Wants to stay with Tigers
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 Dragons, 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.
”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 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.
Read more at Sydney Morning Herald
Sorry mate! But you need to now honor your commitment to St Merge.
The Tigs apparently told you to look elsewhere, You signed a contract and have to live with it!!!!!
You and the Tigs can’t have it both ways.
I hope the NRL decide in fav of St Merge as this will become another Snowden scenario.
Not good for the game!!!!
And NO, I am not a St Merge Supporter
I’m a Tigers fan but I completely agree. You can’t sign a contract and then just change your mind because suddenly you’re enjoying yourself. And the Tigers should have made it clear in July to the Dragons that no release had been made. A completely avoidable situation made worse by bad management.
Stay at Tigers, i’d prefer players to come to the dragons and pull our our jersey with pride & passion and run on the field with there heart on there sleeve.
Dragons have got a choice of Ben Hornby, Kyle Stanley & U/20 Evander Cummings. For the fullback position.
So if you want to stay at the club that was at one stange trying to get rid of you.
Go for it
well said!
he should stay with the tigers obviously he doesn’t want to play for dragons so just let him stay he would rather be a tiger then a dragon….. i wouldnt blame him
There is something wrong with the system if Tigers had not signed a release yet still he could sign a contract with another team. Very dodgy system….
That is absolutely pathetic. Tim, I wouldn’t go back to the tigers, obviously the only reason they want you back is because Lui is gone. Haha that means that you’re Tigers second best choice. Just look at it this way, if Lui was going to stay at tigers, Tim would be in Wollongong now! I’m a Dragons supporter, but I officially don’t want Tim at the club, a Dragons player is to wear the jersey with pride! But the NRL should make him come to the dragons, because a deal is a deal!
The best thing to happen at this stage would be for the NRL to rule that Moltzen should have to sit out the 2012 season and not play for either the Dragons or the Tigers.That is the fairest result.I am a Dragons supporter and I certainly would NOT like to see Moltzen come to the Dragons if he does not want to.On the other hand because he signed a contract with the Dragons and if he stays with the Tigers he should definately have to sit out and not play in 2012.Who agrees with me on that one ?? I hope the NRL take into account what I have suggested.
Tim may have signed with the Dragons, but he was still signed to the Tigers for next year. Shouldn’t there be a check and balance system where you cannot sign with another club until the club you are already signed with releases you? I don’t know why the Tigers didn’t sign the release at the time, and never did after, but it is dodgy business practice either way that he can sign with two at the same time.
And Tim is a Tiger through and through, I was flabergasted that the hierarchy was letting him go, I see this as a possible chance to make amends and keep him forever. We need more one club players, and Tim is a great candidate (along with the rest of our cubs like Lawrence, Ayshford, Ryan and hopefully Groat and young Jacob).
Tim needs to grow up and take responsibility for his actions.He was told by the tigers his service was no longer required,so he looked else were and excepted a contract from the dragons so he should honour it.As for the tigers they told him to look else were so they should release him tp the dragons,not fight it because of the dramas they have with Louie.By fighting it they show they have no scrupals and dishonour their fans.If Schubert lets him stay the tigers should be made to pay the dragons compensation for the fiasco they have caused as they would bring the game into poor light,and make a mockery of contracts.I would be ashame to say I was a fan of a club who had no honour or scrupples.
If the contract cooling period of 10 days have passed then in my eyes its morally binding. If the clubs change of mind and non signing of release papers is an out then I’m afraid Mr.Gallop and his crew need to address this asap. Its a ridiculously unneccassary situation to put any player in. St.George apparantly havent signed Boyds release yet so they may have to cop this one on the chin……..These blokes need to understand that this is their job.. at some stage we have all worked for someone we didn’t particularly want to work for but guess what THAT”S LIFE!!!!!!!!!