Frank_Grimes
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http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/...n-return-for-nsw/story-fn31yxah-1226378817668
Manly skipper Jamie Lyon has revealed the reason behind his long-standing reluctance to play rep footy - admitting his confidence to play at the highest level never recovered from criticism he copped when he returned from England in 2007.
"As much as you don't want to admit the criticism hurt, it did," Lyon said in the lead-up to Friday's match against St George Illawarra.
It's why, when New South Wales coach Ricky Stuart phoned Lyon before Origin I, the Manly centre said "no thanks".
At the time Stuart said he "totally accepted" Lyon's reasons.
"If everyone was as honest as Jamie Lyon the world would be a better place," was Stuart's comment. The Blues coach refused to elaborate further on their conversation.
But in the countdown to Manly's crucial clash with St George Illawarra at Brookvale, Lyon opened up and admitted his confidence was crushed from the criticism early in his career and that is what destroyed his desire to play rep footy.
"When I first came back from England I made a couple of teams and got hammered for it with people saying I shouldn't have got in the teams," he said.
"Confidence-wise that knocked me around. I don't want to get into who said what about me. I just thought it would be the right thing for me not to play and it would be better for everyone.
"You try to ignore it but it does knock you around when people are saying that it probably does take your confidence away and it is in the back of your mind all the time and you don't perform as well as you like."
Lyon said he had a good talk to Stuart about his reasons.
"My motivation is probably not where it should be and as bad as it sounds I probably don't have the drive and the hunger to compete at that level any more," he said.
"Ricky was great about it. He was really honest with me and I was honest with him. I have a lot of respect for him and the way he handled it."
Asked if he still cheered for the Blues, he added: "Of course. I was really excited to watch it and I was hoping the boys could get up. I have a lot of mates in the team and I really wanted to see them win and I am really behind the Blues."
Lyon will lead Manly in Friday's clash against the Dragons and says the premiers can still be a force in 2012 despite their up-and-down start to the season.
"We are all backing our ability as a side and we know what we are capable of,' he said. "Once we get a full side back I think we'll be real dangerous.
"Melbourne are the only ones who have kicked away so we have to get through Origin time with a few of the boys missing and hopefully we are still close enough to finish in the top four.
"Then a new competition starts pretty much, so that's going to be our goal."
Manly skipper Jamie Lyon has revealed the reason behind his long-standing reluctance to play rep footy - admitting his confidence to play at the highest level never recovered from criticism he copped when he returned from England in 2007.
"As much as you don't want to admit the criticism hurt, it did," Lyon said in the lead-up to Friday's match against St George Illawarra.
It's why, when New South Wales coach Ricky Stuart phoned Lyon before Origin I, the Manly centre said "no thanks".
At the time Stuart said he "totally accepted" Lyon's reasons.
"If everyone was as honest as Jamie Lyon the world would be a better place," was Stuart's comment. The Blues coach refused to elaborate further on their conversation.
But in the countdown to Manly's crucial clash with St George Illawarra at Brookvale, Lyon opened up and admitted his confidence was crushed from the criticism early in his career and that is what destroyed his desire to play rep footy.
"When I first came back from England I made a couple of teams and got hammered for it with people saying I shouldn't have got in the teams," he said.
"Confidence-wise that knocked me around. I don't want to get into who said what about me. I just thought it would be the right thing for me not to play and it would be better for everyone.
"You try to ignore it but it does knock you around when people are saying that it probably does take your confidence away and it is in the back of your mind all the time and you don't perform as well as you like."
Lyon said he had a good talk to Stuart about his reasons.
"My motivation is probably not where it should be and as bad as it sounds I probably don't have the drive and the hunger to compete at that level any more," he said.
"Ricky was great about it. He was really honest with me and I was honest with him. I have a lot of respect for him and the way he handled it."
Asked if he still cheered for the Blues, he added: "Of course. I was really excited to watch it and I was hoping the boys could get up. I have a lot of mates in the team and I really wanted to see them win and I am really behind the Blues."
Lyon will lead Manly in Friday's clash against the Dragons and says the premiers can still be a force in 2012 despite their up-and-down start to the season.
"We are all backing our ability as a side and we know what we are capable of,' he said. "Once we get a full side back I think we'll be real dangerous.
"Melbourne are the only ones who have kicked away so we have to get through Origin time with a few of the boys missing and hopefully we are still close enough to finish in the top four.
"Then a new competition starts pretty much, so that's going to be our goal."
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