Warriors release PJ

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

PJ MARSH RETURNS HOME (12/08/2004)

Former Queensland State of Origin representative PJ Marsh has today put an end to speculation regarding his playing future with the New Zealand Warriors by announcing that he will return home to Australia with his wife Kelly for the birth of their first child.

PJ Marsh, who joined the Warriors in 2002 from the Parramatta Eels, has not been able to play football since the round 14 game against the Eels in 2003. He partially dislocated vertebrae in his neck when tackled in the early stages of that match and subsequent fusion surgery shortly after proved unsuccessful. Marsh underwent a second fusion procedure earlier this year, the final results of which will not be known until late 2004.

“I have enjoyed my time in Auckland incredibly as I have played my best football here. I went on to play in a Grand Final and played State-of-Origin for Queensland from the Vodafone Warriors.

“The support and friendship of the fans and players will be very much missed by Kelly and myself. Kelly and I are looking forward to the birth of our baby in September and hopefully the doctors have good news for my neck injury later in the year as well,” Marsh said.

“For the rest of the year I know the players will do themselves and the fans proud as they get ready for what will be a special year in 2005 with the players that are coming.

“To the players and management of the Vodafone Warriors I say thank you for everything and god bless,” Marsh added.

Although the decision has not come easily, PJ and Kelly Marsh have been in ongoing talks with the club and PJ’s manager Jim Bannighan for some weeks, as all parties worked together to resolve the best way forward for PJ and his family regarding his playing and employment future.

PJ’s decision to move back to Australia is totally respected by the club, and the Warriors wish him and his family all the very best for the future in whatever endeavours they choose to pursue. PJ Marsh will return to Sydney today.

There will be a press conference held in suite 10 of the West Stand at Ericsson Stadium at 11am today to service the requirements of local media.

from www.warriors.co.nz

Press release at 11.00am NZ time

1st Ali now PJ i cant believe it. We are grieving over here

 

[swineape]

Pretty big loss, PJ was playing some good footy.

 

[ibeme]

Excuse the cynicism, but does it appear as though the Vodaphone Warriors may have written his statement for him?

 

[salivor]

Excuse the cynicism, but does it appear as though the Vodaphone Warriors may have written his statement for him?

Wouldn't surprise me at all. Mick Watson has become a walking joke, he's burned his bridge with just about every NZ media outlet, sacks Lauiti'iti, says Anderson is safe and then sacks him, says PJ won't leave and then he leaves and if the Warriors don't reverse their form next year you can guarantee his ugly mug is the next on the chopping block.

 

[TIGERPies]

well take him with pleasure if he gets clearance

 

[The Colonel]

well take him with pleasure if he gets clearance

He's coming home mate...... ;-)

 

[keeney]

great player, hope he can come back and secure a new club

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

Excuse the cynicism, but does it appear as though the Vodaphone Warriors may have written his statement for him?

Wouldn't surprise me at all. Mick Watson has become a walking joke, he's burned his bridge with just about every NZ media outlet, sacks Lauiti'iti, says Anderson is safe and then sacks him, says PJ won't leave and then he leaves and if the Warriors don't reverse their form next year you can guarantee his ugly mug is the next on the chopping block.

Thats true. Only the other day he said that PJ was the number 1 hooker in the club now this

 

[Kiwi]

Where would he go?

To the Eels who have Morris? Panthers have Priddis, Knights have Buderus, Roosters have Wing, ect

The only 2 clubs who actually need a hooker are the Bulldogs and Rabbitohs. Marsh a Bulldog in 2005?

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

Was signed by the Warriors as a 5/8 so maybe he can fit somewhere as a 5/8

 

[Kiwi]

Eels need a halves player or 3. Riddell - 9, Morris - 7 and Marsh 6 maybe?

But that is very little in terms of good kicking, thats a running 90% of the time halves and hooker combination. Would make the eels attack very predictable.

 

[The Colonel]

Marsh has a very good kicking game. Realistically though if he was to come back to the Eels I wouldn't be surprised to see him at 7 or more likely in the 14 until his confidence was better.

 

[mickdo]

He'd be on the bench to start with for sure. With Riddell at hooker and Morris to 5/8, there would be plenty of rotation time for him.

 

[Skinner]

Excuse the cynicism, but does it appear as though the Vodaphone Warriors may have written his statement for him?

You and me both mate....you and me both.

Skinner

 

[NZ Warrior]

If he signs with the Eels, that would be major slap in the face to the Warriors who have shown nothing but support, patience and loyalty towards him.

If I see him in an Eels jersey come 2005, I hope someone power bombs him.

 

[salivor]

If he signs with the Eels, that would be major slap in the face to the Warriors who have shown nothing but support, patience and loyalty towards him.

If I see him in an Eels jersey come 2005, I hope someone power bombs him.

Publicly they've shown support but I doubt it's been the same privately as the rumour has been around for ages that PJ would not see out his contract with the Warriors and there’s no smoke without fire.

 

[NZ Warrior]

We've been without PJ's services for over 1 and a half seasons, that's a long time for someone to be sitting on the sidelines still under contract. He could have at least done the decent thing and seen out his contract.

 

[salivor]

Do you honestly believe the Warriors want him to see out that contract?

 

[fish eel]

If he signs with the Eels, that would be major slap in the face to the Warriors who have shown nothing but support, patience and loyalty towards him.

If I see him in an Eels jersey come 2005, I hope someone power bombs him.

you goose, you've released him.

If he is fit to play next year, do you expect him to sit on the sidelines???

 

[NZ Warrior]

It sounds more like PJ Marsh has asked for the release. That being the case, then I think this situation sux.

If the Warriors were to release him, don't you think they would have done it at the start of the season when they knew he wasn't gonna play.

I think we should wait till we get a better idea of the situation before we go into an "all out" argument on the morality of the case in question.