Newcastlerabbit
Coach
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- 14,937
Date
May 21, 2013
Ian McCullough
"The move was just pure luck": Beau Champion. Photo: Getty Images
He was squeezed out of the club to make way for Greg Inglis two years ago, but South Sydney centre Beau Champion is revelling in making up for lost time with the NRL table-toppers.
The centre scored one of Souths' 10 tries in the 54-10 thrashing of Wests Tigers last Friday and after two difficult seasons away from Redfern with Melbourne and then Gold Coast is delighted to be back at home.
Champion reluctantly left Souths in 2010 to switch to the Storm, a move he said improved him as a player but left him crippled with homesickness.
After seeking an early release, he moved to Gold Coast, where a number of his family live, but injuries and being part of a struggling side didn't help him settle in south-east Queensland. So when Souths chief executive Shane Richardson sounded him out about a return to the club, Champion said he would have walked back down the Pacific Highway to Sydney. ''The time I did leave I knew it was best for the club, but it was a great opportunity for me to play with the Melbourne Storm,'' Champion said. ''It's good to be back and I am glad I am finally getting the chance to play alongside Greg. He's a superstar of the game and I am honoured to come back.''
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Champion was one of the key players in the side when he departed but he acknowledges coach Michael Maguire has turned the club around significantly. He also admits he never expected to be a part of a Souths side that has genuine premiership aspirations.
''The move was just pure luck and a bit of destiny I suppose. It came about when Dylan Farrell hurt his back in a trial game and Matt King had a fractured arm. The club needed a centre and the Titans were in a position where they could let me go to free up some money.''
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...cond-chance-20130520-2jwx1.html#ixzz2TscRfU1t
May 21, 2013
Ian McCullough
"The move was just pure luck": Beau Champion. Photo: Getty Images
He was squeezed out of the club to make way for Greg Inglis two years ago, but South Sydney centre Beau Champion is revelling in making up for lost time with the NRL table-toppers.
The centre scored one of Souths' 10 tries in the 54-10 thrashing of Wests Tigers last Friday and after two difficult seasons away from Redfern with Melbourne and then Gold Coast is delighted to be back at home.
Champion reluctantly left Souths in 2010 to switch to the Storm, a move he said improved him as a player but left him crippled with homesickness.
After seeking an early release, he moved to Gold Coast, where a number of his family live, but injuries and being part of a struggling side didn't help him settle in south-east Queensland. So when Souths chief executive Shane Richardson sounded him out about a return to the club, Champion said he would have walked back down the Pacific Highway to Sydney. ''The time I did leave I knew it was best for the club, but it was a great opportunity for me to play with the Melbourne Storm,'' Champion said. ''It's good to be back and I am glad I am finally getting the chance to play alongside Greg. He's a superstar of the game and I am honoured to come back.''
Advertisement
Champion was one of the key players in the side when he departed but he acknowledges coach Michael Maguire has turned the club around significantly. He also admits he never expected to be a part of a Souths side that has genuine premiership aspirations.
''The move was just pure luck and a bit of destiny I suppose. It came about when Dylan Farrell hurt his back in a trial game and Matt King had a fractured arm. The club needed a centre and the Titans were in a position where they could let me go to free up some money.''
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...cond-chance-20130520-2jwx1.html#ixzz2TscRfU1t
