Down to miner leagues
Kiwi desperate for Warriors lifeline
BRUISING Knights prop Jesse Royal is set to walk away from rugby league and into a job in the Newcastle mines.
The former New Zealand Army chef made his NRL debut for the Knights last year.
Before a medial ligament injury in July he was arguably one of the club's most consistent performers.
But now it appears the Kiwi pro is destined for the rugby league scrapheap unless negotiations between the Warriors and his manager Darryl Mather bear fruit.
"The Knights told my manager and I last week that they weren't going to re-sign me," Royal told Sunday News.
"They didn't see me in their long-term plans. That was a bit of a bummer but I'm just looking to move on now.
"I'd been lying to you if I said I wasn't disappointed with the club's decision.
"I'm trying to be positive about it and it's time to move on and look for the next challenge in my life."
Royal won't be able to resurrect his league career in the Super League due to a loophole that stipulates imports have to play at least 36 NRL games.
He's played 25 and knows his only hope is an offer from a rival NRL club namely the Warriors who his manager has been talking to.
"I'm not too sure whether the Warriors are going to put an offer on the table," Royal said.
"Darryl told me things are complicated. He said some players over there have to find clubs if they (Warriors) are to have enough money to offer me a deal.
"I'd love to join the Warriors. I have family back home and it would be good to move back to New Zealand.
"I've been here for about four years and a change of lifestyle would be good."
Warriors CEO Wayne Scurrah last night downplayed paper talk linking Royal to the club.
"We aren't really in discussions to recruit Jesse," he said.
"We get a lot of players' names thrown at us and obviously we are aware of which players are coming off contract.
"We aren't going to offer him a contract at this stage."
Given his contractual situation, Royal's knee injury couldn't have come at a worse time.
But he insists he's not getting worried about it or the prospect of calling time early on his blossoming league career.
"My recovery is going pretty good right now," said Royal. "I'm back to straight-line running at the moment and it's just a case of strapping up my knee.
"I'm probably about three weeks away from being right to play.
"It's been very frustrating being sidelined with a knee injury when I'm off contract at the end of the year.
"You can't do anything about that so it's all about keeping your head down and working hard on your rehab. I'm pinning my hopes on staying in the NRL.
"If that doesn't work out, I am going to try to get a job in the mines here in Newcastle.
"The work is good, the money is good and a lot of footballers work in the mines anyway.
"I guess it was going to happen sooner or later."
Unlike most of his team-mates, Royal wasn't earmarked for stardom at a young age.
He served in the army between 1999 and 2003, completing a six-month stint in East Timor in 2001.
League was always more of a hobby for the Waikato-born prop but after taking up the sport again in the army he was soon noticed.
"I'm not massively concerned about ending up on the scrapheap," Royal said.
"I started football late and most guys aren't lucky enough to ever play in the NRL.
"If my career ends this season, I am still happy with what I've achieved.
"My time in the army was definitely one of the best times in my life.
"I made heaps of good friends and the lifestyle was really appealing.
"My tour of duty in East Timor was definitely an eye-opener and it made me realise how lucky we are to have things back home. Over there they are pretty much dependent on the land and a lot of people live in wooden shacks.
"It was a real experience for me and one of the highlights of my time in the army."
As for his future, it's up in the air.
"If an offer comes along it will be happy days.
"If not, then I guess I have to start looking for a new job."
