Knights Seek to Re-sign Seu Seu

~knights1~ said:
do you think it's a bit hypocritical in a way ....when they have signed wes and mitchell????
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I don't think Wes was sacked was he?

Burraston said: "It's time the governing bodies in football codes need to step in and take some action.

"If a jockey gets suspended riding on a horse in Sydney, they can't go and ride in Brisbane."

That's pretty hypocritical Mr Burraston. What about M. Sargent. he got sacked by the Cowboys and came straight to NEWY! #-o
 
NEWCASTLE chief executive Steve Burraston has defended the club against accusations of double standards after sacking hooker Terence Seu Seu for a drink-driving charge, even though the Knights only last year offered Wes Naiqama - who was jailed for repeat driving offences - a lifeline.

The move came as former ARL chief executive Ken Arthurson called for the game's powerbrokers to form a judiciary-like committee to punish players for off-field indiscretions - stripping clubs of the ability to do so.

As it emerged Seu Seu may have to resume his playing career in the UK, Burraston said the hooker's case and that of Naiqama, who was sentenced to six months' periodic detention last June for repeatedly driving without a licence before being signed by the Knights from St George Illawarra, were vastly different and could not be compared.

"It's drink-driving compared to driving without licences," Burraston said. "Terence has a history over the last 14 months of several alcohol-related misdemeanours. We have provided counselling and have provided rehabilitation programs.

"The previous CEO had placed him on a last warning and I had placed him on a last warning.

"I've got no doubt that we're going to be the losers out of this, but the club has got to stand tall."

Seu Seu declined to comment when contacted last night, while his manager Mark Rowan refused to be critical of the club. Rowan will be in England next week, and while it is understood there is some interest from the NRL, he will gauge interest from Super League clubs.

Rowan did claim Seu Seu's punishment was "compounded" by the fact his mid-range drink-driving offence on Monday morning occurred in the same week Jarryd Hayne was shot at in Kings Cross.

"It was probably the worst weekend in the world to do it," Rowan said. "But in the end, he's still got to be responsible. He's made a very poor choice."

Rowan said his 20-year-old client had not driven home after a night out - rather he had attempted to drive to a local McDonald's because he was hungry after returning home.

Burraston said he had put the Newcastle players "on notice" about their behaviour.

But that isn't enough for Arthurson, who made his radical call because invariably the players who pay the ultimate price for their misdemeanours are the relatively low-profile ones.

"There are plenty of incidents happening and there's probably other incidents we don't hear about," Arthurson said. "Consensus is a very laudable and nice thing … but it just doesn't work with the clubs. The league should appoint a sub-committee, as they do with a judiciary committee.

"The problem is that every time there's a good player involved, they're not going to get rid of that player. The fact of the matter is that it's got to be taken out of the hands of the clubs.

"I can understand, if you've got a [Mark] Gasnier or Andrew Johns or Cameron Smith, Darren Lockyer or Matt Orford, the clubs are not going to **** him off. If the head body takes action, and there's an embargo on him going to any club in the world that plays rugby league, that's it. It'd certainly stamp it out."

Meanwhile, NRL clubs will today be offered a compromise to the unpopular third-party agreements.

NRL boss David Gallop confirmed he would make a recommendation at a clubs' CEO conference to soften the regulations on third-party agreements. Under the proposal, the top 10 players at a club would be entitled to a marquee player allowance, rather than three.
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Knights won't relent on Seu Seu
By Barry Toohey
March 06, 2008

SACKED Newcastle hooker Terence Seu Seu offered to ban himself from alcohol for two years in a last-ditch bid to end a binge drinking problem and save his career at the Knights.

The promise fell on deaf ears.

The 20-year-old, earmarked as the heir apparent to Danny Buderus, was last night looking for a new NRL club after having his contract terminated by the Knights.

Seu Seu, who had been under contract until the end of the 2009 season, was forced to front the Knights board after he was arrested and charged in the early hours of Monday morning with drink driving.

It was the latest in a series of alcohol-related incidents involving Seu Seu with club CEO Steve Burraston claiming the young hooker had admitted to a binge drinking problem.

"Unfortunately, there have been in the past promises made and not kept," Knights chairman Peter Corcoran said in announcing the the player's termination.

Burraston said: "I don't think Terence could have misunderstood he was on his last warning."

There is little doubt Seu Seu's NRL career will continue with a number of rival clubs expected to show interest over the next few days. It was a factor not lost on the Knights.

"It will obviously leave a hole in our football ranks because he is an exceptionally talented young football player," Burraston said.

