Knights Seek to Re-sign Seu Seu

Sacked Seu Seu seeking new club
4:20PM Friday March 07, 2008
NRL

SYDNEY - Sacked Newcastle Knights hooker Terence Seu Seu is on the lookout for another National Rugby League (NRL) club but faces a month-long stand down first.

The 2006 New Zealand A representative was sacked by the Knights this week after being charged with a mid-range drink-driving offence.

His manager Mark Rowan said he had telephoned several clubs in the wake of Seu Seu's axing, in the hope of securing a contract before the season kicks off next week.

But Knights chief executive Steve Burraston said it would be a "major concern" if Seu Seu was able to play for another club in the opening round.

"Nothing would please me more to see him play some good footy - I like Terence," Burraston told the Daily Telegraph.

"But I don't think he should be allowed to play for up to the first four weeks.

"Someone else will now benefit and use that against us. It is a major concern."

Burraston said a suspension for the first four NRL rounds would send a message that Seu Seu had "done wrong" and shouldn't be able to profit.

He added the Knights had invested a lot of time, resources, money and education into Seu Seu since he was 15.

It is understood the NRL would support such a stand down.

Auckland-born Seuseu, 20, was tipped as a future star at Newcastle a year ago, and signed until the end of 2009 after coach Brian Smith labelled him an outstanding prospect.

He played 10 first-grade matches but things started to go awry when he was charged with assault after an incident in a bar. It is before the courts.

Then on Monday at around 4am, Seu Seu was stopped by police at 4.10am in Newcastle and breath-tested before being taken to Newcastle police station.

"Unfortunately this is not the first time Terence has been involved in an alcohol related incident and he was well aware that he was on his final warning," Burraston said.

Rowan said he was waiting to hear back from three NRL clubs and was hopeful Seu Seu would find a club this season.

"I'd like a club to pick him up but we're not in a good bargaining position," Rowan said.

"The competition starts next week and there aren't too many clubs left with money.

"The kid can play - he's not a bad kid, he's just made a couple of poor choices.

"We can help him with some counselling."

- NZPA
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Sacked Knight will be banned
By Dean Ritchie
March 07, 2008 12:00am

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SACKED Newcastle hooker Terence Seu Seu is facing an unprecedented four-match suspension if he signs with an NRL club next week.

Seu Seu's manager Mark Rowan yesterday began contacting clubs after the player was axed this week when charged with a mid-range drink-driving offence.

Newcastle chief executive Steve Burraston claimed it would be a "major concern" if Seu Seu - a serial off-field offender - was allowed to sign with a rival club and play in next week's round one matches.

The Daily Telegraph understands the NRL would support any suggestion from Newcastle that Seu Seu be suspended.

The NRL has previously de-registered a player but never before suspended a player for misbehaviour.

Seu Seu's situation was discussed at an NRL CEOs' conference in Sydney yesterday.

Asked if Seu Seu should be allowed to play round one, Burraston said: "Not in round one.

"Nothing would please me more to see him play some good footy - I like Terence. But I don't think he should be allowed to play for up to the first four weeks. Someone else will now benefit and use that against us. It is a major concern.

"Financial penalties don't seem to work - the players love playing footy. A suspension would tell him he has done wrong and shouldn't be allowed to profit. He should pay some penalty."

Burraston admitted the Knights were the "losers" in Seu Seu's sacking.

"There is no question we made the right decision for the club's image, the community, the members and the sponsors," he said. "He needs a wake-up call that can shake him into gear.

"But we are the loser in all this.

"We have invested a lot of time, resources, money and education into Terence since he was 15 years old.

"We also gave him welfare and rehabilitation (for previous misdemeanours)."

Newcastle did, however, sign Mitchell Sargent last year after he was cut from North Queensland for drug use.

"We certainly put weight on the attitude of the club which terminates the player," said NRL chief executive David Gallop.

Rowan said he had contacted three clubs and was still hoping Seu Seu would find a club for this season.

"I have made a couple of calls but haven't heard anything back yet," said Rowan. "I will get out there and see what I can do for the kid.

"I'd like a club to pick him up but we're not a good bargaining position.

"The competition starts next week and there aren't too many clubs left with money. The kid can play. He's not a bad kid. He's just made a couple of poor choices. We can help him with some counselling."

Manly chief executive Grant Mayer said clubs should carefully consider signing repeat offenders.

"There are always desperate clubs to sign a decent player," Mayer said.

"Depending on the severity of the player's crime, clubs should have a responsibility not to allow players back in the game. I think he (Seu Seu) will probably be signed quick smart."
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DT
 
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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Id be happy earning $90 000 a year, at any age. I'm so broke right now
 
Quigley ready and able to fill Seu Seu's position if the price is right

FORMER Knights tough nut Luke Quigley is keen to return to the club as a substitute for sacked hooker Terence Seu Seu, if the price is right.

Back in Newcastle after a stint last year with Super League club Catalans Dragons, the experienced Quigley appears to be a ready-made replacement to revise his role as understudy to Knights No.9 Danny Buderus. Quigley played 41 NRL games for Newcastle from 2002 to 2006. He was released on the eve of last season to replace injured former St George Illawarra hooker Aaron Gorrell at Les Catalans.

"It would definitely be worth sitting down and having a talk to them about it," Quigley said yesterday.

He has trained with Newcastle clubs Kurri Kurri and Macquarie Scorpions since returning from France but has yet to commit to any team and is trying to secure off-field employment.

Quigley said that even if the Knights made him an offer, financial terms would be a major factor because he and wife Megan are expecting their fourth child shortly.

