Just generally feels like a sad way for his career with us to end. When you have young kids sat on the wall growing up who then break into the team and develop into world class players captaining the team then after many years of service they don't deserve to leave under a cloud of ill-feeling. I agree it's probably in both parties best interests but having seen his dad responding to comments on FB recently where the fans have really been laying into him the whole situation makes me feel pretty sad. From Kallum's point of view it must be just about the worst time in his career to be looking for a new gig. On current form which top team would be demand a starting place in? Certainly won't get anywhere near an NRL side. Assume he'll end up at Salford or KR.
Personally I've never really felt he's lived up to his reputation. No doubt a fantastic player on his day but always seems to run a bit hot and cold for me. Sky guys constantly telling us he's 'arguably the best centre in the SL' but I don't recall him ever really standing out for full games game in game out. Clearly a quality player though and exactly the kind of home grown player you'd want at your club but a shame to see him effectively leaving under a cloud and with the performances we've seen this year being his send off. You can't blame anyone coming back from a serious injury for not being at their best but with all this news it does fuel the fire about there being poor attitudes in camp about marquee salaries etc.
I'd probably have let him go straight away. Ignoring the fact I'd start Hurrell and Newman ahead of him in the centres anyway, is this situation going to improve the already poor morale at all? Certainly no point playing him as captain but looking at performances so far this year it's hard to imagine we'll see fantastic attitude and effort from him for the rest of the season. Unless he has a mad panic to try and show that he's capable to getting back to his best to show potential new clubs he still has it but then that'll surely be even worse as it would point to poor attitude instead of understandable rehab impact. Urgh… there's not really a positive to take is there? It's a lose-lose situation for both sides for the rest of the season so I'd just let him go and concentrate on finding a new, much needed leader and developing a new centre partnership.
Despite everything above, I feel for the lad for not getting the send off he deserves, irrespective of what's gone on this season.
