Steve Mascord, Sport & Style | May 13, 2009
One of the most successful cross-code players, Lote Tuqiri is not afraid to have an opinion. Here he talks about confusing rules, the danger of a Wallabies mass exodus and the World Cup curfew that still grates.
This interview appeared in the May issue of Sport & Style
Steve Mascord: Does watching your old teammate Wendell Sailor play for St George Illawarra make you wonder what would have happened if you had returned to rugby league in 2007?
Lote Tuqiri: Not really. I haven't really thought about it. It's pretty enjoyable, actually watching the big man run around. I've watched just about every game he's played this year on TV, and I've been really impressed by the way he's led as a senior player.
SM: Did you really come that close to returning to league in 2007?
LT: Yeah, I probably was. I did go down a road with Souths. [Rabbitohs co-owner] Peter Holmes a Court was really good with those negotiations. I had a chat to Brisbane as well but to be honest, with a young family, the monetary aspect was there as well. I'm enjoying both games. [I'm enjoying] watching the league, and we've done really well here at the Waratahs over the last couple of years.
SM: How has rugby union changed since you switched?
LT: It's changed a fair bit. In that sense, I've probably changed as well. I've become more mature and probably think about the game more rather than just going out there and playing. I've also got younger guys looking to me for leadership, more so than when I first switched to union. I've got to watch what I say and do these days.
SM: Was switching to union a relief? Very few players have their private lives scrutinised whereas you came from a sport where that was becoming increasingly common?
LT: That's what experience is all about. When these sort of things fly around, guys definitely ask me questions. I guess it's probably good you can tell them a few stories about what has happened to you and what sort of things to do and what not to do. There's really a lot of scrutiny in the game now in both codes and I guess you've got to be aware of that.
SM: Tell us what it was like in the at the [Brisbane] Broncos. Obviously there was a lot less scrutiny ...
LT: I think it was heavily scrutinised being a one-team town but they certainly looked after you a lot.
SM: The media or the club?
LT: The media were all onside. Not all 'onside', that's hard to say ... but the public and media got behind you. Nowadays you get guys, for example, who gave in that video of Locky [Darren Lockyer] allegedly tackling someone [at a Brisbane bar]. That probably never would have happened back in my day. I'm not saying I condone that behaviour but things certainly have changed ... You see at the end of the news, or even in the newspaper it says, 'If you have a story or a video, send it in'. That certainly wasn't happening ten years ago, let alone five or six.
SM: It was put to me that in a troubled time for footballers, you are a bit of a shining light. You've had a couple of controversies but generally you keep your nose clean, you're a good family man ...
LT: Well, I've had my fair share. You know, I probably rocked up late to a [training] session here and there. That didn't help. You've got to experience those things. You've got to learn for yourself. You can't put an old head on young shoulders.
SM: Going back to the question about rugby union changing, what about the sport itself?
LT: It has [changed]. But I just play. As long as I'm enjoying myself, I probably don't look into the rules as much as I should. I just rock up to training at the start of the year and let the coaches tell us what's going on.
SM: Do you find the actual experience of going out to play has changed?
LT: The ball's in play a lot now, but in saying that, union is a game of territory, of getting down the field. I guess that's where league and union differ. I think it's an entertaining game. People who say it's not entertaining probably don't get the intricacies. I guess that comes back to us, not as players but as people. We've got to educate more people about the rules.
SM: You don't think they worry too much about educating people?
LT: They do, they do. But they could probably do it better. Because I certainly have times, even on the field as a player, where I get mixed up. The rules are changing and you've got to get clarification a lot of the time. I guess at times, the big bugbear is the inconsistency of some of the rulings.
SM: If you're intending to take more of leadership role, do you think you might have to become a spokesman on topics that don't interest you?
LT: As a leader, you have to be more up on things. People are going to ask you about some of the issues and if you want to be that sort of person, I guess you've got to be clued up on it. I certainly have an interest in what's going on and I do have an opinion, but sometimes those opinions don't necessarily align with officialdom. There's a time to say things and a time not to ...
SM: How is your relationship with officials in rugby union?
LT: It's been alright. I think I've got on with pretty much all the coaches I've played with, but I probably haven't liked the way things have been handled at times.
SM: You mean the punishment meted out to you and Matt Dunning when some people who had been in your room in Brisbane subsequently got involved in a fight with a taxi driver?
LT: I wasn't impressed at the time with how it was dealt with but I've moved on.
SM: When these sort of episodes occur, do people treat you the same afterwards?
LT: You do get judgemental people out there. You can't shy away from that. I try not to associate myself with them. I've got a good core bunch of friends. They're not all footy people. They're from other walks of life and I think that's important.
SM: People are saying the Waratahs attack is very dull - and you've responded that the most important thing is results.
LT: They're entitled to their opinion. The Tahs, I think we're building. You watch the last few of our games, I think we've been quite impressive in the way we've been attacking but we just haven't been finishing off and that's the major thing we're going to have to try to do is finish off ...Winning at times can become a habit. Hopefully we'll make it a habit in this team.
SM: Do you think it's down to the rule makers to make the sport entertaining and players and coaches are there to win? Have you ever been coached to be entertaining?
LT: No, not at all. I haven't been coached to be entertaining. I've certainly watched games and wanted to be entertained. I've certainly watched guys like Benji Marshall or in union a Rupeni Caucaunibuca or Joe Rokocoko. They are entertaining. But most certainly, a guy like Wayne Bennett wasn't there to be entertaining. Eddie Jones, same again.
SM: By the time people read this you will be in South Africa. The travel is one thing that attracts players to rugby union and when you are young it must be exciting. What about now?
LT: It's tough, it's really tough. The first couple of years it's really exciting. But after a while, you've pretty much done it all really. I'm not saying it's boring ... I've had some great experiences, say in South Africa. I've gone and swum with great white sharks off Cape Town. I've been on safari, been escorted to my room with a rifle for fear of being attacked by a leopard. It's unbelievable.
SM: After the death of Shawn Mackay in South Africa, a lot of people who have not been there will wonder what it is like. What would you tell them?
LT: It's a bit weird. It's a lovely place, the people are great ... I don't know if I'm coming out with a big comment here but I don't think it's that safe. Have a look at the statistics ... It's a great place to go but at the same time it's quite dangerous to get around.
SM: Do you like the idea of Mark Gasnier playing for the Wallabies?
LT: I think it's a great idea. I don't know how he's going at the moment [with Stade Francais]. If he wanted to, he's obviously got to play back here. He's a big game player and he's played well at the top level and on the big stage [in rugby league]. So he's a proven performer and with those stats alone, you'd have to think if he wanted to come back here and play in a Super 14 team he could.
SM: Do you agree with the rule that you have to play in Australia to represent the Wallabies?
LT: Argh, you know, it's probably a good idea. It's probably a restriction of trade at times that you can't go overseas and play for the Wallabies but it does keep the Wallaby brand strong and I guess that's what they want. And they want to keep rugby in Australia strong. If it's doing that, I don't think it's too bad.
SM: If you could be picked from anywhere, how many would go to play overseas?
LT: Yeah, there'd be a pretty big difference. I think over 50 per cent. Over 50 per cent of Wallabies.
SM: You finish your current contract in 2012?
LT: 2011, I think. I think! It's a long way off, but I'd love to play in another World Cup.
SM: Where are the Wallabies at now in the world pecking order?
LT: Judging by what we did last year, we're not going too badly. The boys played really well on the end-of-season tour and to come within a game of winning the Tri Nations was a real improvement. I think we can have confidence looking at the current crop to go one better this year.
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