Kurt Gidley still has plenty in the tank as he approaches 15th NRL season with the Knights
BARRY TOOHEY
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
MARCH 06, 2015 4:59PM
KURT Gidley says he won’t play a day longer than he should and is not the type to “beg” for an extra year, but is not contemplating retirement just yet as he approaches his 15th season in the NRL.
On the eve of Newcastle’s season-opener against the Warriors, the Knights skipper opened up for the first time about how he questioned his own future at the club midway through last season when he was playing hooker under Wayne Bennett, describing it as the lowest point of his career.
But following his return to his favoured fullback spot and with an incident-free pre-season under his belt, the 32-year-old admits his appetite for playing has never been greater.
“I’m as pumped about this game as I have been about any during my career,” Gidley said of the Warriors clash.
“The excitement’s there, the anticipation — you just want to get out and play and we’ve got some real confidence around the place about doing well.
“It feels no different for me now than when I first started.”
While Gidley is aware his future will be a talking point this season, he doesn’t want to be the focus of constant speculation.
“It’s not about me, it’s about the club. Always has been,” Gidley said.
“I’ll never stay here any longer than I should. I’m not a player who will hang around and beg for an extra year.
“I’m also aware of the young guys we’ve got coming through that are off contract.
“The guys the club has to do everything to try and keep here.“The Mata’utia boys, Jake Mamo, Gags (Dane Gagai) — I love those guys.
“They are everything that Newcastle is about.
“I don’t want to see those guys go to another club.
“We want them to be Newcastle Knights for their whole careers so we need to sign them all and that’s the priority.”
Asked if that meant there was no money left for him, Gidley said:
“That’s fine. I’ve had a great career.
“I’ve grown up in my home town and played for 15 years and had my family watching me play in my home town.
“It’s not about me or being selfish and trying to hang around for another year and I don’t want to hang around for another year if I’m not up to it, either.
“I don’t want to be halfway through 2016 and get a tap on the shoulder from Stoney (coach Rick Stone) telling me I’m not up to it or you are back to reserve grade.
“I’m a hard judge on myself but I expect Matt (Gidley), Hages (Michael Hagan) and Stoney to be honest with me and they will be.
“I know they will be.”
On Stone, Gidley said:
“He brings a relaxed attitude but he still drives very high standards and expects everyone to do what is asked of them.
“If you don’t perform at training or give him your attention, he’s happy to give a spray out or a kick up the arse which is what you want from your head coach.”
On playing hooker:
“It didn’t suit me and it didn’t suit the team.
“It really started affecting me the middle of last year to the point where I was really questioning my future at the club.
“I struggled to see a future here given Darbs (fullback Darius Boyd) was contracted for another year.
“It was affecting me at home and Wayne (Bennett) could sense it as well.
“We ended up having lunch and talking it over and that’s when I was moved to halfback. But fullback is my best position.”
On the fans:
“They weren’t relating to the footy we were playing last season.
“Newcastle is a blue collar, working class town and they expect you to roll up your sleeves and put your body on the line, do your absolute best.
“We won some fans back by playing pretty tough and playing a bit more expansive footy at the back end of the year.
“Now we have to put an early stamp on 2015. Make a statement. It all starts with the Warriors.”
