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Kite admits Manly departure pain

24th September, 2013
2

Brent Kite has admitted to feeling the pangs of a jilted lover as the realisation his days at Manly were coming to an end.

A fixture of a Sea Eagles squad that hasn’t missed the NRL finals in nine years, Kite said there was a period of the season when he was struggling to understand why he was the one being forced out of the club – the former NSW Origin and Test representative heading to Penrith next season.

“Most of the year I was pretty diplomatic about leaving knowing because of the salary cap I had to to move on,” said Kite, who could potentially play his last game for the Sea Eagles in Friday night’s preliminary final against South Sydney.

“But the last game at Brookvale and even maybe the (qualifying final against the) Roosters a little, I was starting to feel a bit angry and a bit hurt.

“It was like breaking up with someone. Even though you’ve had good times, there’s still an element of hurt there.

“I don’t think it’s wrong.

“Since then I’ve spoken to a good friend and he’s got me to look at it in a way with more understanding and compassion to a club that’s been really good for me.”

But it wasn’t just the fact he was leaving that had Kite feeling a tad bitter, but rather that all of a sudden he was no longer a required piece of the puzzle at the Sea Eagles.

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Not once during Kite’s time at the club did the Sea Eagles miss the finals – an extraordinary run that has the 32-year-old confident he will leave behind a lasting legacy.

Still, being tapped on the shoulder is never nice, even though he says he is now at peace with the decision.

“You can be diplomatic and understanding, but sometimes you think to yourself ‘well, why do I have to go? They could’ve shoved somebody else out’,” Kite said.

“Dessie (former coach Des Hasler) probably won’t like it, but he always had a few on the go.

“Whoever he didn’t want next year, whoever was going the worst got booted and the better one got to stay.

“I was feeling a bit of that thinking `why am I going?’.

“Just that realisation that you are expendable is not a nice feeling. Getting a bit older.

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“But this week for some reason I’m not sad anymore.

“I’m back to making peace with it and understanding and being grateful.

“This club has been awesome for me and my family and looked after us financially and I hope we were worth the cash.

“I’m just glad I got to stay as long as I did.”

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