Rugby: Tahu returns to NRL

SYDNEY - Parramatta will look at third-party sponsorship to help fund a move to re-sign Wallabies centre Timana Tahu after the 29-year-old agreed on a return to the NRL club.

Tahu was approached by the Eels last week about the move after the club became aware of his disillusionment with rugby following his omission from the first five international games of the season.

His services have been required by Sydney club West Harbour rather than the Wallabies.

An Eels official told AAP, Tahu - who left to take up a lucrative four-year rugby contract in 2007 - jumped at the chance to go back to Parramatta and will sign after working out a release from his ARU deal.

While the ARU and the Waratahs expressed shock at the revelation on Wednesday, Tahu shouldn't have too much trouble working out a release considering the national body is tightening its belt.

Parramatta have told the Waratahs centre the salary cap prevents them offering him anywhere near the A$400,000 ($504,986)-a-year deal he was on before he left the NRL.

But the club say they are confident they can work out a plan with third parties, similar to those previously signed by Mark Gasnier at St George Illawarra and Newcastle's Andrew Johns.

It will need to be ratified by NRL salary cap auditor Ian Schubert before any agreement can be rubber stamped.

Eels second-row Nathan Hindmarsh, who played with Tahu before he moved to rugby, welcomed the move.

"He was playing good footy before he left and he is a big boy but I guess it will give Ando (coach Daniel Anderson) a headache about who he will leave out in the centres," Hindmarsh said.

"I am definitely happy to have him back."

With the club also recruiting NSW prop Justin Poore from the Dragons and City Origin forward Shane Shackleton from the Sydney Roosters, Hindmarsh said the club's future is bright.

"I suppose this is the most recruiting we have done for a while getting in genuine first grade players and things are looking up."

An ARU official said Tahu's representatives have requested a meeting this week.

"We've heard from Timana's representatives late this afternoon he's requesting an urgent meeting to sort out his future and we will put that meeting in place as soon as possible," the spokesperson said.

However, the NSW Waratah said they remained in the dark about the situation.

"We haven't been informed at all," said a spokesman. "We haven't even been contacted by him."

Tahu's lucrative rugby deal through to the 2011 World Cup was trumpeted by the ARU in 2007.

But injuries and a lack of opportunity for the Waratahs, who struggled to settle on his best position, never saw him reach the heights expected.

Ironically, it was only in the last three games of this year's Super 14 it appeared he found his niche at outside centre in the Waratahs' backline.

Tahu failed to turn up to Wallabies training on Wednesday but his absence was initially attributed to a shoulder injury after they were advised of his no-show.

He gained four test caps, mostly off the bench, but repeated hamstring problems continued to plague his rugby career, including cutting short his spring tour of Europe when expected to be given more development opportunities by coach Robbie Deans.

With Tahu now heading back to the NRL, only Cross remains from the big-name league converts still playing rugby.

Wendell Sailor (Dragons) and Mat Rogers (Titans) are finishing their football careers in the NRL, while Tuqiri is next month set to fight the ARU in court.

The heat is now on the Waratahs, who have to find two players to replace their big-name backline stars for the 2010 season.

- AAP