REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN Thursday, August 17, 2006

GOLD Coast Titans managing director Michael Searle lashed out at his Melbourne Storm counterpart Brian Waldron after a furore erupted over the playing services of Steve Turner.

Searle was forced to fly to Sydney to sort out a contract wrangle over the Storm winger, who had agreed to play with the new franchise in 2007.

The NRL stood behind the Titans after reviewing their file on the Turner transaction. The drama started when the Storm produced a new NRL agreement for the 21-year-old to sign, despite he and his manager agreeing to terms with the Titans eight weeks earlier.

It was believed the Storm agreement was worth $250,000 a season, around $100,000 more than the Titans contract.

What had Searle upset was that he had spoken to Waldron, alerting him to the fact Turner had an agreement with them.

Although Turner had not signed a contract, a verbal agreement between the Titans and himself and his management had been undertaken.

The Titans had sent Turner a contract back in June but were still pursuing his management for its return.

Still the Storm went ahead and signed Turner, earning the ire of Searle, who said the Titans would not be bullied.

“I am livid that I told Waldron we had an agreement with the kid and a few hours later he went ahead and signed him,” Searle told The Gold Coast Bulletin.

“What sort of respect have they shown us? This organisation will not roll over – those days of the Gold Coast are gone.”