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WARATAH Tigers star five-eighth Ben Jeffery will not return to the club in 2011 after being signed to play for NSW Cup team Wests Magpies this week.Jeffery left for Sydney yesterday, and will begin training for the West Tigers feeder club immediately, after a last-minute decision to return to professional rugby league.
While originally deciding to stay on at Griffith's 2010 premier club for another year, the Barry Hailes Medal winner decided he wanted to give the NRL another shot after recruiters called him up last Friday.
"He had decided about a month ago he was going to stay here but he got another call on Friday," Jeffery's father Steve said. "I don't think he expected they'd keep ringing him, so he decided to go back down and give it a fair dinkum go."
Returning to his junior club this year after a stint in the Wests Tigers and Gold Coast Titans, Jeffrey was instrumental in helping the club go all the way and beat arch-rivals Yenda Blueheelers at the grand final in September.
But the local premiers will have to make do without him next year as the former Wests Tigers winger sets his sights on once again butting heads with the best league players in the country.
While Jeffery will be playing for Wests Tigers' feeder club Wests Magpies for now, father Steve believes he'll soon be back in first grade.
"Watching the Wests Tigers last season, they were
getting knocked around in the backs, I think there's a few half-back and full-back positions available," Steve said. "It's something that's been at the back of his mind I think and I told him if he doesn't make it he can always come back here but me and his mum are backing him all the way."
While also being a great opportunity for Jeffery, Steve said it was great for Griffith that another of their talented league players was going to the NRL.
"It's great for the town and there's some exceptional talent up here but some of the guys never get the opportunity that he should think himself lucky," he said.
Waratah Tigers president Ken Wells said the talented player would be sorely missed from their first grade side but hoped to see him back when he finally decided to retire from the NRL.
"He was the best player in Group 20, by head and shoulders, he will be sorely missed at the club but the club and all the supporters and Kodie (Charles, the first grade coach) wish him all the best," Wells said. "He instilled a lot of confidence in the guys when they ran out next to him and in years to come hopefully he comes back and coaches the kids through."
The Waratah Tigers will also hold their meet the coaches day and be handing out the reserve and first grade jackets from 3pm on Saturday at the Exies Sporties with all members and supporters welcome.
[Source](http://www.areanews.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/one-last-shot-at-glory-for-jeffery/2020194.aspx?storypage=0)
While originally deciding to stay on at Griffith's 2010 premier club for another year, the Barry Hailes Medal winner decided he wanted to give the NRL another shot after recruiters called him up last Friday.
"He had decided about a month ago he was going to stay here but he got another call on Friday," Jeffery's father Steve said. "I don't think he expected they'd keep ringing him, so he decided to go back down and give it a fair dinkum go."
Returning to his junior club this year after a stint in the Wests Tigers and Gold Coast Titans, Jeffrey was instrumental in helping the club go all the way and beat arch-rivals Yenda Blueheelers at the grand final in September.
But the local premiers will have to make do without him next year as the former Wests Tigers winger sets his sights on once again butting heads with the best league players in the country.
While Jeffery will be playing for Wests Tigers' feeder club Wests Magpies for now, father Steve believes he'll soon be back in first grade.
"Watching the Wests Tigers last season, they were
getting knocked around in the backs, I think there's a few half-back and full-back positions available," Steve said. "It's something that's been at the back of his mind I think and I told him if he doesn't make it he can always come back here but me and his mum are backing him all the way."
While also being a great opportunity for Jeffery, Steve said it was great for Griffith that another of their talented league players was going to the NRL.
"It's great for the town and there's some exceptional talent up here but some of the guys never get the opportunity that he should think himself lucky," he said.
Waratah Tigers president Ken Wells said the talented player would be sorely missed from their first grade side but hoped to see him back when he finally decided to retire from the NRL.
"He was the best player in Group 20, by head and shoulders, he will be sorely missed at the club but the club and all the supporters and Kodie (Charles, the first grade coach) wish him all the best," Wells said. "He instilled a lot of confidence in the guys when they ran out next to him and in years to come hopefully he comes back and coaches the kids through."
The Waratah Tigers will also hold their meet the coaches day and be handing out the reserve and first grade jackets from 3pm on Saturday at the Exies Sporties with all members and supporters welcome.
[Source](http://www.areanews.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/one-last-shot-at-glory-for-jeffery/2020194.aspx?storypage=0)
