MacDougall holidays in Hawaii after
shock turnaround

Former Knights winger Adam MacDougall is holidaying in Hawaii with his girlfriend, just days after his sudden signing with South Sydney.

MacDougall signed with the club on Friday afternoon for an estimated $250,000 per season, despite a verbal agreement being reached with the Newcastle Knights two weeks earlier.

Knights? management were set to meet MacDougall and his manager on Saturday morning.

MacDougall is said to have been lured in an ?11th hour offer?, before informing the Knights on Saturday of his signing with the Rabbitohs.

The former NSW and Australian winger, who had his contract terminated by Newcastle four months ago, had made public his intentions to remain at the club despite only being offered match payments.

Since returning from a knee injury this season, MacDougall has impressed at his club of eight years, playing on match-payments following the re-negotiation of his contract.

In a written statement, the 28-year-old said that his decision was based on the need to secure his future.

?It?s been one of the biggest decisions of my career leaving a club I spent eight years at and won two grand finals with,? he said.

?I?ve signed a one-year contract and I?m looking forward to a new challenge and contributing to the success of a club that?s steeped in tradition?

?I?m also looking forward to the opportunity of playing with my younger brother Luke?.

The Newcastle Herald reported this morning that a highly placed Knights source suggested that a ?convincing legal case? could be argued against MacDougall.

However Knights chairman Michael Hill said yesterday that the club were ?unlikely? to pursue the matter further.

MacDougall?s former teammates were said to have been first made aware of the winger?s decision when contacted by media representatives on Saturday following the announcement.

The decision has angered some Knights fans who believed that MacDougall owes the club after several seasons spent recovering from injury.