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Day Heighno turned down Bennett
Exclusive by Josh Massoud From: The Daily Telegraph September 22, 2010 12:00AM
THERE'S more money. And then there's Wayne Bennett.
Under normal circumstances one of the two incentives is enough to entice a footballer to change his stripes.
But not Tigers hardman Chris Heighington. Ahead of his team's preliminary final showdown against Bennett's Dragons, The Daily Telegraph can reveal Heighington rejected bigger money at St George Illawarra - and a personal phone call from the supercoach - to remain a one-club man.
Off-contract at the end of 2008, the Dragons chased Heighington as Bennett prepared to head to Wollongong the following season.
The six-time premiership winner even rang Heighington to tell the lock how he could become a better player in the big red V.
At the same time salary cap pressure beset Wests, which forced Liam Fulton, Ben Galea and Daniel Fitzhenry to England and threatened to also push the tough back-rower out.
"I had a big decision to make back then to see if I would stay or go," Heighington said. "The Tigers were really struggling with the salary cap and looked for a while like they couldn't keep me.
"It dragged on for a while and Wayne Bennett did give me a call.
"He told me how he could improve me as a player if I was interested in going to St George Illawarra."
Asked if he took a pay cut to remain a Tiger, the 27-year-old replied: "For sure. [But] the Tigers gave me my opportunity the first year [coach] Tim Sheens came here [in 2003].
"He signed me as a young kid from the Central Coast. I owed a bit to him and the club.
"Him and [assistant coach Royce Simmons] have made me the player I am today.
"But back then I still had a bit more to learn and I wanted to do that here and also become a one-club player."
The Umina product is now publicly in the sights of would-be starters Central Coast Bears.
"When everything is said and done, they still aren't in the comp," Heighington said.
"In my opinion, there should definitely be a team on the Central Coast. But that mightn't happen until 2013."
Exclusive by Josh Massoud From: The Daily Telegraph September 22, 2010 12:00AM
THERE'S more money. And then there's Wayne Bennett.
Under normal circumstances one of the two incentives is enough to entice a footballer to change his stripes.
But not Tigers hardman Chris Heighington. Ahead of his team's preliminary final showdown against Bennett's Dragons, The Daily Telegraph can reveal Heighington rejected bigger money at St George Illawarra - and a personal phone call from the supercoach - to remain a one-club man.
Off-contract at the end of 2008, the Dragons chased Heighington as Bennett prepared to head to Wollongong the following season.
The six-time premiership winner even rang Heighington to tell the lock how he could become a better player in the big red V.
At the same time salary cap pressure beset Wests, which forced Liam Fulton, Ben Galea and Daniel Fitzhenry to England and threatened to also push the tough back-rower out.
"I had a big decision to make back then to see if I would stay or go," Heighington said. "The Tigers were really struggling with the salary cap and looked for a while like they couldn't keep me.
"It dragged on for a while and Wayne Bennett did give me a call.
"He told me how he could improve me as a player if I was interested in going to St George Illawarra."
Asked if he took a pay cut to remain a Tiger, the 27-year-old replied: "For sure. [But] the Tigers gave me my opportunity the first year [coach] Tim Sheens came here [in 2003].
"He signed me as a young kid from the Central Coast. I owed a bit to him and the club.
"Him and [assistant coach Royce Simmons] have made me the player I am today.
"But back then I still had a bit more to learn and I wanted to do that here and also become a one-club player."
The Umina product is now publicly in the sights of would-be starters Central Coast Bears.
"When everything is said and done, they still aren't in the comp," Heighington said.
"In my opinion, there should definitely be a team on the Central Coast. But that mightn't happen until 2013."