Whether they pursue Quigley or a younger player, the Knights are still determining the salary-cap implications of sacking Seu Seu and signing a replacement.

Quigley's manager, Todd Buckingham, has spoken to coach Brian Smith and operations manager Warren Smiles since Seu Seu was sacked on Wednesday, and he hopes negotiations progress in the next few days.

Buckingham said that Quigley had held off on signing for any club on the off chance an opportunity arose to return to the National Rugby League.

"I thought the deal would have already been done by now, to be honest . . . but there must be some other options that they're looking at," Buckingham said.

"It hasn't been us holding out on our part at all. We're pushing it more than anything.

"There's no one else at his level of experience, but maybe they're looking at a younger guy as a long-term option post-Buderus.

"We've told them how keen he is, and they've said that he's definitely in the mix, but I think they're investigating all their options.

"We haven't got to dollars yet. It's more about them establishing his availability and interest, so it's in their court at the moment."

Smith said the Knights were still deciding whether to sign an older or younger player to replace Seu Seu.

"Terence was certainly in the picture short term, but we had big hopes that he could get the long-term stuff done for us as well, so that hole has to be filled at some stage," Smith said.

"We're in the process of doing that at the moment, but I don't think we'll make a decision on that for the next few days or so. It could be a week or two.

"Do we want someone of experience, or a more youthful player who offered the same things as Terence with a big future in front of him? We're looking at all of that at the moment."

Halfback Luke Walsh, centre Junior Sau and some other fringe first-graders will play in Central Charlestown's trial against NSW Cup club Newtown at OKI Jubilee Stadium today.
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Herald
 
Whether they pursue Quigley or a younger player, the Knights are still determining the salary-cap implications of sacking Seu Seu and signing a replacement.
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Does that mean SeuSeu's contract will still be included in the cap ?

And i dont think we should fork out big bucks to sign Quigley. He did come back from overseas, so he could be expecting quite a bit of money.
 
Sounds like Burraston was trying to give Seu Seu the axe to fit Quigley in, rather then Burrastons claims of Seu Seu doing it to get out of his contract, quite suspicious if you ask me.
 
AussieKnight said:
There is a guy playing for Wigan and his like 3rd string, young hooker... Goodwin is the last name. Very solid.
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Do you mean Wayne Godwin? He's the back up hooker/scrum half at Bradford - he used to be at Wigan before going to Hull then onto Bradford.

I say give Quigley the nod. Keep Bedsy on-side for the rest of the season then start looking to the long term future mid-way through. Quigley did well in Perpignan and would fit in. Who knows, he might just be the natural long-term hooker we've been looking for?
 
i remeber a game against manly two years ago, quigley was outstanding replacing bedsy.

I think the club will keep Tyne OWen in The NYC for a yr or two, give him a bit of experience there then bring him up.
 
Quigley had a mad game against the Warriors one year for us, I like him, played well at Les Catalans considering he was a late signing to replace the injured Gorrel.

I'll laugh if we have no hooker next year. :lol:
 
Quigley is a good player. Might not be the flashiest player but is a good solid hardworker.

He is a much much much better option than Hilder and Young.
 
yeah quigley was a solid worker but i think young looks a bit like that to he deserves more of a chance cause he was solid last year and hilder did some good things at the sharks and deserves a chance to so they shouldnt rush into anything with quigley
 
Possible call up for Quigley
By Nick Walshaw | March 08, 2008 12:00am

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LUKE Quigley washes coal for a living. Trains by himself after work then goes home to help pregnant wife Megan with their three kids.

And you always thought NRL recruits needed a degree in XBox.

Despite already preparing for a season of bush footy this year, Quigley is suddenly on the verge of a surprise NRL comeback after Knights boss Steve Burraston last night named him as a possible replacement for discarded hooker Terence Seu Seu.

"Yes, we certainly know that Luke is back from overseas and living in the area,'' Burraston said. "I haven't spoken to (coach) Brian Smith yet and I haven't spoken with Luke ... but something may happen there.''

Having spent five years as the understudy to Kangaroo superstar Danny Buderus, Quigley finally packed up his family in 2007 and headed north to the English Super League.

Linking up with French side Catalans Dragons, the 26-year-old rake enjoyed a stellar season which included a start in the Challenge Cup final.

"To play in front of nearly 90,000 at Wembley Stadium, mate, awesome,'' Quigley said from his New Lambton home last night. "But even more important was the fact that I got to play top-level footy every week.

"That's something I haven't really had the chance to do in recent years and proving I could do it was really enjoyable. And that's why I'm so keen now to have one more shot in the NRL. To build on the season I had overseas last year.

"I've been doing plenty of training by myself and feel like I still have a lot to offer the game. I'd be ready to play tomorrow, no drama.''

The departure of Seu Seu, axed this week following a mid-range drink driving charge, has opened up a place in the Knights' top squad of 25 contracted players.

Burraston said the replacement may come from within the Toyota Cup squad but conceded the soon-to-be dad of four was a potential bolter.

Quigley's manager Todd Buckingham will meet with Burraston and coach Smith in coming days to discuss what, if any, contract is available.

"But I haven't really heard to much at this stage,'' Quigley concedes. "It's only been whispers really. Right now I'm just waiting to hear back from my manager. Until then I'm just going to sit back and wait to see what happens.''

Yep, sit back, drive to the mines, wash coal, run 400s, lift weights, bath the kids, change nappies and generally live the life of an NRL recruit.
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DT
 
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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Bring back Quigley, he was the best on the field last time he played for us, in the semi vs Brisbane in 2006.
 
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