How a blunt conversation lured Tyson Frizell to Newcastle
By WWOS staff
2 hours ago
NSW Blues star Tyson Frizell has opened up on how a frank conversation with Newcastle coach Adam O'Brien caused him to depart St George Illawarra for a new home in the Hunter.
O'Brien met with Frizell ahead of the 2020 season in a bid to convince the back-rower over a move north after eight seasons with the Red V.
The two discussed the idea of the switch, but it was O'Brien's blunt yet honest concern that Frizell had not been fulfilling his potential as a rugby league player that won the forward over.
"I came away from that meeting with Adam feeling good and it was what got me across the line in the end," Frizell said.
Tyson Frizell (Getty)
"I want to keep developing as a player and he agreed. He told me there is more in me and I can do a lot more.
"He wasn't really telling me how good I was, but I was really happy to hear that from Adam.
"It was nice to get an outside opinion from someone that I haven't had as much to do with."
At 29 with 10 NRL seasons to his name, Frizell is a respected name across the league. But for all his success he is still yet to win a premiership.
The forward said he was at a point in his career where he needed to make a change, and he saw Newcastle as the place to make that happen.
Tyson Frizell, Paul Vaughan, Jack de Belin, Tariq Sims (Getty)
"I'm at a point in my career where I really wanted to stay at the Dragons, but I felt like I needed a change if I wanted to grow as a player," he said.
"Sometimes you can do that at one club, but for me personally, a change out of Sydney is something that I wanted.
"I didn't look too further at other clubs, and I knew Newcastle was the only fit for me if I was to move on from the Dragons.
"I also have to pack up everything and start fresh. I don't really know too many of the boys other than Pearce and Klemmer after playing Origin with them.
"There is still a bit of the unknown about how things are going to go, but it is a new challenge and probably the fresh start that I needed at this time of my career.
"I'm still looking to become better as a player and improve, and I guess change can sometimes bring that."
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