Payback time for Kidwell
By James Hooper
July 23, 2004
THE word bounced around the walls of Parramatta coach Brian Smith's office until eventually it stopped and tried to insert itself somewhere around David Kidwell's heart.
It was four years ago when Smith had called in the Kiwi backrower to tell him he wasn't cutting it at the Eels.
Unwanted was how he phrased it.
So Kidwell began the search for a new club and ended up in ... Warrington, England.
"Basically Parramatta didn't want me any more. Brian Smith called me in and said I wasn't what they were looking for," Kidwell recalls.
"I said fair enough. When you're not wanted you've got to try and find your feet in another place.
"I really liked Parramatta and the set-up there but the coach wanted something else."
After failing to attract interest elsewhere in the NRL, Kidwell was forced overseas to the English Super League.
Since returning after an unhappy stint he has won a premiership with the Roosters in 2002 and become one of the most in-demand players on the market.
He has just inked a new three-year deal with Melbourne but also had big offers from Canberra and Cronulla.
The Raiders went very close to securing him, he spent a day inspecting the national capital operation, but ultimately accepted less to stay with the Storm where he is happy and playing the best football of his career.
Along with his new-found form has come a recall to the New Zealand Test team after a four-year absence.
Kidwell was one of the Kiwis' best in their loss to the Kangaroos back in April.
"It's easy when you're in demand because there's clubs knocking on the door," Kidwell, 27, says.
"But when you're not in demand you are the one who has to do the chasing.
"A lot of people thought my career was over when I went to England but I always wanted to come back to the NRL."
Kidwell is among the most well-travelled players in the NRL. He has moved homes seven times in the last four years.
Melbourne is the only club he has stayed at longer than two years after the Roosters were unable to keep him at the end of 2002 because of salary cap restrictions.
He admits the move to England was for the wrong reasons, primarily driven by money, but is glad he returned to the NRL.
In a roundabout way Smith's words have proved invaluable for Kidwell.
Tomorrow Kidwell will be attempting to suffocate any remaining hope of Smith's team making the finals when Melbourne host the Eels. Parramatta have been forced to go on a mid-season spending spree to try and stop the rot of losses in 2004.
Melbourne continue to develop into a better football team.
The Eels managed a mini-revival against the Sydney Roosters after announcing they had signed Mark Riddell, Glenn Morrison, Timana Tahu, Paul Stringer and Chad Robinson for 2005.
But hooker John Morris, the man who coach Smith has suggested will play five-eighth with Mark Riddell to fill the No.9 role, rejects suggestions the incoming cavalry has motivated the Eels.
Morris traces the start of a poor season for Parramatta back to week two of the competition when centre Jamie Lyon walked out on the club.
Morris also says the club's loss of key players like Nathan Cayless, David Vaealiki, Adam Dykes and Aaron Cannings to injury has undoubtedly taken its toll.
"There was a period where we let ourselves down by losing four games at home in a row, that was definitely our most disappointing period of the year," Morris says.
"Since then we've had a few good wins and we're still just narrowly in the hunt for the top eight.
"We can get there if we want to, it's all up to us.
"As for next year Brian hasn't sat me down for a one-on-one yet but I came here from Newcastle to become a starting player so I'd be disappointed if I was anything else next year."
Storm backrower Kidwell will be only too happy to lend Morris some advice about the kind of motivation Smith's office can provide.
The Daily Telegraph
