McPherson’s Salford odyssey

[Newcastlerabbit]

City Reds new boy Shannan can't wait to get started after finally making it to Super League after his move from South Sydney Rabbitohs

By Chris Brierley
Shannan McPherson’s road to Super League has been a rocky one.
But Salford’s new Aussie forward can’t help but raise a smile when he talks about his journey from South Sydney Rabbitohs to the City Reds.
The 26-year-old pack star originally signed for Crusaders before they decided to pull out of Super League.
Then he agreed to sign for Salford’s new Aussie coach Matt Parish.
But, as he was heading over from Australia, he discovered Parish had quit and was going the opposite way.
“I had a bit of a chuckle to myself because it has been a whirlwind year for me and I saw the funny side,” he admitted.
“You believe you are going to sign for a club and the next thing they drop out of Super League.
“Then you come to Salford and the head coach heads out…I saw the funny side and hopefully it will all be for the best.”
McPherson came through the ranks at South Sydney, his local club, and it was a massive wrench to leave but coming to Britain was something he had wanted to do since being a youngster.
He said: “I always watched Super League as a kid on Fox TV and Sky TV and it has always intrigued me how the fans get involved with the singing and the cheering.
“Teams like Wigan, St Helens and Leeds got lots of coverage and I’ve always wanted to come over to Super League.
“It wasn’t that I didn’t have another club to go to in the NRL it was something I’ve always wanted to do and I’m raring to go.”
McPherson made his debut for South Sydney in 2005 and made 93 first grade appearances scoring two tries.
But he was fed up of being on the fringe and asked to be released from the last year of his contract to join Crusaders.
“Initially I was going to Crusaders and that fell apart as everyone knows.
“Salford were pretty keen straight away and a couple of weeks later I was signed.
“My manager had a good relationship with Steve Simms and Matt Parish was keen to sign me.
“After the Crusaders debacle I was always confident that other clubs would come in for me.
“I’ve made a big change by coming over to England and I’m really looking forward to it.
“I was interested in coming over to Super League even when I was playing NRL.
“I thought it was time for me to move. I’d been there a long time and my wife and I were looking for something different and a new adventure to spice things up a bit.”
After his first look at the Salford City Stadium at Barton last week McPherson can’t wait to get started.
“Our goal this year is to improve on last year,” he said
“The new stadium brings a new era and with a bit more backing from the community hopefully we can move on.
“I didn’t know any of the players personally when I arrived here but knew of them and I’m really impressed with the side.
“I also think some of the young blokes from the academy will push for spots this year.
“Everybody is helping me settle in and it hasn’t been too bad.”
McPherson, who arrived with his wife and two children, is settling in to the Salford lifestyle and getting used to the English weather but says time will tell what the fans make of him.
He said: “I believe I’m a hard worker and I’m going to give it all every game.
“Hopefully I can give the rest of the team a lift and we can start pushing for the top eight.

http://www.cbsport.org/2011/12/mcphersons-salford-odyssey/

 

[Mad Albert]

Shannan will work hard and they will get value for money.