Mark Gasnier has announced his retirement from all football, effective at the end of the current NRL season. He is 29 years old.
From the outside, this seems a very unusual decision. After reviewing his recent decisions, it is just the latest and probably last in a series of poor decisions.
Of course, it is his life and career and he is more than eligible and entitled to make this decision. It primarily affects himself and his family the most.
The possible explanations for this decision are:
1. He already has a burgeoning career outside the game;
2. He has been very poorly advised or
3. There is more to this than meets the eye.
He has made at least nine unusual career decisions in the recent past. On several occasions, he has failed to extract the full recompense, after taking significant risk and putting in lots of initial work.
I acknowledge that:
1. He is married to a French woman;
2. Even without the weight of expectation of the Gasnier name, the NRL is a demanding, goldfish bowl;
3. He has achieved an NRL premiership win and representative honours at state and national level.
4. He has had major injuries that can dull a player’s performance and/or interest.
5. He is about to turn 30 years old.
Since 2007/08, he is almost imperceptibly losing form or maybe interest, slowly but inexorably, and is partially playing on reputation.
1. He still manages to sign a large, long term contract with Dragons, loaded with third-party money (Why sign a long term contract and then give up this opportunity and damage his Gasnier brand with those third-parties?)
2. Mid-contract, he decides to leave the NRL and enter rugby (Why go to a code he has never played before?)
3. This is not just a code jump, but a jump to a high profile club in a large city and in a new country, France (Why jump countries, languages, goldfish bowls and cultures?)
4. Then, just when he is getting fully acquainted and comfortable with rugby, he leaves. (Why leave the code after doing the hard work to acclimatise and learn the game?)
5. On the strength of his dedication to learning rugby in France, he became an interesting prospect for the nascent Rebels and the ARU and was in line for a big money deal in time for the ultimate challenge and footballing experience, a rugby World Cup. (Why didn’t he take these opportunities?)
6. He returns to Dragons, mid-season, out of touch and out of form, gets another large, long-term contract from Dragons, supposedly backend loaded, due to the salary cap and with third party deals (Why do a back-ended deal but leave before the backed money arrives?)
7. Just 12 months later, he retires mid-season and says that he had made his mind up at the start of the season but didn’t tell anyone (Why did he apparently, make this decision so soon, after arriving back in Australia?)
8. His decision is to fully retire, ignoring the Hornby-style retirement from Representative teams and the pension-enhancing English Super sabatical. (Why not maximise his earnings in the last contract of his career?)
9. And he is only 29 years old (Why retire so young?)
Imagine how much more he could have achieved and earned, had he taken more considered decisions and made then stick in his favour.
There are others to whom he could have turned. At a national level, Tuqiri, Sailor (partly) and Rodgers maximised their lifestyle, earning potential and personal achievements in their prime years in both codes.
At an international level, SBW has and continues to do the same.
Craig Gower has also made the most of his more limited options. Equally, Lockyer, Johns, Hindmarsh, Daley and others, achieved much by remaining at one club in one state, one country and one code.
It is more than likely that there is more to this than meets the eye. Given his previous apparent, random and poor decision-making, Gasnier may reconsider his latest decision.
The reality of life after football strikes hard and fast for those unprepared for it. Gone are the big pay-cheques and minimal working hours.
The unwanted goldfish bowl scrutiny remains and delayed but essential education and training beckons.
Angus
Guest
To all the wannabe's, nevercouldbe's (ie. tossers), give the man a break!!! I am an Eels supporter and never really had any time for the Dragon's especially after Barrett blindsided PJ Marsh several years back. The only player that I did have any respect for was Gaz, he was great to watch, so long as it wasn't against my team. As far as his decision to move to France, that was made up by the ARU who refused to give him an Australian contract retainer like all the other NRL defectors received, therefore I believe going to France was the best decision he made and it was in a League that is highly competitive. Not many players can switch codes and positions (centre to wing) and score almost a try a game in "a code he has never played before?" I hope he does return to Union, the only sad thing is that he wont be able to play in the RWC as he deserved to do so with his outstanding performances in France against some of the best players in the world (Aussies, Kiwi's, SAFA's etc - all of whom are chasing the money in the off RWC seasons). Good Luck Gaz to you and your future decisions!!!
Horatio
Guest
He is playing like a tired player and needs a break
Gareth
Guest
Luke Covell retired early on the self acknowledgement that he'd had a good run as a bloke with average talent. I suspect Gasnier's doing the same thing. The biggest difference is that one has a surname notable in league circles.
corey
Guest
Gasnier will probably come back like Rogers has. He just needs a longer break, he did jump straight from France to the NRL and this would have some affect. But his decisions do not sit well with most of us your right, jumping on the Dragons band wagon doesn't help, and he did win premiership that was without Melbourne so that also tarnishes that achievement but he was and still is a bloody good player. Good luck to him, who knows he may return to France and Rugby League for the Dragons over there, a perfect ending to a disjointed career.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I'm not a Gasnier or Dragons fan but what a ridiculous article...Gasnier has played NRL for his local club for 10 years, represented state and country, lived in Paris for 2 years, made a packet playing professional sport, married a good sort, had a kid and is retiring by 29. Based on that I can't really question his decision making. Most people would give their left nut to be in a position to make any of those "bad decisions". He must have had doubts though when he had to line up in that pink, floral kit for Stade Francais. Probably the only bad decision he's made is the one to borrow Minichello's phone in the back seat of a cab.
