By AAP
February 5th 2010 @ 11:04am
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Smith says family behind retirement from Wallabies
Australian rugby has been rocked with the news that George Smith, the Wallabies most capped forward, has retired from international rugby and has been formally granted a release from the Brumbies to play overseas at the end of the coming Super 14 season.
The 29-year-old announced he is stepping down from international rugby immediately and will leave the Brumbies at the end of this year’s Super 14 campaign.
Smith, who has three children under the age of five with wife Louise, says he is aiming to secure a move overseas after the Super 14 season but has no concrete plans in place.
“The decision to retire is a very difficult one for me,” Smith told reporters at the Australian Rugby Union’s Sydney headquarters.
“I’ve been doing a lot of soul searching for the past few months and I do feel I can still play top level rugby for years to come.
“But this decision is largely based about the most important people in my life – my family.
“They’ve made a lot of sacrifices during my career and now is the time to give back to my family, spend more quality time with them and have the chance to experience a different culture and experience it together as a family.”
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans paid Smith the ultimate compliment, saying he was the greatest No.7 in Australia’s rugby history.
“He’s right up there,” Deans said when asked how Smith compared to the other flankers he’d coached.
“He’s the best to have ever pulled a Wallabies jersey on, simply by the weight of numbers.
“You look at the number of games he’s played in a tough position. No-one has gone as long and as consistently.”
Smith, who twice won the John Eales Medal and collected the Brumbies Players’ Player award on eight occasions, says he’s keen to end his time in Australia with a Super 14 crown.
“I’ll be making sure all the players at the Brumbies are keen to win the title,” he said.
“It’s my last year and it would be a great way to go out.”
Smith has been under increasing pressure to hold onto a starting spot in the Wallabies lineup following the emergence of young gun David Pocock.
The Western Force backrower was preferred to Smith for the bigger matches during last year’s Spring tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Smith, who played in the 2003 and 2007 World Cups for Australia, made his international debut in 2000.
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Daniel J said | February 5th 2010 @ 11:11am | Report comment
Ohhhhhhh boy, this is bad news.
Bob said | February 5th 2010 @ 12:09pm | Report comment
The best player since Joe Roff!
Mr cheese said | February 5th 2010 @ 11:19am | Report comment
is he going to france ???
that is where tuqiri should go
cherchez l’argent !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
johnny-boy said | February 5th 2010 @ 11:29am | Report comment
George Smith was a legend in his own lifetime. Freakishly good.
Stinger said | February 5th 2010 @ 11:30am | Report comment
Phil Waugh – 2010 is your season
reds fan said | February 5th 2010 @ 11:37am | Report comment
It was the only way he was going to get a chance. Second rate compared to a great like George.
True Tah said | February 5th 2010 @ 11:51am | Report comment
I would have thought this is Pocock’s chance.
If Waugh gets ahead of Pocock, its not a good thing.
reds fan said | February 5th 2010 @ 11:55am | Report comment
It’s a worry that after Pocock and Waugh the cupboard is a bit bare………
ilikedahoodoogurusingha said | February 5th 2010 @ 11:35am | Report comment
Sad to see him go, as both a Brumbies and Wallabies supporter…..but I wish him all the best no matter where he goes.
David said | February 5th 2010 @ 11:41am | Report comment
It was looking more and more likely than GS would play back-up to David Pocock in the 2011 World Cup. While GS’s 2nd-half performance against Wales last year showed he is still up to the challenge (and many still think he’s a better all-round footballer), Pocock’s youth, enthusiasm and room for improvement would have seen him get the nod.
Good on George for going out while still on top of his game. In my view, he’s the complete number 7 as far as Australian rugby is concerned. An absolute delight to watch. The tapes of him taking on the Lions in 2001 as a 21yo show him as a rare talent, fearless at the breakdown and, as Robbie Deans alluded to today, near indestructible.
That’s why he’s so highly rated. While others may bring a little more to their teams in terms of leadership etc, the fact that GS missed just 6 tests in a decade and barely a Super Rugby game over that period speaks volumes to his durability and overall skill. Even the great current NZ no. 7 can’t match GS there.
Without a doubt one of the best ever.
Dandy said | February 5th 2010 @ 11:45am | Report comment
Great comment David, spot on..
Hansie said | February 5th 2010 @ 3:51pm | Report comment
Yep, I couldn’t agree more.
