The Rumours Thread

[Dragon David]

Very true Dave, I dont know how any NRL player these days can expect to be at the one club all of his career. Very few and far between. As I said before this nonsense of travel and moving your family around, should be expected. Getting paid hundreds of thousands of dollars per year should be more than enough compensation. I dont seem to recall Melbourne ever mentioning that players dont want to go there, whats it going to be like in PNG !!!

Exactly!! It is just a cop out or seeing if the club is prepared to up the ante and get a better deal.

What about all of the journeymen that have come and gone from the club? They are more or less drifters but still love the game and would be prepared to forego lots of things just to play and of course get a few more dollars to live on. Families go with the players wherever they might end up - even overseas for a few years.

No, it is a poor excuse saying that the Gong is too far. Eff off.

 

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

Exactly!! It is just a cop out or seeing if the club is prepared to up the ante and get a better deal.

What about all of the journeymen that have come and gone from the club? They are more or less drifters but still love the game and would be prepared to forego lots of things just to play and of course get a few more dollars to live on. Families go with the players wherever they might end up - even overseas for a few years.

No, it is a poor excuse saying that the Gong is too far. Eff off.

Sorry David, I disagree. It may not be a big deal to a single bloke, but it can be a deal breaker to anyone in a long term relationship. It's not only you relocating, you're asking your partner to leave town, get a new job and leave their support, family, and friends behind. Got kids? Gotta find a new pre-school, new childcare, Nana and Pop won't be able to look after them anymore. And for what? A 1 or 2 year contract? The money better be good. If you can get a halfway decent contract at another Sydney club, that might be a hell of a lot better for your family than moving to Wollongong. Speaking personally as a bloke who relocated for work several times and eventually saw his relationship fail, I don't see it as a cop out at all.

 

[Dragon David]

Sorry David, I disagree. It may not be a big deal to a single bloke, but it can be a deal breaker to anyone in a long term relationship. It's not only you relocating, you're asking your partner to leave town, get a new job and leave their support, family, and friends behind. Got kids? Gotta find a new pre-school, new childcare, Nana and Pop won't be able to look after them anymore. And for what? A 1 or 2 year contract? The money better be good. If you can get a halfway decent contract at another Sydney club, that might be a hell of a lot better for your family than moving to Wollongong. Speaking personally as a bloke who relocated for work several times and eventually saw his relationship fail, I don't see it as a cop out at all.

OK, that's fine. Just putting my bit on it but I can understand how you feel Johnno. Can't win 'em all so they say. There would be a lot to consider for the guy with a family or has a partner who is employed full-time and not easy to relocate and look for another job.

I read that Tyran Wishart is close to his mum and dad who live in Gerringong while his partner lives and works in Wollongong. As we know, Tyran plays for the Storm so I guess for the sake of trying to make a name for himself he would be renting down in Melbourne somewhere and then when he has time during breaks he travels back to the south coast to be with his partner. One example of someone doing what he is willing to sacrifice so that he can play under Bellamy. I don't think that this example is a stand alone one, I think that there would be others.

Wishart family seek elusive NRL premiership

Melbourne utility Tyran Wishart will play a grand final 25 years after his father Rod Wishart did, when...

www.southcoastregister.com.au

Some sacrifices just have to be made and Gutho by the sound of things isn't wanting to.

 

[redv13]

Exactly!! It is just a cop out or seeing if the club is prepared to up the ante and get a better deal.

What about all of the journeymen that have come and gone from the club? They are more or less drifters but still love the game and would be prepared to forego lots of things just to play and of course get a few more dollars to live on. Families go with the players wherever they might end up - even overseas for a few years.

No, it is a poor excuse saying that the Gong is too far. Eff off.

Maybe he can car pool with Lodge. Seriously it’s about 100km from Manly to the gong, 2 hr trip. You’re on a mil a season, boo f**king hoo. Normal folk do that everyday for a 10th of that if they’re lucky

 

[Kolum Kid]

It’s a reality, being based in Wollongong is not appealing to a lot of players and their families.

I lived in Sydney for 10 yrs on the Navy. Once retired we used to visit Sydney to see my elderly Father in law. We found it more appealing to stay in a caravan park in the gong and travel by train for our visits. But I guess nowadays it's "all about me" syndrome.

 

[Nich]

It’s a reality, being based in Wollongong is not appealing to a lot of players and their family.

Traveling to the Gong is an excuse used because we have a shit team culture and have been rubbish. Widdop had no problem moving to the Gong and loved it. Plus 90% of out juniors are locals and if we build a strong culture. They will never want to leave. Just ask Justin Poore. Moving to Parramatta was the worst thing he ever did. Missed the beach and hated training out in the west.

 

[justadragon]

Sorry David, I disagree. It may not be a big deal to a single bloke, but it can be a deal breaker to anyone in a long term relationship. It's not only you relocating, you're asking your partner to leave town, get a new job and leave their support, family, and friends behind. Got kids? Gotta find a new pre-school, new childcare, Nana and Pop won't be able to look after them anymore. And for what? A 1 or 2 year contract? The money better be good. If you can get a halfway decent contract at another Sydney club, that might be a hell of a lot better for your family than moving to Wollongong. Speaking personally as a bloke who relocated for work several times and eventually saw his relationship fail, I don't see it as a cop out at all.

