Royal puts family first and signs with Dogs

[Pumba]

Royal puts family first and signs with Dogs
BY NEIL GOFFET

NEWCASTLE Knights prop Jesse Royal has given up living the dream of a professional rugby league player, and will focus on fatherhood, working in the mines and playing for Kurri Kurri next season.

The 28-year-old put his family before chasing another NRL club after his contract with the Knights expired at the end of the 2008 season.

The New Zealander was told in July he would not be offered a deal at the Knights next season and his manager Daryl Mather tried to arrange a deal with the Warriors so he could return home.

But Royal's wife, Kylie, is set up in a good job at EnergyAustralia, his boys Matarae, 3, and Tumai, 22 months, are settled in day care.

The hard-working prop said he wanted to make a life for his family in Newcastle.

"The decision I've made was all about my family, so it was not that tough a decision to make," Royal said.

"I've got no regrets about the decision I have made and I had to do what's right for them because they have been there for me the whole time.

"I couldn't handle the pressure of not knowing what direction my life was going to go and I love Newcastle, I love the area and the lifestyle so it was an easy decision."

Royal made his NRL debut with the Knights in April last year and played 10 first-grade games in his debut season. He played 19 matches this year.

A former cook in the army, Royal was recruited from New Zealand's Bartercard Cup competition by Penrith in 2004.

He joined the Knights in 2005 and, after a slow start, he played his best season in 2008, only to be told he was no longer required.

"I feel very fortunate to have played the 20-odd first-grade games that I did," Royal said. "I'm happy that I achieved what I did, and there are a lot of people who have not played 20 games of first grade for the Knights."

Royal decided to link with Coalfields club Kurri Kurri after being offered a job in the mines, and did not put a time frame on the length of his career.

"I'll just play it by ear," he said.

"My body is holding up pretty good at the moment, so I've got at least another couple of seasons in me."

The Bulldogs, who finished equal sixth with Nelson Bay this year, have also signed former Knights hooker Luke Quigley for the 2009 season.

Bulldogs secretary David Ross said the club were on the verge of signing another two former Knights players and he hoped to have those deals completed by the end of the month.

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[Yosh]

I just dont understand... He would play basically for free right? Is pretty good as well... Just give him some match payments or anything, part time is also good I guess for him... I just dont understand...

 

[strewth_mate]

Damn those misleading headlines :lol:

Was feeling thrilled at the initial thought he'd signed with Canterbury so he could stay in the NRL. Alas.

 

[Serc]

What a waste, our best prop of the year (only Cross' recent form might have pushed him) in the first season we are successful without a halfback that can win behind a beaten pack and we don't re-sign him. If we run out of props for next year (outside of a Perry-like turnaround with Wicks + other miracles) I think a few of us at some point will be very pissed off!

I can see something like this costing us a place in the top 8 or losing a semi final next year.

 

[shane1970]

From what we can take out of how much he would be playing with Kurri for I find it unfathomable that the Knights don't have that amount of money to move under the 'cap'. The other possibility is that Knights management and Coach don't see him as being in our top 25 players which is more unfathomable than the salary cap issue. Something just DOESN"T add up with this.

 

[Newie is God's Country]

What a waste, our best prop of the year (only Cross' recent form might have pushed him) in the first season we are successful without a halfback that can win behind a beaten pack and we don't re-sign him. If we run out of props for next year (outside of a Perry-like turnaround with Wicks + other miracles) I think a few of us at some point will be very pissed off!

I can see something like this costing us a place in the top 8 or losing a semi final next year.

That is a massive call but I see your point. Injuries are the decdiing factor in this competition when you break it all down. The class difference between the clubs is almost negligible now. Best comp in the world in any sport. Good luck Jess. We will miss you big fella.

 

[Serc]

Yeah it is a bit of a big call, but certainly could be an 'excuse' for us not meeting our goals for next year: "oh we ran out of props"

 

[Godz Illa]

Pretty stunned that this dude wasn't nabbed by another NRL club. We could've used him in our prop rotation... and if he was dead keen on a blue collar career let him work at the Port Kembla steelworks from time to time.

 

[macavity]

Pretty stunned that this dude wasn't nabbed by another NRL club. We could've used him in our prop rotation... and if he was dead keen on a blue collar career let him work at the Port Kembla steelworks from time to time.

you guys offered him a contract.

he didn't want to move to Sydney or Gong.

can't say I blame him.

Massive shame. Our best prop this year. He will destroy the local comp - 250m a game..

 

[perverse]

if we run out of props next year ill be f**king pissed. until then though i'm reserving judgement. needless to say i would have kept royal in a heartbeat... but i still have faith that smithy has a plan.

 

[aqua_duck]

If we run out of props next year could we technically send him a SOS and sign him on match payments?

 

[antonius]

From what we can take out of how much he would be playing with Kurri for I find it unfathomable that the Knights don't have that amount of money to move under the 'cap'. The other possibility is that Knights management and Coach don't see him as being in our top 25 players which is more unfathomable than the salary cap issue. Something just DOESN"T add up with this.

Exactly, it's unbelievable we can't make him some sort of offer that would be better than what Kurri are paying him, he must've gotten on the wrong side of somebody, that's the only concliusion you'd draw from it, especially as our front row stocks are going to be down next season.

 

[voltron]

who are the two ex-knights players to be signed by the dogs then???

 

[MC DUI]

Very disappointing...

Where are the headings proclaiming the local league are now raiding us along with Super League and Union...

 

[macavity]

on radio on sat morning, Smithy was asked about the front row

and said he isnt worried, that there are "four or five" young guys that are going to step up and play front row for us

who the hell is he refering to? I can only think of timmy - and he still isn't a walk up first grader...

 

[roopy]

on radio on sat morning, Smithy was asked about the front row

and said he isnt worried, that there are "four or five" young guys that are going to step up and play front row for us

who the hell is he refering to? I can only think of timmy - and he still isn't a walk up first grader...

We do have some seriously good young props, but even i can't see any of them replacing Jesse next season.

 

[Karmawave]

Joel Edwards is a potential to really step up I feel if he has a strong offseason. I actually see a bit of Ben Hannant in his style of play. Like Hannant, Edwards was not a junior standout in rep teams etc.

I think he is the sort of player, just like Hannant, that will benefit from being thrown in the deep end to bring the best out of him than wallow around in lower grades waiting for a chance.

 

[roopy]

I would have said Ling, but apparently we have let him go - so we have Natusch, Edwards, and we also have Gallen and Dobbins who couls aim up after a huge off season - but none of those guys is a guarenteed firstgrader. They are all rookies who have a chance to make it with hard work in a few seasons.

 

[astrogirl]

Exactly, it's unbelievable we can't make him some sort of offer that would be better than what Kurri are paying him, he must've gotten on the wrong side of somebody, that's the only concliusion you'd draw from it, especially as our front row stocks are going to be down next season.

I'm not sure that that's the point. I'm sure the Knights can pay more than Kurri but playing in the NRL would involve a heap more training and presumably a huge paycut. He probably also wouldn't be able to work as well, to supplement what he made from playing in the NRL.

 

[macavity]

I'm not sure that that's the point. I'm sure the Knights can pay more than Kurri but playing in the NRL would involve a heap more training and presumably a huge paycut. He probably also wouldn't be able to work as well, to supplement what he made from playing in the NRL.

hit it in one.

he can make over 150k with a mining job and park footy - or say 50k (maybe a bit more in match payments so long as he doesnt get injured) playing first grade.

its a joke.