Rockin Rod said | February 5th 2010 @ 5:34pm | Report comment
Well said David.
Pocock off contract, where do you think he will go now ?
Dandy said | February 5th 2010 @ 11:42am | Report comment
Sad news!
Stinger, forget about Phil Waugh he is over the hill and has always been well behind Smtih.
Mals said | February 5th 2010 @ 11:44am | Report comment
Well done George Smith on a fantastic international & domestic career! He has put his heart and soul into Aus rugby for over a decade and with the rise of Pocock now appears a good time to go overseas and experience playing rugby in a different environment. It is staggering to think he is still only 29 years old! Good luck for the future George!!
Robbo said | February 5th 2010 @ 12:02pm | Report comment
George Smith:
The greatest 7 in Australian history.
Most capped forward in rugby history.
What else can you say?
DaMan3000 said | February 5th 2010 @ 12:49pm | Report comment
“Most capped forward in rugby history”
Not quite sorry – I believe he is 3rd in this stat. Still, to play >100 tests for your country is a massive effort and he has been incredibly consistent and exciting to watch. I’m looking forward to watching his last season in S14!
DaMan3000 said | February 5th 2010 @ 12:57pm | Report comment
(well, it’s everyone’s last season in S14 I guess!!!)
Robbo said | February 5th 2010 @ 1:48pm | Report comment
Sorry daman – I realised just as I hit the post button. Alas the Roar has seen fit to remove to “edit” option which is often very useful.
DaMan3000 said | February 5th 2010 @ 1:58pm | Report comment
Lol – no worries. The edit button got me too. I shd have mentioned the fun bus had 120ish before GG took over his record in my first post! Lucky he gets to include B&I Lions matches as tests!!!
sheek said | February 6th 2010 @ 12:50pm | Report comment
Robbo,
Old-timers will tell you a guy called Col Windon was our best open-side flanker. Nicknamed the ‘Breeze’, his WW2 occupation was to “run” messages between various Army unit HQs, often under hostile fire.
Played his rugby at Randwick, where they invented (???) the fifteen man game!
However, I never saw Windon, but I did see Smith, & he’s the best 7 I’ve seen play for the Wallabies. He’s in good company – Greg Davis, Ray Price, Greg Cornelsen, Simon Poidevin, Chris Roche, Jeff Miller, David Wilson & Phil Waugh being the other standouts in this position over the past 40 years.
BTW, playing 100 tests says as much about opportunity as ability. I wouldn’t rank George Gregan for example, above others scrumhalfs I saw play – John Hipwell & Nick Farr-Jones.
ballboy said | February 5th 2010 @ 12:04pm | Report comment
Wow – there’s a motivator for a few on the fringes as well as an added motivator for the Brumbies. A great player who would probably have inspired half the 7’s he plays against. Looking forward to 15 final games for the Brumbies George.
Robbo said | February 5th 2010 @ 12:04pm | Report comment
George Smith:
The greatest 7 in Australian history.
Most capped forward in Australian rugby history.
What else can you say?
MarkR said | February 5th 2010 @ 12:10pm | Report comment
Farewell George, as a rugby fan it’s been a pleasure watching your battles. As a Kiwi I breath a sign of reilef similar to when Horan & Eales retired.
Bob said | February 5th 2010 @ 12:11pm | Report comment
That’ll do pig, that’ll do.
CraigB said | February 5th 2010 @ 12:16pm | Report comment
Well done George and thanks for everything. Its been a pleasure watching you go around. Can I ask one last favour? How about one last S14 title, just for old times sake!
Johno R said | February 5th 2010 @ 12:16pm | Report comment
I hope this was purely Smith decision and he was not pushed. He has been such an amazing servant to Australia Rugby.
LeftArmSpinner said | February 5th 2010 @ 12:21pm | Report comment
pushed? exemplary playing and behaviour record. good guy, selfless. Rumour is that he is joining the tahs. new lifestyle!!!! only kidding.
Who Needs Melon said | February 5th 2010 @ 12:22pm | Report comment
Like most, I’ll be hugely disappointed to see him go but 2 things at least:
1) He’s going out virtually on top and on his own terms, and
2) He’s not leaving a huge vacuum behind him.
