Foemer All Blacks star Jonah Lomu
has been offered a one-year incentive contract to switch codes and
join the Gold Coast Titans, an expansion club in Australia's
National Rugby League.
The 31-year-old winger did not attract an offer from any of the
Super 14 rugby union franchises, and met with Titans officials on
Tuesday with a view to playing rugby league in 2007.
Titans managing director Michael Searle was impressed with Lomu's
condition, despite concerns over the giant winger's fitness since
returning from a life-saving kidney transplant in 2004.
``He looks absolutely better than we expected,'' Searle said.
``We're confident that if there was a game being played tomorrow,
Jonah Lomu would be picked in it.''
Lomu told the Gold Coast officials he is 100 percent fit and is
considering his options.
``We still haven't made a decision on anything,'' Lomu said.
``It's just more of a meet and greet to put names to faces and to
meet each other personally and see whether we fit or suit each
other.''
The Gold Coast enters the NRL competition next season.
Lomu admitted last month that his dream of representing New
Zealand at next year's Rugby World Cup was over when he missed a
Super 14 contract for 2007.
© The Canadian Press, 2007