Quest for trophies drove Lote Tuqiri to UK

[jargan83]

Quest for trophies drove Lote Tuqiri to UK There was me thinking a lack of a job was doing the driving at the moment

By Jim Tucker

LOTE Tuqiri's hunger to win trophies after seven years of drought in Aussie rugby was a prime motivation for the axed Wallaby to sign with English giants Leicester.
The cash has always been important in Tuqiri's perennially protracted contract dealings but his hunger to win significant silverware for the first time since his Brisbane Broncos days is clear in his hook-up with English rugby.

"I didn't just want to go and be in a place where you get forgotten about and it becomes more of a retirement package than anything else," Tuqiri, 30, told his new Leicester fans. "I still have that competitive edge in me and Leicester are a successful club that wins championships. I decided that I wanted to play in a competitive team.

"This club wins titles and plays well in Europe."

Tuqiri is expected to return to Australia for the NRL season and announce his signing with Wests Tigers.

Winger Tuqiri never got his hands on the Bledisloe Cup in his 2003-09 career with the Wallabies before his breaking of team rules in June ended with his contract being torn up.

He scored a try but lost the 2003 World Cup final to England, his closest shot at the Tri-Nations crown was a squandered 17-7 lead in last year's "final" against the All Blacks in Brisbane and he tasted defeat in two Super rugby finals with NSW.

Leicester are the reigning English champions and contest strongly for the Heineken Cup which Wallabies skipper Rocky Elsom savoured with Irish side Leinster earlier this year.

Leicester are embracing Tuqiri on a short-term deal but with an option of an extension if both parties are comfortable.

"There are some really good players here; it's a challenge I am totally looking forward to," Tuqiri told The Leicester Mercury newspaper of joining the likes of Aaron Mauger, Ben Kay, Derick Hougaard and Toby Flood at the club.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/spo...-1225794020444

[beige]

What trophies are there to win before the NRL season starts?

[AndyS]

Yes, I'd think it was more about silver than siverware.

[eleypinkbit]

Dammit, not sure i can support Leicester any more!

[mudskipper]

Mmmmm Lote's quest... does he have the right answers...


[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWS8Mg-JWSg&feature=related"]YouTube - Monty Python and the Holy Grail : 3 Questions[/ame]

[GIGS20]

I'd say it's high time to start betting against Leicester

[James]

I'd say it's high time to start betting against Leicester

Unless the bookies come up with a "Which GP team is going to become the most bogan in 2010?".