[urlhttp://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/news/4149/TRIBUNAL%20UPHOLDS%20BRADFORD%20IN%20TUPOU%20CASE[/url

Come on, we've got to sign someone. Obviously not as a replacement but a half-back or centre or hooker pleasee.

Thank god for that. Possibly the biggest waste of cap space we've had in years.

i'm confused after reading that. If tupou hadnt gone to tribunal we would have had to pay him six months from when we told him he was being released ( january from earlier reports). are we still liable for that + 2 weeks awarded by tribunal or do we just have to pay the two weeks awarded by the tribunal?

edit: reading t&a article it sounds like we only have to pay him the 2 weeks and macca has money reserved for paying him out + birds salary cap space to play with. we already had a quota spot which would have been filled by bird.

I think it means we only pay him 2 weeks, we dont have to pay up the rest of his contract as our assertation was that he could not complete the contract if he couldnt train and therefore couldnt play. The tribunal obviously agrees so I guess its Topou failing to honour his part of the contract.

If Tupou had not taken it to tribunal he might have got nothing if I read it correctly, other than any amount we would probably have made voluntarily (the 2 weeks).

That just my guess though, I'm sure I stand to be corrected

Since the incomparable Nick Zisti, even?

Its just the two weeks. Contract terminated on medical/fitness standard grounds.

At last, we've finally won something, now let's kick on from this ;

Indeed, good riddance, he was a panic "buy" if ever there was one.

We now have 2 quota spaces? And Tupou's salary + a big salary (which we were prepared to pay Bird). I imagine Tupou was on quite a lot because at the time he looked like a good buy.

We're certainly well placed to move if a quality player comes on the market, unfortunately so are a few other sides.

There are only really 2 options when it comes to making mid season signings, if you haven't got cash to tempt someone with a transfer fee.

You go rooting around the reserve grades in the NRL to find someone who can't quite crack it down under, but could do a job here (eg Michael Dobson, Ian Henderson), or you pick up someone who has been cut because of problems or misdemeanours (eg Bird, Tupou, Tim Smith).

The former is the most favourable, but as a source of players it seems to have dried up at Bradford in recent years, after notable successes with the likes of Withers and Hape.

Some good news lets just hope we move on and use the space and money freed wisely.

well i'm still not convinced we DID have spare cap space for Bird. I think the plan was to get rid of Tupou and his wage to go to Bird. But even so, we do now have, or should have, some space on the cap to bring in someone if we need to

Michael Platt's been unable to play rugby for well over six months. Do you think we can get him on the same clause?

He was, 'good buy' to a lot of money and a squad place.....b'dum t'sch.

[urlhttp://www.smh.com.au/leaguehq/articles/2009/04/08/1238870005496.html[/url

Brett Finch?

You would hope so. If you look round super league I can only see 3 probably destinations.

Us, Wire and who else?

That presupposes that Wire have not had to reduce their costs because of certain ongoing discussions with Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs...?

Huddersfield.

I really hope that it's us who've put an offer in. A new half-back would really help atm. Although not another one that's struggling for form.

already upto salary cap for this year after signing fulton and in negotiations for nathan fien for next year.
cant see it being wire unless they're releasing someone else going the other way. We cou;d well be favourites if he comes to SL , especially given glenn morrisons paramatta connections

it's a bit of a shame that Tupou has left us this way. He had a lot of potential, he certainly knew how to score tries.