by: James Hooper
From: The Sunday Telegraph
April 21, 2013 12:00AM
CITY Origin forward Tom Symonds has emerged as an early contender for buy of the year after his switch from the Sydney Roosters to Manly six weeks ago.
Set to begin the year with Newtown in the NSW Cup at the start of the season, Symonds will today continue to reassert himself as an NRL star in the making when City meet Country in Coffs Harbour.
Fighting for a position at Bondi Junction alongside Sonny Bill Williams, Boyd Cordner, Aiden Guerra, Luke O'Donnell, Mitchell Aubusson and Frank-Paul Nuusaula, the Roosters local junior opted to make the sea change to Manly in search of opportunity.
Pushed straight into the Sea Eagles starting pack by coach Geoff Toovey, the red-headed backrower has proven a revelation on the northern peninsula.
"If I'd stayed where I was six weeks ago, I probably wouldn't have even played a game of NRL and no one would have said a word about me," Symonds said.
"It's funny how it's turned out but, looking back, I couldn't have asked for a better start and I'm really happy I made the change.
"I guess I probably just needed an opportunity, a fresh start and having a pretty clear head about it all. Manly has well established leaders and senior players so all I've got to worry about is doing my job.
"It's turned out to be a breath of fresh air.
"There were times last year when I felt like I was ready for first grade but it just didn't quite work out for me."
Symonds admitted, given his family history with the Bondi United club in Sydney's eastern suburbs - his grandfather Bill Symonds was a founding member in 1946 - it was a tough call to switch to the Sea Eagles.
"Given the history with myself and my family, it was a big reason why I did want to stay at the Roosters and another reason why it was difficult to leave," Symonds said.
"But I sort of got to the point where I really had to do what was in the best interests of myself.
"It wasn't a decision I made lightly, it was a tough one.
"But so far it's turned out to be a good one so there's no regret there."
http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/tom-symonds-relishing-move-to-manly-sea-eagles/story-fndv31ch-1226625126803
From: The Sunday Telegraph
April 21, 2013 12:00AM
CITY Origin forward Tom Symonds has emerged as an early contender for buy of the year after his switch from the Sydney Roosters to Manly six weeks ago.
Set to begin the year with Newtown in the NSW Cup at the start of the season, Symonds will today continue to reassert himself as an NRL star in the making when City meet Country in Coffs Harbour.
Fighting for a position at Bondi Junction alongside Sonny Bill Williams, Boyd Cordner, Aiden Guerra, Luke O'Donnell, Mitchell Aubusson and Frank-Paul Nuusaula, the Roosters local junior opted to make the sea change to Manly in search of opportunity.
Pushed straight into the Sea Eagles starting pack by coach Geoff Toovey, the red-headed backrower has proven a revelation on the northern peninsula.
"If I'd stayed where I was six weeks ago, I probably wouldn't have even played a game of NRL and no one would have said a word about me," Symonds said.
"It's funny how it's turned out but, looking back, I couldn't have asked for a better start and I'm really happy I made the change.
"I guess I probably just needed an opportunity, a fresh start and having a pretty clear head about it all. Manly has well established leaders and senior players so all I've got to worry about is doing my job.
"It's turned out to be a breath of fresh air.
"There were times last year when I felt like I was ready for first grade but it just didn't quite work out for me."
Symonds admitted, given his family history with the Bondi United club in Sydney's eastern suburbs - his grandfather Bill Symonds was a founding member in 1946 - it was a tough call to switch to the Sea Eagles.
"Given the history with myself and my family, it was a big reason why I did want to stay at the Roosters and another reason why it was difficult to leave," Symonds said.
"But I sort of got to the point where I really had to do what was in the best interests of myself.
"It wasn't a decision I made lightly, it was a tough one.
"But so far it's turned out to be a good one so there's no regret there."
http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/tom-symonds-relishing-move-to-manly-sea-eagles/story-fndv31ch-1226625126803