For the average person who has a normal stable job and lifestyle I can agree with you, I have been in the Defence forces for over 30 years and have been posted all over Australia and the world on many occasions, with my wife and kids in tow. I knew as soon as I signed on the dotted line this would be the case. The support networks we had were well organised and I and my family was well compensated for moving. My family actually always thought of things as an adventure and its what you make of it as a family that count. You make more friends and experience new lifestyles. BTW my wife also expected that I would not be in one place forever. So in answer to you, if you are a NRL player earning hundreds of thousands of dollars, suck it up champ and enjoy the ride !!

 

[Stan Gorton 2511]

Move to the Shire and commute to the Gong for training - simple lol

 

[Mojo]

1. The rumour started from a mention of something on (anti)social media, so it’s most likely bs.
2. It’s Clint so if we include a pair of sparkly boots he will find the offer irresistible.
3. if the commute is a problem he could buy a Maserati sedan and employ a chauffeur and meditate on the way to and from.

 

[Kolum Kid]

For the average person who has a normal stable job and lifestyle I can agree with you, I have been in the Defence forces for over 30 years and have been posted all over Australia and the world on many occasions, with my wife and kids in tow. I knew as soon as I signed on the dotted line this would be the case. The support networks we had were well organised and I and my family was well compensated for moving. My family actually always thought of things as an adventure and its what you make of it as a family that count. You make more friends and experience new lifestyles. BTW my wife also expected that I would not be in one place forever. So in answer to you, if you are a NRL player earning hundreds of thousands of dollars, suck it up champ and enjoy the ride !!

Dead right Justa. Also as NRL players they would be paid a lot more and wouldn't have to worry about not coming home from training because they ran over a mine on the footy field.

 

[Mojo]

Some facts (sorry): he’s married and has a three year old daughter. By all accounts he’s a solid family man with a very devoted and lovely wife (Jessi) and two dogs. Obviously a surf lover, born and bred Northern Beaches. I reckon a few years on the south coast would be great timing for his family.

 

[BLM01]

Some facts (sorry): he’s married and has a three year old daughter. By all accounts he’s a solid family man with a very devoted and lovely wife (Jessi) and two dogs. Obviously a surf lover, born and bred Northern Beaches. I reckon a few years on the south coast would be great timing for his family.

Yeh not sure why everyone is up in arms. It is his manager speaking for his client or even if it is Clint direct."..translation
"Dragons I am not keen on traveling from Manly, what can you do about that".
include alternatives in your deal

 

[BLM01]

Traveling to the Gong is an excuse used because we have a shit team culture and have been rubbish. Widdop had no problem moving to the Gong and loved it. Plus 90% of out juniors are locals and if we build a strong culture. They will never want to leave. Just ask Justin Poore. Moving to Parramatta was the worst thing he ever did. Missed the beach and hated training out in the west.

Zac has got the best of both worlds. Moved house on Thursday to the Eastern suburbs. Thats closer than Shellharbour

 

[lombard]

Some facts (sorry): he’s married and has a three year old daughter. By all accounts he’s a solid family man with a very devoted and lovely wife (Jessi) and two dogs. Obviously a surf lover, born and bred Northern Beaches. I reckon a few years on the south coast would be great timing for his family.

Exactly, rent the Northern Beaches house out and rent one in the south coast for a few years while collecting around $2m gross pay then retire.

 

[blacksafake]

If I was getting paid the amount some of these players are my wife couldn’t get me to sign quick enough.

 

[Auntie.Gerald]

Kids
School
Other options besides the Dragons

lots to weigh up when u live on the insular peninsula

 

[Nich]

Zac has got the best of both worlds. Moved house on Thursday to the Eastern suburbs. Thats closer than Shellharbour

That's still a solid commute in sydney traffic.

 

[JubileeJeffro]

Traveling to the Gong is an excuse used because we have a shit team culture and have been rubbish. Widdop had no problem moving to the Gong and loved it. Plus 90% of out juniors are locals and if we build a strong culture. They will never want to leave. Just ask Justin Poore. Moving to Parramatta was the worst thing he ever did. Missed the beach and hated training out in the west.

Ok… If I grew up on the northern beaches (born in Mona Vale) and my wife is from the northern beaches, and we have lived there all our lives. I would view moving to Wollongong as the last resort. Suspect he is seeing what other nibbles there are before making his decision.

 

[JubileeJeffro]

Kids
School
Other options besides the Dragons

lots to weigh up when u live on the insular peninsula

The insulars are like those from the shire.. they typically don’t move far

 

[Nich]

Ok… If I grew up on the northern beaches (born in Mona Vale) and my wife is from the northern beaches, and we have lived there all our lives. I would view moving to Wollongong as the last resort. Suspect he is seeing what other nibbles there are before making his decision.

Wasn't specifically referring to Gutho.

But he would be on the first plane to Melbourne if they where offering good coin over a few years.

Point is our culture sucks and effects recruitment more then traveling to the Gong.