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Lote fuss about nothing
By Toby Forage
FOXSPORTS.com.au editor
March 12, 2007
LOTE Tuqiri as decided to stay put at the Australian Rugby Union after rejecting a final offer from South Sydney NRL club thought to be worth in the region of $1 million.
Tuqiri put pen to paper with the ARU and New South Wales Waratahs on a new five-year deal before the 5pm (AEDT) deadline he was set today by the national governing body.
The Tuqiri saga has been dragging on for weeks, with the star wing courted at one stage by the Sharks, Gold Coast Titans and the Rabbitohs with a view to switching back to the 13-man code.
Tuqiri formerly played league for Brisbane Broncos and Australia before switching codes to join New South Wales Waratahs in 2002.
He was an integral part of the Wallabies' 2003 Rugby World Cup squad, which was beaten in the final in Sydney by England.
Tuqiri at one stage had the opportunity to not only stay with rugby union, but also to move back to Queensland to play for former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones at Queensland Reds.
However, he elected to change absolutely nothing, bringing the lengthy saga to a merciful close.