Roosters interested in Tuqiri

Former Brisbane Broncos winger Lote Tuqiri could be heading back to rugby league next year, if the Sydney Roosters have their way.

The Roosters have expressed interest in bringing Tuqiri back to rugby league when his contract with the Australian Rugby Union concludes at the end of the year. But the Roosters say they could not afford to offer him a top dollar contract, and the NRL would have to provide some sort of salary cap allowance.

According to Roosters officials, they could only fit Tuqiri under the salary cap for next season if skipper Brad Fittler was to retire, a decision he has yet to make.

Tuqiri made his debut with Brisbane in 1999 and played four successful seasons with the club before switching to rugby union last year.

There's speculation that Tuqiri could be interested in a rugby league comeback if the time, and the offer, was right.

Since moving to the 15-a-side code last year, 25-year-old Tuqiri has cemented his spot in the NSW Waratahs team. He played in all seven Wallaby Tests last year and also participated in the Rugby Union World Cup.

In his league days, Tuqiri was widely regarded as the best winger in the code and won the 2002 Dally M Winger of the Year Award.