LOYAL DRAGON
First Grade
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http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,23602469-5012657,00.html
TRENT Barrett's father says Wigan will not prevent the former Test pivot from returning to Australia, paving the way for Barrett to reunite with St George Illawarra.
Bruce Barrett spoke to his son on Friday and believes Wigan will take a sympathetic view to Trent's homesickness issues.
"He thinks Wigan will give him a release, I don't think they will stand in his way,'' Barrett snr said.
"I'm pretty sure they will let him go. As a parent, I'm over the moon he's coming home.
"Wigan could not have looked after him better. He's not unhappy with the football over there, but Kylie (Barrett's wife) is homesick. They have two young kids and another one on the way _ that's brought everything forward.''
Bruce Barrett confirmed his son wanted out of Wigan and is prepared to accept a pay cut to play under Wayne Bennett at the Dragons.
Barrett will meet with Wigan chairman Ian Lenagan on Tuesday (AEST) to discuss the reasons for leaving.
With his Wigan deal worth $600,000 a season, he will sacrifice between $200,000 and $300,000 annually should he return to the NRL.
Barrett, who turns 31 in November, refused to guarantee he would be at Wigan next season when contacted by The Sunday Telegraph.
"I can't say too much but I'll be meeting with Ian (Lenagan) on Monday. There's a few things I need to discuss with him,'' Barrett said.
Asked if he was keen to play under Bennett at the Dragons in 2009, Barrett said: ``I don't want to comment on the Dragons at the moment.
"With my contract, I've got the rest of this year and next year at Wigan. I've played under Wayne when he was coaching Australia and the Dragons would be pleased to have him, but I don't want to say much more than that.
"I've had a really good time over here and Wigan are a fantastic club, I'm really enjoying the football. I'm coming back from injury on Sunday and then I'll talk to Ian. I'll know more this week.''
The Sharks and Bulldogs are understood to be keen on luring the former Dragons skipper, but Bruce Barrett predicted his son would head to his old club.
He revealed money was not an issue, with Trent keen to put family contentment ahead of financial reward.
"I think he will play for the Dragons, yeah,'' Bruce said.
"The salary cap is biting here so I don't know how things would work financially. Trent is quite prepared to come home and play for less money. He just wants to come home. I'm told Melbourne are keen but there's no way he'll go there. He said he wants to come back to Wollongong.
"He doesn't know what's going on at this stage. He's told me he loves the football there but his wife is having a baby and she misses home.
"Apparently it's rained for the past eight weeks over there and they're missing the Australian way of life.''
TRENT Barrett's father says Wigan will not prevent the former Test pivot from returning to Australia, paving the way for Barrett to reunite with St George Illawarra.
Bruce Barrett spoke to his son on Friday and believes Wigan will take a sympathetic view to Trent's homesickness issues.
"He thinks Wigan will give him a release, I don't think they will stand in his way,'' Barrett snr said.
"I'm pretty sure they will let him go. As a parent, I'm over the moon he's coming home.
"Wigan could not have looked after him better. He's not unhappy with the football over there, but Kylie (Barrett's wife) is homesick. They have two young kids and another one on the way _ that's brought everything forward.''
Bruce Barrett confirmed his son wanted out of Wigan and is prepared to accept a pay cut to play under Wayne Bennett at the Dragons.
Barrett will meet with Wigan chairman Ian Lenagan on Tuesday (AEST) to discuss the reasons for leaving.
With his Wigan deal worth $600,000 a season, he will sacrifice between $200,000 and $300,000 annually should he return to the NRL.
Barrett, who turns 31 in November, refused to guarantee he would be at Wigan next season when contacted by The Sunday Telegraph.
"I can't say too much but I'll be meeting with Ian (Lenagan) on Monday. There's a few things I need to discuss with him,'' Barrett said.
Asked if he was keen to play under Bennett at the Dragons in 2009, Barrett said: ``I don't want to comment on the Dragons at the moment.
"With my contract, I've got the rest of this year and next year at Wigan. I've played under Wayne when he was coaching Australia and the Dragons would be pleased to have him, but I don't want to say much more than that.
"I've had a really good time over here and Wigan are a fantastic club, I'm really enjoying the football. I'm coming back from injury on Sunday and then I'll talk to Ian. I'll know more this week.''
The Sharks and Bulldogs are understood to be keen on luring the former Dragons skipper, but Bruce Barrett predicted his son would head to his old club.
He revealed money was not an issue, with Trent keen to put family contentment ahead of financial reward.
"I think he will play for the Dragons, yeah,'' Bruce said.
"The salary cap is biting here so I don't know how things would work financially. Trent is quite prepared to come home and play for less money. He just wants to come home. I'm told Melbourne are keen but there's no way he'll go there. He said he wants to come back to Wollongong.
"He doesn't know what's going on at this stage. He's told me he loves the football there but his wife is having a baby and she misses home.
"Apparently it's rained for the past eight weeks over there and they're missing the Australian way of life.''
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