Sacked Sharks bad-boy Albert Kelly thrown a lifeline by the Newcastle Knights
Barry Toohey
The Daily Telegraph
April 06, 2012 12:00AM
UNDER different circumstances, Albert Kelly would have made a pretty handy replacement for injured Newcastle skipper Kurt Gidley against the Parramatta Eels on Sunday.
But you won't see the troubled former Sharks bad-boy running out for the Knights despite training with the squad yesterday.
Banished to NRL purgatory after being sacked by the Sharks three weeks ago following a series of off-field offences, Kelly has been thrown a life-line of sorts by Newcastle coach Wayne Bennett in a bid to help him get his career back on track.
But there is no offer of an NRL contract and it's unlikely there will be this season.
"We're just doing what we can to help Albert get his life back on track,"Knights CEO Matt Gidley said.
"He's moved up here to play with local club Central Charlestown with his partner and there is a baby on the way
"Wayne's attitude is 'I just want to see the boy happy again' after what's happened so he's been to training today and had a run with the boys.
"There is a possibility we will register him for NSW Cup but we have four or five guys playing in the halves at that level in front of him so, to be honest, it's pretty unlikely he'll end up playing for us.
"He's got some people up here helping him and he's just trying to get himself into a good place and back on track.
"Who knows, it might even lead to another NRL club picking him up which would be fantastic for him."
