Stacey Jones to make shock NRL comeback

Peter Cassidy | 07/11/08 | 0

AUDIO - I'm feeling fresh: Stacey Jones

Three years after ending his stellar 238-game playing career with New Zealand, Stacey Jones is set for a shock return to the NRL.

Jones, 32, signed a one-year deal with the Warriors for the 2009 season after a taste of top-level football with the All Golds last month had rekindled his desire to play.

“It’s a huge decision but I’m so excited about what’s ahead,” said Jones.

“I’ve really enjoyed the time I’ve had back at the Warriors (as kicking coach) this year.

“I’ve had a year off playing after finishing up with Les Catalans (in the English Super League) and turning out for the All Golds in England last year.”

Jones said contractual arrangements had prevented him giving any consideration to a playing deal before now.

“The truth is I had originally signed a new contract to play on with Les Catalans this year but it was a bit rushed. By then we’d had two great years in Perpignan and we were homesick and really keen to come back,” he said.

“The club was good about it and let me go but on the condition I couldn’t play for any other club in 2008.”

His commitment to play in the New Zealand Rugby League’s farewell match to long-time Kiwi team-mate Ruben Wiki on October 12 compelled Jones to take on a training programme.

“After training to play for the All Golds in New Plymouth and playing in that game, I realised how much I had missed being out there,” he said.

Jones’ cameo appearance for the All Golds was the catalyst for coach Ivan Cleary to make his approach.

“A few days after the match, Ivan asked me whether I’d be interested in making a return to the NRL. I said I’d think about it. Obviously I had a lot to consider and while I accept I have a lot of work to do to get back to NRL standard, I really want to give this a shot.

“My motivation is to try to help the club win a premiership. I like the look of the roster the Vodafone Warriors have for next season. To me, it’s one of the most exciting all-round squads the club has had.

“I’m still only 32 so I feel there’s time left for me to have another crack now, especially after having a year off. I feel fresh.”

Cleary said both the NRL team and the club as a whole stood to benefit enormously from Jones’ signing. But he added it wouldn’t be fair to place unreasonable expectations on him.

“It’s been well recognised that we have been looking to improve our halfback depth and in Stacey we could not have anyone with more experience in this position,” he said.

“Whether Stacey plays many games or not, his experience will be invaluable not only to the young halves but the NRL squad as a whole.

“He has been doing plenty of fitness training recently and we expect him to be in competitive shape when our NRL squad starts preseason training on November 17.

“It’s great for us to have a player of his standing and quality back at the club he has done so much for, and the club that did so much for him.”

It’s a huge decision but I’m so excited about what’s ahead... Stacey Jones