Players like Gregan, Larkham, Latham, etc. might have had 1 of the above but I think with GS we’ve got both. There’s no doubt George could have kicked on and would have made the Wallaby side – if not as a starter at least as a reserve so he’s definitely still up there. But at the same time I think Pocock is JUST coming of age so we hopefully won’t be left with a huge hole to fill. Phil Waugh will be an able enough reserve for the next year or so until (hopefully) some other new tyro starts nipping at Pococks heels.
I look forward to someone putting a George Smith highlight reel together.
ohtani's jacket said | February 5th 2010 @ 12:33pm | Report comment
I think it’s a good call on Smith’s part. His form hasn’t been great in recent years and since no side really wants to play a specialist openside on the bench these days it was kind of sad to see him struggle at No.8 or have Deans messing around with two opensides.
Bit of pressure on Pocock not to flake out in his second season as a starting player but if he can take the bull by the horns then it will probably be better for Australian rugby in the long run.
Pat said | February 5th 2010 @ 12:36pm | Report comment
Greatest Wallaby since Campese?
Spiro Zavos said | February 5th 2010 @ 12:40pm | Report comment
It seems like only a short time ago that I read an article in the SMH by Phil Wilkins about a phenomenally talented young loose forward who had been snapped up by the ACT Brumbies franchise. George Smith was another of the great NSW talents not really wanted in his own state. On his day and in his prime he was simply – as Robbie Deans said – Australia’s greatest number 7.
He was indestructible and fair, although his deliberate? late tackle on Justin Marshall broke the ribs of NZ’s best player in the semi-final of the 2003 RWC. Smith, like Eales, imposed himself on opposition forwards without having to fight. In his last Test against Wales he snaffled several crucial turnovers and proved to himself and to Wallaby supporters he still had it.
Why is he going?
First, David Pocock has moved ahead of him as the Wallaby number 7. Pocock is going to get better while Smith can only move back from his great heights.
Second, as he says, he has a young family and Super Rugby and Tri-Nations, especially in a RWC year, take players away from home for great chunks of the year. Eales told me that in one RWC year he was away from home over 200 days.
Third, if he wants a good overseas contract, the year before the RWC is the time to go on the market. After 2011, there will be a glut of good NZ and South African and Australian (Phil Waugh?) players looking for rugby contracts in France, Japan and the UK.
A couple of years overseas and who knows, he could finish off his rugby with the Melbourne Rebels.
A great player is leaving the Test scene and we have been privileged to see his career work itself out in such a splendid way. Thanks for the memories …
The Other Reds Fan. said | February 5th 2010 @ 12:45pm | Report comment
Very strange timing with a world cup next year. He had hardly been convincingly usurped by Pocock just yet, even though he is the obvious successor and would have no doubt been a starter for many games at the world cup and at the least on the bench as an impact player. There is a big gap between Pocock and Gould. How could the ARU let a player of this stature go at this point in time? This is a big blow to our world cup chances. I just hope it has nothing to do with the Rebels.
The Other Reds Fan. said | February 5th 2010 @ 12:46pm | Report comment
Sorry, I meant Waugh, not Gould.
Worlds Biggest said | February 5th 2010 @ 12:57pm | Report comment
I am very disappointed with this news and surprised. I thought he would play on till the RWC next year in the hope of securing the one trophy he hasn’t won. Pocock is the future however Smith showed in Cardiff ( 2nd half ) that there is very little between them. Spiro makes a good point in regards to the timing / securing a good deal o/s so good luck to him. He is and always has been my favourite Wallaby and even my wife has come on board and loves him. He is a legend of Australian Rugby and one of the great number 7’s the game has seen. We will miss you Georgie.
Brumbies fan said | February 5th 2010 @ 12:57pm | Report comment
Here here Spiros, totaly agree! I was a kid when the great Greg Davis played but I did see the blonde J-P Rives. Like George Smith, those great amateurs were first to the breakdown and tireless chasers. Canberra Satdium loses another of its legendary sons. I shall miss George’s great tussles with Ritchie McCaw but he gave us plenty of memories and two Super 14 titles. Sayonara George.
sunshine said | February 5th 2010 @ 1:19pm | Report comment
Bakkies Botha sitting at home, now wondering if its the right time to list the dreadlock on ebay.
katzilla said | February 5th 2010 @ 1:26pm | Report comment
Omg, who will enter the rucks from the wrong side and put their hands all over opposition ball?
