Matabele
Journey Man
All the St George Illawarra fans out there, relax. Don't worry that the club's two most experienced players, Shaun Timmins and Lance Thompson, are left in a disturbing quandary about their playing futures.
According to chief executive Peter Doust, who left the country with coach Nathan Brown for a two-and-a-half week tour of the US yesterday, there is no drama.
Doust wanted the fans to be reassured. He didn't contact the players, but he did send out a press release, the first line of which said: "The St George Illawarra Dragons categorically state there is no crisis at the club."
What then, Doust, constitutes a crisis? The club that so dramatically failed to make the grand final, yet again, has sent Timmins off to "ponder his future". The translation of this is, they are trying to convince him to sign a lucrative two- or three-year deal to finish his career in England.
Thompson heard of his imminent fate - the same as that of Timmins - through Doust's mate and St George Leagues club director, Bruce Spaul, who so sensitively dropped the news that Thompson had played his last game for the Dragons just before he was to receive a 200-game presentation at the club's annual night last Friday.
Doust says: "That communication is a normal internal-management process where players are provided the opportunity to assess their own positions and the club is able to facilitate further planning in its short- to medium-term playing rosters".
Thompson, understandably, was a little upset that the club he had remained so loyal to, taking a pay cut and playing his heart out for, was to repay the favour with a termination of his deal 12 months early.
Doust says Thompson is too emotional. What did he expect?
Doust said he was embarrassed and disgusted at Thompson's reaction. Is Doust serious?
If there are any red faces, it should be at the top, where such critical decision-making was left until the season had finished.
Having re-signed Luke Bailey and Clint Greenshields for one extra year before they both head off to the Gold Coast, did Doust only just discover the club is $300,000 over the cap for next year? And how was the most promising hooker, Michael Ennis, allowed to depart to the Broncos?
The timing is such that all other NRL clubs have committed to their salary cap and cannot afford Timmins and Thompson.
If there is any accountability here, the buck has to stop with Doust. The Dragons board should be looking at his performance of late, which hasn't been nearly as impressive as the strident runs Thompson puts in and the brave injury comebacks of Timmins.
Let's see Doust's reaction if he is told to take a walk. Now that may be embarrassing.
According to chief executive Peter Doust, who left the country with coach Nathan Brown for a two-and-a-half week tour of the US yesterday, there is no drama.
Doust wanted the fans to be reassured. He didn't contact the players, but he did send out a press release, the first line of which said: "The St George Illawarra Dragons categorically state there is no crisis at the club."
What then, Doust, constitutes a crisis? The club that so dramatically failed to make the grand final, yet again, has sent Timmins off to "ponder his future". The translation of this is, they are trying to convince him to sign a lucrative two- or three-year deal to finish his career in England.
Thompson heard of his imminent fate - the same as that of Timmins - through Doust's mate and St George Leagues club director, Bruce Spaul, who so sensitively dropped the news that Thompson had played his last game for the Dragons just before he was to receive a 200-game presentation at the club's annual night last Friday.
Doust says: "That communication is a normal internal-management process where players are provided the opportunity to assess their own positions and the club is able to facilitate further planning in its short- to medium-term playing rosters".
Thompson, understandably, was a little upset that the club he had remained so loyal to, taking a pay cut and playing his heart out for, was to repay the favour with a termination of his deal 12 months early.
Doust says Thompson is too emotional. What did he expect?
Doust said he was embarrassed and disgusted at Thompson's reaction. Is Doust serious?
If there are any red faces, it should be at the top, where such critical decision-making was left until the season had finished.
Having re-signed Luke Bailey and Clint Greenshields for one extra year before they both head off to the Gold Coast, did Doust only just discover the club is $300,000 over the cap for next year? And how was the most promising hooker, Michael Ennis, allowed to depart to the Broncos?
The timing is such that all other NRL clubs have committed to their salary cap and cannot afford Timmins and Thompson.
If there is any accountability here, the buck has to stop with Doust. The Dragons board should be looking at his performance of late, which hasn't been nearly as impressive as the strident runs Thompson puts in and the brave injury comebacks of Timmins.
Let's see Doust's reaction if he is told to take a walk. Now that may be embarrassing.
