Why cant he play with his mates, It's what HE wants to do!
Wee Waa people to petition to get Lyon on the field
15 April 2004
The people of Wee Waa - all 2,000 of them - will be asked to sign a petition in an attempt to convince Parramatta that disillusioned former Test centre Jamie Lyon should be allowed to play in the Group 4 competition.
Dick Crutcher, the chairman of the Wee Waa Panthers, claimed today it would be in the Eels' best interests to let Lyon retain his match fitness and skill levels by playing in the country this year rather than "sitting on his backside" on the sidelines.
Lyon, who made the stunning announcement after round one that he was going to quit the NRL, was told by the Eels yesterday they were going to ban him from playing for his local side.
Crutcher said he was surprised and saddened by the Eels' hardline stance.
"We'll get some kind of petition up and running around the town, get as many people as we can to sign it and send it off to Parramatta and see if they might have a change of heart," said Crutcher.
"I can understand where Parramatta is coming from, I really can, but I think it can only help them in the long run if they let Jamie keep playing this year.
"Why can't they say to him, `Right, Jamie, we'll let you go and play in Wee Waa if you guarantee us you'll come back for the start of 2005'.
"I just don't think he will play for Parramatta this year. I really believe he's made his mind up to stay here for 12 months, whether Parramatta lets him play for us or not.
"If he's going to be here, why not let him play and stay in good nick?
"If he does have 12 months off and then goes back to Sydney, he's going to have had a long time out of the game and it will take him that extra bit longer to get back to his best."
It was thought the Eels would allow Lyon to play for the the north-west NSW town on the proviso he didn't turn out for another NRL club, but the Eels are holding the 22-year-old to his six-figure contract.
Now it's Parramatta or no-one for Lyon ... unless the Eels do a backflip.
Crutcher said the struggling Country Rugby League would reap huge benefits from having a player of Lyon's class playing in Group 4.
"The crowds at our games would jump by 20 to 30 per cent at least and the figures for all the club's we play away against would go up as well," said Crutcher.
"It would be great for us.
"The kids all want to see Jamie Lyon play. Whenever they see him it's `There's Jamie Lyon, there's Jamie Lyon'. They just want to watch him play. There would be a huge amount of interest.
"We're really surprised and saddened by Parramatta's decision. I know they've paid huge dollars for him and they were probably hinging their premiership hopes on him and a few of the others, so it's a massive blow to them.
"But rugby league is missing out, really, if Jamie Lyon isn't allowed to play at all."