Who will charm the refs into letting him get away with anything???!!!
hehe
Ciao GS, was enjoyable watching you operate with impunity
Dandy said | February 5th 2010 @ 2:10pm | Report comment
Ritchie will
katzilla said | February 5th 2010 @ 3:25pm | Report comment
Ritchie doesn’t cheat
rugbyfuture said | February 5th 2010 @ 3:36pm | Report comment
what a laugh
Bay35Pablo said | February 5th 2010 @ 5:36pm | Report comment
Katzilla, true. When the ref doesn’t see it, it isn’t cheating. Right?
stillmissit said | February 5th 2010 @ 1:57pm | Report comment
What a loss. I agree with the OP he is the greatest openside flanker we have ever had. I think Spiro is on the money regarding his timing.
Not only was he hard and as clean as an openside could be but he was a gentlemen (off the field) of the highest order. I will remember his name and efforts for the rest of my life.
Matt said | February 5th 2010 @ 2:01pm | Report comment
This just in. The Times is reporting that Cipriani will be joining the Melbourne Rebels and it has gone beyond a mere interest.
This guy can be genuinely exciting and is a good indicator as to how they might want to play.
Mike G said | February 5th 2010 @ 2:09pm | Report comment
I’m starting to get a little worried that the lack of a seriously, SERIOUSLY close competitor may have a negative impact on Pocock’s game. Waugh is obviously a good player, but (as hard as he’s tried), he aint no GS. For the Wallabies sake, I hope I’m wrong.
If only the Tahs had taken the public school #7!!!!
Brett McKay said | February 5th 2010 @ 2:16pm | Report comment
Mike, this is the same concern I expressed to a couple of mates earlier today. We all found it hard to believe Waugh would go the RWC, but none of us could offer an alternative as Pocock’s understudy currently. A position that was a strength just yesterday has become a very rapid weakness.
Even just looking around the four teams, who is there?? I could think of Shaw from Qld, and young Vanderglas from the ACT (who went alright last night, too), and maybe Richard Brown could go back to his original position if need be, but who else is there?
reds fan said | February 5th 2010 @ 2:21pm | Report comment
Its not good is it! we’re playing a kiwi at 7! perhaps tomeki might offer something during the year.
Mike G said | February 5th 2010 @ 3:10pm | Report comment
Agreed lads, all of a sudden we’re talking Waugh as the starting 7 if/when Pocock gets injured!!. RF, I too thought about Tomeki but havn’t seen him since his brief stint with the Tahs….Shaw looks good, but still too raw. The way we play the game in this country, we’ve always had an on-the-ball 7, but the Boks did it for years with Juan Smit, so who knows = Perhaps we’ll end up with a jumping 7!!!
formeropenside said | February 5th 2010 @ 4:13pm | Report comment
Andrew Shaw looked promising last season; I just hope we can keep him in Qld as the starting 7 next year.
van der Merwe said | February 5th 2010 @ 5:26pm | Report comment
Juan Smith is actually a blind side flank. In SA the numbers are the other way around.
wannabprop said | February 6th 2010 @ 2:15am | Report comment
Maybe Hodgson. Only seen what, 2 min of him, but my friends in WA say he has the goods (although currently playing blindside?)…
Mungehead said | February 5th 2010 @ 2:34pm | Report comment
Mate, George Smith is an absolute legend (this from a kiwi). No offense to Waugh, but I never understood why he was ever mentioned in the same breath. And even though Pocock is at the start of his career and Smith is at the end of his, right now Smith can still compete in every area of the game. It’s an absolute disaster that the Wallabies won’t have him to fall back on for the world cup.
Having said that, injuries do happen. If heaven forbid, Pocock suffered one that eliminated him from playing in the RWC, would Robbie beg him to return? And might he consider that?
katzilla said | February 5th 2010 @ 3:30pm | Report comment
Why is Waugh mentioned in the same breath as GS?
Because Waugh has something that is sorely lacking across every single OZ rep rugby team – Mongrel.
If you could transplant Mongrel, Phil Waugh would be being Harvested 24/7 for the rest of Australias forwards.
Not even the great GS had that raw aggression.