"We have spent a lot of resources, time, money and education on him and Terence will obviously be picked up by another football club and they will benefit from that, unfortunately.

"But unless he addresses these problems, he may face the same thing at another club and end up on the scrapheap sometime."
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Deanoknights said:
~knights1~ said:
do you think it's a bit hypocritical in a way ....when they have signed wes and mitchell????
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I don't think Wes was sacked was he?
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No, but he has been in trouble of the field more times then Seu Seu.
 
I think the most hypocritical part is Burraston whinging about other clubs picking players up straight away after they have been sacked e.g M. Sargent. You can't do one thing and then claim it's wrong if someone else does it hence the word Hypocritical.

I'm sure Wes has a clause in his contract that gives him little or no chance of staying if he plays up again as would Sargent.
 
Maybe one day: Smith hopes Seu Seu will eventually return to Knights

NEWCASTLE Knights coach Brian Smith hopes sacked hooker Terence Seu Seu will return to play for his home-town club.

Smith said last night that he had no input into the decision to sack Seu Seu on Wednesday but felt Newcastle officials had little alternative after the 20-year-old was arrested for drink-driving on Monday morning his third alcohol-related indiscretion in less than 12 months.

"I would still hope that, somehow, some way, Terence will resume his career with the Knights at some point," Smith said last night.

"Without speaking to anybody about that, I'm not sure what the likelihood of that is.

"But I'm allowed to hope as a coach.

"He's a talented boy, and I think it's likely that, given the confrontation that's just happened and the huge disappointment about what's being taken away from him, that could well be the key that helps him make consistent, positive change to the way he leads his life as a professional athlete.

"It might be that now he has to ply his trade elsewhere.

But, in the future, if he does get his life in order, I'd like to think he might come back here, whenever that may be.

"I'm not putting a limit on it."

Smith said there was a strong possibility Seu Seu would realise his potential at another club and make the Knights regret sacking him.

"That's certainly a worry, but I would classify that as the second-biggest worry," Smith said.

"My biggest worry would be that he doesn't kick on and achieve what he's capable of, because he doesn't take advantage of the opportunities that are available to him in the game. I hope that's not the case."

Smith rates Seu Seu a future New Zealand Test hooker providing the youngster deals with his off-field issues and starts to conduct himself as a professional.

"He could well have been the long-term replacement for Danny Buderus, and that is a high enough honour in itself," Smith said.

"But it takes more than talent to fill those sorts of shoes. It takes an off-field life of discipline. He hasn't quite mastered that yet.

"Talent-wise the sky's the limit. But it takes a lot more than talent to get where you need to get to."

Seu Seu's axing leaves the Knights with only two recognised hookers in their full-time squad, Buderus and utility Matt Hilder, and they could be stretched if either were injured or unavailable.

Smith said that no contact had been made yet with former Knights hooker Luke Quigley, who is back in Newcastle after a stint playing with French Super League outfit Catalans. But that was an option the club might explore.

"He [Quigley] obviously comes to mind fairly quickly," Smith said.

"He's close and he's been here before. There are other options, but it's better for me to sit on them at this stage."

Smith said if the Knights were unable to recruit a back-up rake it would "put a lot of pressure on our squad".

The coach believes the board's decision on Wednesday was unfortunate but inevitable.

"I wasn't part of the decision-making process, but I understand probably as well as anyone what it's like to make those decisions," he said.

"It's certainly not easy and I'm sure it wasn't taken lightly by the board.

"I'm disappointed that Terence didn't respond given the time and opportunities he was given to respond in a more favourable and positive way.

"But I'm also disappointed that he's not here to continue to work with and to see him develop his undoubted talent."
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Herald
 
Seu Seu looks for career lifeline

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BAD TIMING: Terrence Seu Seu and his father Marty Lisiua after the Knights hooker was sacked on Wednesday.- Picture by Simone De Peak

TERENCE Seu Seu has already attracted interest from rival NRL clubs, but his manager admitted yesterday that the sacked Knights hooker would probably have to agree to behavioural clauses in his next contract.

Mark Rowan said his client was unlikely to consider appealing against the Knights' decision on Wednesday to terminate the 20-year-old's two-season contract, worth close to $100,000 per year.

He was confident the promising youngster would pick up a new club soon but admitted publicity surrounding his sacking after a series of alcohol-related incidents could be a deterrent for some clubs.

"It certainly won't help," Rowan said yesterday.

"I've got to ring a few people and have a chat to the clubs and see if we can come up with something.

"I'm sure there will be some conditions on it, if we're lucky enough to get him a start.

"He knows that."