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
Most footballers dream of being cashed up, raising a family, and having the ability to retire at the age of 29. I'm sure Mark will use his other talents to good effect and persue an alternate career away from onfield sports participation somewhere down the track. There are a million and one other things to do in the big wide-world. As a Dragons fan I was stoked to see him re-enter the NRL and put a premiership ring on his finger, and I reckon he will have his second one come finals time. That would be a fitting finale to what most would consider a stellar career. Good luck in all of life's endeavours Gaz.
M1tch
Roar Guru
He has done what is best for him, it could not have been easy to have the name Gasnier and play for the Dragons, where everyone expected him to be as good as his uncle. He could have taken a easier option to either play another sport as a kid or join a different club. The french rugby stint was disappointing he was at his prime at 27 so its a shame we missed out on those 18 months but he came back and achieved something that not every player does and win a premiership. He might go out a winner this year as well, I think he has been a great player, apart from 1 incident a good role model for kids and someone I'm sure will not be lost to Rugby League.
Numbers man
Guest
I dont think that Gas has done to badly. He has done what he wanted to do not what was best for rugby or for league. Not many people can say they have been paid great money to throw a ball around. Im pretty sure he would have talked long and hard to Bennett about his choice.
Happy Hooker
Guest
Maybe he's just had enough
mushi
Roar Guru
Wow so if you make bad career decisions you travel the world, play multiple professional sports and end up financially secure enough to walk away at 29. Yep Gas has been an absolute bone head in terms of his career management. I bet most wish they could have been as moronic. After all shouldn’t the goal of every footballer be to toil away until they’ve completely lost the passion for the game they once loved and their body is so over worked that can’t play with their kids.
Coop
Guest
What a ridiculous statement! Gasnier is more than entitled to retire - he has been a phenomenal player and it is his decision entirely. I find it hard to believe that anyone thinks they have the right to say it is a poor decision. He isn't young in terms of NRL players and he has achieved an incredible amount during his time. If he feels it's the right time to retire, people should respect that and not decide to analyse every decision he has made.
Go_the_Wannabe's
Guest
heh, heh, heh.......yes, you're "properly" right! He will "properly" attempt union once again........in france.
Daniels
Guest
It shows how much influence Bennett had in signing him. Wayne has left so mark decided to end his NRL career as well. He will properly attempt union again -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
steve
Guest
or he's just as dumb as he looks
Johnno
Guest
I think he is a drop kick at times and a tad selfish with some of his designs over the years but which player hasn't and i am not a dragons fans i go for the rossters so i hate dragons from last year and never liked them , but if anyone on here can be bothered reading my blog comment you will see the reasons why i think he has gone. And thing silk injury prevention are an issue for athletes especially as they ge tolder and starting a family they have to think about others. So maybe contacts sports players some clearly not all no longer want to risk injury. i MEAN matt rogers has a young family he came back and broke his fott, one would wonder if that was worth it. What if he got bad concussion like some of the afl players have had recently or Berrick barnes would tha tof been wrote it.
Tomasi
Guest
@ Johnno, you lost me at "Or maybe" this ain't no damn essay assignment! Blah, blah, blah!!! Gasnier is a drop- kick!!! -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Ken
Guest
You've listed 9 'decisions' there and I'm not sure any of them are cut-and-dried bad calls. Many revolve around the French Union deal but I'm not sure if you're unaware or ignoring the context of this move in 2008? The long term contract loaded with third party monies that he signed was the problem. A significant portion of the third party monies weren't being paid and the Dragons were not allowed to cover the difference due to salary cap restrictions. He tried to work it out for about a year from memory before eventually deciding that he couldn't ignore the situation and looked for an alternative. French Rugby was the opportunity, he made a fist-full of money and had an interesting sabbatical. Not a bad call as far as I see. On his return to Australia, if he'd gone to the Rebels, he would possibly have got slightly more money... that's it. He would have had to move to Melbourne - nothing wrong with that of course but negates a lot of the benefits of moving home to family (note: I'm pretty sure his wife is of French descent but born and raised in Australia). He had the opportunity to come back his favoured game, for his boyhood club, who were dominating the comp. Again, this is hardly a bad call just because he accepted a little less money - he won a premiership with St George!
Bakkies
Guest
I think Gasnier's father in law has cancer why Mark moved back with his now wife when that was diagnosed we would never know (unless her whole family is out here now). 3. This is not just a code jump, but a jump to a high profile club in a large city and in a new country, France (Why jump countries, languages, goldfish bowls and cultures?) why not. Why should he spend his whole life in place? His wife is from there too. Why should she live in Australia to suit him.
Another Martin!
Guest
Sorry. Too much analysis. Mark has different priorities in life and wants to move on. He made his debut as a 19 year old and is now a well-travelled, husband and father. When he came back, we could see that he was unlikely to see out his contract. He said as much although we may have thought that he was likely to stay on a little longer. I wish him well. He lasted longer than Bjorn Borg and Mark Ella who both retired at 25!
Ben G
Guest
Dragons had to cut Jeremy Smith and Costigan too. Gasnier is all about Gasnier and has burned the Dragons twice. I can't say that I will miss him nor remember him particularly fondly.