GS was better easily, but im afraid a sorely missed element to OZ rugby is sitting in a guy who may not ever pull on the OZ jumper ever again.
van der Merwe said | February 5th 2010 @ 5:38pm | Report comment
Although I feel Phil never seemed to be able to bring the same level of aggression he displayed in the S14 to the international stage, one has to admit that the way his loyalty has been rewarded by JON and co is sickening. “No, Phil, but you can play for the Barbarians!”
stewart said | February 5th 2010 @ 3:13pm | Report comment
Australian Rugby has been dealt a massive blow!! Players like GS only come around every so often. We take it for granted watching players like George in our National Team. This reminds me of how much we miss watching the likes of Warnie and Pigeon and the differnce they made just by showing up and donning the Baggy Green. GS is in that department on the Rugby field. When you looked through the team sheet and saw No.7 George Smith it gave you confidence we are in with a chance and I’m sure it gave the other players the confidence also. Do yourself a favour and watch him every game this year for the Brumbies cause we won’t see another player like him again for some time and I reckon GS will go out like a champion and absolutely reak havoc in his final year. Thanks GS.
Brian said | February 5th 2010 @ 3:33pm | Report comment
My equal favourite player ever (with John Eales).
George thanks for the memories and best in luck in life. Apart from his rugby talents and achievements in the game which have been so accurately summarised by other Roarers, in this age of sporting “role models”, there are few better than this bloke.
Best wishes and thanks again.
Bay35Pablo said | February 5th 2010 @ 5:40pm | Report comment
Everyone is writing off Waugh a bit easily. He and GS have been even pegging their enture careers. If they were racehorses, they’ve just run the Melbourne Cup and GS has won it by a nose after leading by that the entire way.
Pocock and Waugh will do well in the 7s and how many teams have 3 quality 7s? If any team loses their top 2 players in any position they usually have a problem digging out a seasoned veteran, as how did they get exposure wuith 2 blokes in front of them? The fact GS is gone should ensure there are some hungry young 7s getting a sniff. Especially with Waugh likely to go after 2011.
Bring back Beau Robinson!!!!
stuff happens said | February 5th 2010 @ 5:56pm | Report comment
A legend retires, one of the best players Australia has ever had.Really sorry to see him go 18 months from the RWC where he’ll be sorely missed.
Good luck mate & as Spiro says – thanks for the memories
matt said | February 5th 2010 @ 7:18pm | Report comment
As an ex flanker and Brumbies fan, I have watched with great enthusiasm the rise and rise of George Smith over the last ten years. His overall ability on the field in attack and defence is superb, but it is his work in the trenches that sets him apart for mine. He is the master at pulling the rabbit (and ball) out of the proverbial hat. Whilst this is handy in attack, often it is a steal to let off the pressure valve that is the critical play. These events may not make the highlights reel, but are the kind of things on which matches turn.
George you are a true champion.
By the way, anyone else read the story early this week that Julian Salvi was looking for an Aus return?
Insider trading!!
penguin said | February 5th 2010 @ 8:56pm | Report comment
George is a legend and has been a great servant of Australian rugby. I don’t think anyone would begrudge him the chance to enjoy the end of his rugby career, and a great deal of thought seems to have gone into his decision.
For mine he’s still ahead of Pocock in the pecking order but for how much longer is an open question. I can understand that he would not want to go into the World Cup playing second string. It will reduce the Wallabies’ depth in 2011 but hopefully another young 7 will take the chance.
As a Brumbies fan I will be sorry to see him go, but I think the timing is perfect for them as it means they can offer Salvi something for 2011. Like you I am wondering if the perfection of the timing may not have been a coincidence.
Frank O'Keeffe said | February 6th 2010 @ 1:40am | Report comment
Hmm, I don’t know how to feel about this.
On one hand I think it would be beneficial for him to stay with the Wallabies for one more season. I think part of the reason Pocock played so well in Europe was because he had to meet George Smith’s standards to be selected in the side. Also, while I’m a huge fan of Pocock, there’s a question mark over how well he’ll do against New Zealand and South Africa. Australia has a hoard of players who were all sorts of awesome against NH teams, but never played their best against New Zealand. That’ll be Pocock’s challenge for this year. Then again you could argue Smith hasn’t had a win over McCaw since… I don’t know when.
On the other hand I think it’s a good move. Pocock played better than him on Europe. Pocock could potentially get better while Smith won’t. Australia seems to have problems culling their greatest players (eg Campese, Lynagh, Gregan, possibly Larkham) when it’s time to move on. While New Zealand doesn’t have problems culling their greatest players when their time is up (Gary Whetton, Buck Shelford, John Kirwan, Christian Cullen). I think Pocock deserves his Wallabies spot, and it makes sense to continue with him. It would be a sad way for Smith to end his career as a player on the bench keeping Pocock on his toes. Also 2009 wasn’t his best year. He went missing in a few games, such as the English Test, and he made some bad errors in important games, most notably against New Zealand in Auckland this year.