Rowan said he had already held discussions with a couple of NRL clubs and would be heading to England this weekend to explore options in the European Super League.

"I'm talking to a couple of clubs and trying to get him a start again," Rowan said. "But at this stage it's a little bit early.

"It's only yesterday that the Knights made their decision, but I'm certainly out there doing my job.

"A couple of clubs said they'll go away and have a little think about it and then get back to me.

"I'm hopeful . . . [but] at the moment, nobody's got any money and the season is ready to start.

"The timing's not good."

Rowan was hopeful Seu Seu would be exempt from Super League's strict import eligibility rules because he was under 21.

"Because he's under 21, you can then make an application rather than the standard two-year, 75 per cent [of games in the NRL] rule," Rowan said.

"You can make an application on his bona fides.

"He's played for New Zealand A, he played 10 games of first grade last year at 19.

"You have to prove he's a player of quality, so I'll be looking at that option while I'm over there.

"We've discussed it [playing in England] and he's open to all suggestions.

"His situation at the moment doesn't allow him to be picky."

Although disappointed with the outcome of Newcastle's board meeting on Wednesday, at which Seu Seu's contract was torn up, Rowan indicated they would not consider appealing against the decision.

"There's an appeals process via the NRL," he said. "It's just a matter of whether we want to follow that.

"We've got seven days to lodge an appeal if we wish.

"But at this stage we won't be doing anything like that.

"Can't do much about it. Poor kid's in enough trouble now.

"He's lost virtually a six-figure contract.

"It's tough on him, but he's realised what a mistake he's made. He's obviously regretting it now."

The Herald left messages with Seu Seu yesterday but Rowan said he would not be talking to the media.



"The kid made a poor decision, and he knows that, but we'll just take our medicine and get on with life," he said.

"He actually left his car at home, and when he got home at three o'clock in the morning he decided to go up to McDonald's and get something to eat.

"It was only a couple of minutes drive, but that was his poor decision. It's not like he was driving his car around all night drunk and yahooing.

"He was responsible enough to leave his car at home.

"He's not a bad kid. He's had a couple of issues, which we've been working through.

"I suppose in hindsight it was the worst week in the world for it to happen to him, after what happened in Sydney [when Parramatta's Jarryd Hayne was shot at]."
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Its good to see Smith prasing him. And i do hope he's back sometime, but needs to sort out his problems quickly.

He'll probably be snapped up quickly..
 
I'm so ****ing gutted. :(

Another one of my favorite players gone. He had so much potential in him. Loved watching him in Flegg how he absolutely dominated the comp with brilliant dummy half running and dominant tackling.

Will miss him.
 
I feel sorry for him in the sense that he did everything right by leaving his car at home so he wouldnt be tempted to drive and everything, and then a last minute decision screwed up everything for him. Thats tough
 
It's a shame the club had to sack him, but you've got to set standards. Professional sports players left, right and centre think they are above the law, rules, morals, etc...but they're not. The club did the right thing in the end. Who knows, he could be back one day. Smith did praise him, and he could come back rehabilitated after some time away. Now that's a good thing.
 
AussieKnight said:
Interesting we are targeting Luke Quigley as a replacement this year. I didnt think he was that bad of a player!
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Yea, not a bad option, when at the moment we dont really have a back up for Buderus. And Quigley is also looking for a contract and is in Newie. I guess its not a bad option, as a back up, just for this year. The Knights would def. need to look at a high profile hooker for 2009, if Bedsey leaves.
 
I reckon we need to target someone like Issac Luke. He would be awesome although I doubt he would come up to the Hunter.

There is a guy playing for Wigan and his like 3rd string, young hooker... Goodwin is the last name. Very solid.
 
knights4premiers said:
"He's lost virtually a six-figure contract.
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i think that rules out him looking for a biger coontract i think a normal nineteen year old would love a contract worth that much.
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Israel Falou's current asking price is about 500k and its his 2nd year... crazy sums of money these days...
 
knights4premiers said:
Yeah but im saying if your nineteen played roughly 10 NRL games a your getting 90,000 odd dollars you'd want to be happy would you not?
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Even better to be Panthers Greg Waddell who is 17 and earning $100,000.
 
frizzed said:
knights4premiers said:
Yeah but im saying if your nineteen played roughly 10 NRL games a your getting 90,000 odd dollars you'd want to be happy would you not?
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Even better to be Panthers Greg Waddell who is 17 and earning $100,000.
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Funny thing is, he isnt. Ive spoken to him... and his out for the season, watched him do his knee against Parra SG Ball :?
 
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