Loobs
Living in the demountable.
Loyal Matt Ballin wants to be a Sea Eagle for life
IRONMAN hooker Matt Ballin has declared his loyalty to the Sea Eagles and revealed he hopes to sign a new two-year deal to play out his career at Manly.
“I love the club; the club gave me my big start,” Ballin said.
“I wasn’t wanted at Brisbane. They brought me down here and put a lot of time and energy and resources into me to establish me as the football player I am today.
“I want to give back to the club while I am playing and then hopefully afterwards as well, whether I am involved in rugby league or just around the community.
“This is home to me and I want it to be for the next couple of years.”
Ballin’s passionate words follow a report that claimed he could be forced out of Manly at the end the year because the Sea Eagles were chasing Broncos hooker Andrew McCullough.
“I am still in negotiations with Manly and we haven’t discussed anything with any other clubs,” Ballin said.
He said he spoke to Manly CEO Joe Kelly and was assured the club hadn’t spoken to Brisbane and didn’t know who McCullogh’s management was.
“I believe him 100 per cent on that,” Ballin said.
The quiet achiever in the Sea Eagles’ pack said while he was after a two-year deal, he had made it very clear to the club that if he didn’t think he could fulfil a contract he wouldn’t take it.
“And if it gets to the point where I am in a contract and I feel I can’t do it the next year I wouldn’t continue on,” he said.
“I think I owe that to the club and the fans who have supported me and to myself and my reputation.
“I don’t think the club owes me anything and I owe my loyalty to the club.
“Rugby league is my love and my first interest but after it there are plenty of options for me. It’s not as if I’m just here for the money.”
IRONMAN hooker Matt Ballin has declared his loyalty to the Sea Eagles and revealed he hopes to sign a new two-year deal to play out his career at Manly.
“I love the club; the club gave me my big start,” Ballin said.
“I wasn’t wanted at Brisbane. They brought me down here and put a lot of time and energy and resources into me to establish me as the football player I am today.
“I want to give back to the club while I am playing and then hopefully afterwards as well, whether I am involved in rugby league or just around the community.
“This is home to me and I want it to be for the next couple of years.”
Ballin’s passionate words follow a report that claimed he could be forced out of Manly at the end the year because the Sea Eagles were chasing Broncos hooker Andrew McCullough.
“I am still in negotiations with Manly and we haven’t discussed anything with any other clubs,” Ballin said.
He said he spoke to Manly CEO Joe Kelly and was assured the club hadn’t spoken to Brisbane and didn’t know who McCullogh’s management was.
“I believe him 100 per cent on that,” Ballin said.
The quiet achiever in the Sea Eagles’ pack said while he was after a two-year deal, he had made it very clear to the club that if he didn’t think he could fulfil a contract he wouldn’t take it.
“And if it gets to the point where I am in a contract and I feel I can’t do it the next year I wouldn’t continue on,” he said.
“I think I owe that to the club and the fans who have supported me and to myself and my reputation.
“I don’t think the club owes me anything and I owe my loyalty to the club.
“Rugby league is my love and my first interest but after it there are plenty of options for me. It’s not as if I’m just here for the money.”
