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Hornby's devotion a deal of a lifetime
Having retired from representative football, St George Illawarra captain Ben Hornby is to be rewarded for his single-minded focus on winning a premiership with the Dragons, by signing a new contract.
The expected two-year deal with an option of a third season, will make Hornby a one-club player for his entire NRL career, a rarity under the existing salary cap system.
Before Friday's loss to Melbourne at Etihad Stadium, Hornby had produced the best form of his career since switching from fullback to halfback in 2008.
The extension of Hornby's contract will come on the back of the re-signing of Michael Weyman, Matt Prior and Jamie Soward.
However, the new deal casts a major shadow over the future of young gun Beau Henry.
It is believed as many as four NRL clubs have Henry on their radar, while the National Youth Cup player of the year languishes in the under 20 competition and NSW Cup.
Henry is off-contract at the end of the season and his manager Gavin Orr told the Mercury last week that receiving NRL game time would be the major factor in deciding his future.
Star five-eighth Jamie Soward urged the 20-year-old to be patient as part of Wayne Bennett's premiership project.
"Beau's obviously a talent and clubs will obviously be after him," Soward said.
"I didn't even know he was off-contract, but he's got the best coach in the world (at the Dragons).
"You're not going to learn any more going anywhere else.
"It's up to him what he does, it's his choice. Hopefully he's just concentrating on playing good footy and pressing his claims.
"He's young, but I wouldn't be going anywhere," he said.
Soward himself was forced to wait for his chance to prove himself at NRL level. He was in and out of first grade at the Roosters and then Dragons under Nathan Brown, before finally making the No 6 jersey his own last season.
Hornby, meantime, was eligible for a representative exemption, having played 10 seasons in the NRL.
He said prolonging his club career was the key reason for standing down for Country, NSW and Australian duty.
The 30-year-old's utility value has seen him play three games for NSW, one each in 2004, 2006 and 2008, as well as a Test for Australia.
"It's mainly my body; I want to play NRL over the next couple of years," Hornby said after the loss to the Storm.
"It's just a toll on my lower limbs; I've got a couple of little dramas with my lower limbs."
He offered some self-depreciating humour about his representative prospects in the wake of the Dragons 17-4 loss to Melbourne.
"You wouldn't pick me on that performance, would you?" he said.
http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/...a-deal-of-a-lifetime/1793757.aspx?storypage=0
Having retired from representative football, St George Illawarra captain Ben Hornby is to be rewarded for his single-minded focus on winning a premiership with the Dragons, by signing a new contract.
The expected two-year deal with an option of a third season, will make Hornby a one-club player for his entire NRL career, a rarity under the existing salary cap system.
Before Friday's loss to Melbourne at Etihad Stadium, Hornby had produced the best form of his career since switching from fullback to halfback in 2008.
The extension of Hornby's contract will come on the back of the re-signing of Michael Weyman, Matt Prior and Jamie Soward.
However, the new deal casts a major shadow over the future of young gun Beau Henry.
It is believed as many as four NRL clubs have Henry on their radar, while the National Youth Cup player of the year languishes in the under 20 competition and NSW Cup.
Henry is off-contract at the end of the season and his manager Gavin Orr told the Mercury last week that receiving NRL game time would be the major factor in deciding his future.
Star five-eighth Jamie Soward urged the 20-year-old to be patient as part of Wayne Bennett's premiership project.
"Beau's obviously a talent and clubs will obviously be after him," Soward said.
"I didn't even know he was off-contract, but he's got the best coach in the world (at the Dragons).
"You're not going to learn any more going anywhere else.
"It's up to him what he does, it's his choice. Hopefully he's just concentrating on playing good footy and pressing his claims.
"He's young, but I wouldn't be going anywhere," he said.
Soward himself was forced to wait for his chance to prove himself at NRL level. He was in and out of first grade at the Roosters and then Dragons under Nathan Brown, before finally making the No 6 jersey his own last season.
Hornby, meantime, was eligible for a representative exemption, having played 10 seasons in the NRL.
He said prolonging his club career was the key reason for standing down for Country, NSW and Australian duty.
The 30-year-old's utility value has seen him play three games for NSW, one each in 2004, 2006 and 2008, as well as a Test for Australia.
"It's mainly my body; I want to play NRL over the next couple of years," Hornby said after the loss to the Storm.
"It's just a toll on my lower limbs; I've got a couple of little dramas with my lower limbs."
He offered some self-depreciating humour about his representative prospects in the wake of the Dragons 17-4 loss to Melbourne.
"You wouldn't pick me on that performance, would you?" he said.
http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/...a-deal-of-a-lifetime/1793757.aspx?storypage=0
