Church, has also been the subject of an internal investigation over his relationship with a work colleague.

Club officials met a young female employee yesterday, who alleges that Mr Osborne and his colleague had accused her of gossiping about their relationship.

Mr Spagnolo said the matter had been dealt with by the board but he did not wish to discuss how it had been dealt with.

As to Mr Osborne's future with the club, Mr Spagnolo said: ''He will be with the club.''

Mr Duncan declined to comment on the Osborne matter yesterday, except to say: ''The recent decisions of the board go against all my business principles which place me in a position of no longer being able to meet my expectations and duties as a director.''

Mr Osborne's financial problems have been exacerbated by his purchase of a $1.9 million Byron Bay holiday home in April.

Sarah Dougan, the real estate agent who sold Mr Osborne the house, is under investigation by the Department of Fair Trading after $550,000 was discovered missing from her trust account in July. In August, a fortnight before she was made bankrupt, Ms Dougan placed a caveat on Mr Osborne's Massinger Street house, claiming she ''caused monies to be paid towards the purchase price'' and was seeking ''the repayment of the said monies''.

Mr Osborne said he had been ripped off by Ms Dougan and was pursuing her through the Department of Fair Trading.

Two years ago, Mr Osborne, who earns an estimated $270,000, bought a house with his wife in Kenthurst for $920,000.

Mr Osborne, 45, who played first-grade rugby league for St George and Canberra, is a former police officer and a former member of Parliament. He became the Eels chief executive in mid 2009.

Read more: Crisis rocks Parramatta club as director quits
 
Nah - Phil Rothfield will be doing his best to keep him out of the papers now he is at the Sharks. Your signature is probably safe for 18 months or so.

Looks like Carney to the Sharks will be announced tomorrow.........I hope not coz i will have to change my signature (But only until he gets this contract torn up)
 
hence why we need carney
townsend still needs one year in nsw cup
and for all the players we have lost due to off field crap we deserve some good luck
 
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