Have a break, young Lyon urged, then come back

[The Colonel]

Have a break, young Lyon urged, then come back
March 18, 2004


Justin Hodges, who considered quitting rugby league earlier this season, yesterday implored troubled footballer Jamie Lyon to return to the game.

Lyon, 22, says he wants to retire from the NRL and has walked out on a $750,000 contract with Parramatta to clear his head. The Australian and NSW representative is keen to return to his home town Wee Waa, saying he's tired of the Sydney lifestyle.

Hodges, originally from Cairns, went through similar personal problems before returning to the Sydney Roosters last month.

"Footy does get a hold on you and it does get you down sometimes. People say it's the life but sometimes there's more bad than good," Hodges said. "He's [Lyon] only 22 and he's from the country so it's pretty hard living in a big city like this. Even I struggled.

"I hope he goes away, thinks about what he wants to do, has some time off and hopefully comes back because he's one of the great centres.

"Even though he's played for Australia and done everything, there's probably still more that he needs to achieve. He needs to be like one of the great players that he can be."

Cronulla fullback and Dubbo product David Peachey, another footballer who was given time off to sort out personal problems, believed Lyon missed the laid-back country lifestyle.

"It's not about the money. He wants to be where he's happy, and what makes him happy is the country lifestyle.

"I don't think the city people understand that. How can you walk away from $750,000? In the bush, you probably wouldn't get a cent because you'd give that to your family and friends and spread it around."

Hodges said that he was "over the moon" about playing football again following a nine-month lay-off because of a knee reconstruction.

He is now living with former Roosters teammate and Cronulla forward Andrew Lomu in the Sydney suburb of La Perouse.

AAP

 

[planeteels]

first intelligent thing to come out of hodges' mouth...


i think jamie will be back!!

 

[The Colonel]

Panthers eager to welcome Lyon
By James Hooper
March 18, 2004

THE tiny cotton town of Wee Waa is buzzing with anticipation about the return of favourite son Jamie Lyon and the local team hopes he'll line up in their bush league for $150 a game.

The townspeople have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of Lyon since he walked out of Parramatta on Monday but the wandering star is yet to show up.

Instead, he is enjoying some time away from football to contemplate his future with his family, father Shane and uncle Darren, at a secret location on the NSW north coast.

Lyon had arranged to go pig chasing and fishing around the Namoi River with friends earlier this week but had a change of heart at the last minute.

He is relaxing with his grandparents and immediate family, telling best friend Peter Doring he was going for a few beers with those close to him last night.

Lyon is the talk of Wee Waa with many locals hopeful he will return to the cotton-growing town, where he grew up, in the near future.

Wee Waa Panthers captain-coach Matt Hogan, who had stints with Souths and Canberra in the late '90s, revealed that Lyon had always held a desire to return to country NSW to play with his mates.

"He's always wanted to come back and have a season with the Panthers before he retires," Hogan said.

"But we didn't think it was going to come this soon.

"I'm hoping it won't be this season. But if that is what Jamie wants then we will all support him."

Lyon was a member of the Panthers side that won the under-16s premiership in 1998 before he moved to begin his career with Parramatta.

Panthers players and Lyon's closest friends spoke yesterday of how the local lad had often talked about returning to play with the Panthers.

"He's wanted to come back for a long time, now it looks like he's going to," Doring said.

"He said to me the other day if he does play for the Panthers then I have to come out of retirement and have a run with him too."

Panthers back-rower Wade Mallinson believes once Lyon has some time to clear his head he will eventually return to big-time football in Sydney.

"Twelve months off will do him the world of good," Mallinson said.

"Whatever he does we just hope he is happy. But it was a big shock to hear that he had given it up.

"It will be good to see him back here."

Fellow Panther Luke Barton, who grew up playing in the same team as Lyon from the age of four, admitted he was surprised with Lyon's decision to walk away from the Eels.

"I've heard him talk about quitting before but I never thought he meant doing it like this," Barton said.

The Daily Telegraph

 

[Twizzle]

Well a least he will keep fit if he plays for the local boys.

Don't like the idea of him becoming a Panther tho.

 

[The Colonel]

Don't worry I nearly crashed the car this morning when my wife mentioned the Panthers were interested in him playing for them. Thank god they were from Wee Waa.