Smith was an awesome player though. Watch Martin Johnson’s half time speech on the DVD ‘Living With the Lions: the 2001 tour down under’. The Lions basically were killing the Wallabies in the first Test, and at halftime Johnson said, “If we get Smith out of the game we’ll be fine”, or something to that effect. Even when the Lions were winning they were worried about Smith.
I think he was at his best when he played with Finegan and Kefu. That’s the best Wallabies back row I have ever seen – so balanced. There was a play in the second Lions Test in 2001 where Matt Burke scored a try after tremendous lead-up work from Gregan and the Aussie backrow. Gregan was barking orders and Kefu and Finegan were constantly taking the ball into contact and gaining yards. Smith was right behind them, putting his head over the ball, clear out the rucks, getting out and rushing to his next ruck. They were tremendous that day.
If people want to call him ‘on his day’ Australia’s best backrow, then I won’t argue, because ‘on his day’ he was pretty special.
Wavell Wakefield said | February 6th 2010 @ 6:20am | Report comment
Wow. Shock news. Good stuff, George. I still remember your early years. Good luck.
Worlds Biggest said | February 6th 2010 @ 12:31pm | Report comment
What Smith did as a 21 year old against the Lions was phenominal and started off his legendary career. He enjoyed great success with the Brumbies playing in 4 Super Finals, winning 2 with possibly another this year. As for the Wallabies he played in successful teams early in his career ( winning 2 x Bledisloe Cups, 1 x Tri Nations & Lions series plus World Cup Final runner up) but the team went into the mire which meant he carried the pack for the middle to back end of his career. This only heightens his status as a Wallaby legend.
Wavell Wakefield said | February 6th 2010 @ 9:03pm | Report comment
What George Smith did against Neil Back (not Richard Hill)
OldManEmu said | February 6th 2010 @ 12:40pm | Report comment
Magnificent. He will get the send off he deserves with a Brumbies championship. And finally McCaw can claim world’s best No 7 status.
stillmissit said | February 6th 2010 @ 12:46pm | Report comment
What about Ben Coridas I am sure he is an openside. I see he is playing with a Waratah development squad tonight against a Wallaby Barbarian side, he looked the goods in the under 20 world cup but I haven’t seen as much of him as I expected.
Phil Waugh will be there come RWC time boys, and if we don’t win it, you can bet it won’t be Phils’ fault. Never seen him let anyone down, doesn’t have the natural talent of Smith or Pocock but what an amazing over achiever. Should be an inspiration to all club players who have some ambition.
I think we can blame the lack of opensides on clubs and S14’s focus on big players in the back row at the expense of speed. If it was up to me I would be converting Lote’s cousin to openside, they would get big and fast. Not sure if he has the ticker for it.
stash said | February 6th 2010 @ 12:46pm | Report comment
I thought Smith pulled out a couple of excellent personal performances last year
One and a half seasons until the world cup – and you would think Smith would be at least an excellent impact player of the bench.
He was good enough to be captain of the team last year – and it looked like the motivation was there when he was playing.
I can’t help but think that Deans has pulled a “Cullen” on Smith here…
stillmissit said | February 6th 2010 @ 12:51pm | Report comment
Don’t think so Stash – O’Neil was in the paper today saying he and Deans have been trying to talk him out of it since Christmas.
Cullen was one of the greatest loses the AB’s suffered at that time.
stillmissit said | February 6th 2010 @ 12:49pm | Report comment
BTW – I understand this is not PC but as an old forward I just loved it when George hit Justin Marshall in a legitimate tackle and put him off the field. We were on the receiving end of plenty of that stuff in the 70’s and to see George line him up and hit him in the ribs did it for me.
whodares said | February 7th 2010 @ 12:27pm | Report comment
George sorry to see you going your are a great player with great character
one thing though
Say your leaving for the money as well as family.
Lets face facts if you were not going to get paid a stack more cash than the ARU are prepared to pay you then you would be staying.
There is nothing wrong with setting you and your family up for a good retirement. An extra million in the bank when you retire will mean you and your family are set up for life.
What a pity the ARU don’t help great players like yourself out at the end of your careers.