http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/gareth-ellis-made-correct-decision-when-he-ventured-down-under-to-join-the-tigers/story-e6frg7mf-1225911081909" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
**Gareth Ellis made correct decision when he ventured Down Under to join the Tigers**
* Brent Read * From: The Australian
* August 28, 2010 12:00AM
>
AS he tossed up whether to leave the comforts of England for the challenge of the NRL, doubts flooded through Gareth Ellis's head.
>
Is it the right thing to do? Will it be a success?
>
The answer has been a resounding yes on both counts. In less than two seasons, Ellis has become as important to the Wests Tigers as Benji Marshall or Robbie Farah.
>
So important, that at a recent awards ceremony he was nominated for a local sports award alongside Paralympian Kurt Fearnley. Ellis didn't win, but there's no shame in being beaten by Fearnley, a man who has won two Paralympic gold medals, four New York marathons and crawled the Kokoda Track in 11 days.
>
"If he was available for NSW they would pick him, if he was available for Queensland they would pick him, and if he was available for Australia they would be considering picking him," Tigers coach Tim Sheens said.
>
"Backrow is a pretty hot spot in the Australian side. He's playing to that standard. I don't think there would be too many people he plays against who would disagree with that. He's a strong character.
>
**"When you're looking to build a culture at a club, you build it around players like him.** He didn't come over here for a bludge. He came over here to prove he was good enough to play in the NRL."
>
Ellis has done just that. In no time at all he has become one of the most dominant backrowers in the competition. And he's done it with a smile plastered on his face.
>
Ellis clearly relishes his new surrounds. When he first joined the Tigers, his plan was to stay three years and return to England. A recent contract extension will result in him remaining in the NRL until 2013.
>
"I see myself playing out my contract over here and I will be 32," he said. "Then it's just a matter of deciding what I will do at the end.
>
"When I originally came out here I thought I would do the three years. As it's turned out, I am really enjoying it. If I had gone home at the end of three years with time to play, I would have regretted it."
>
The only downside of the move: his son Isaac was born in Sydney. It's become a source of mirth to his teammates. A proud Englishman with a son born in Australia.
>
"He's not an Aussie," Elllis said. "He's a proud Yorkshireman. That's me now, that family life. I am loving every minute of it.
>
**"I can only speak from my own point of view and it's one of the best decisions I have ever made – not just football, but in life.**
>
"As footballers we start at a young age and don't get much chance to travel. This has given me an opportunity to see Australia and the world. When we first came here, it was just me and my missus (Rachael), and we did a road trip from Sydney to the Gold Coast. It was fantastic. I had been to Australia six times before, all with football, and never seen anything of it."
>
Western Australia remains on Ellis's must-see list, but his priority for now is helping the Tigers win a premiership. A top-four place is at their mercy and a win over Melbourne tomorrow would secure a home final.
>
"It wasn't like a thing where someone said do you want to go to Australia and I said 'Yeah, yeah, yeah I want to do that'," Ellis said. "To actually say to myself I am going to give it a go, have a crack at it and make a success, that's the most pleasing thing."
Great Read......What a fantastic buy Ellis has been....The bloke is a true professional...I agree with Sheens a player you build your Club around.....
1 more thing....GARETH ARMY.....
:sign:
**Gareth Ellis made correct decision when he ventured Down Under to join the Tigers**
* Brent Read * From: The Australian
* August 28, 2010 12:00AM
>
AS he tossed up whether to leave the comforts of England for the challenge of the NRL, doubts flooded through Gareth Ellis's head.
>
Is it the right thing to do? Will it be a success?
>
The answer has been a resounding yes on both counts. In less than two seasons, Ellis has become as important to the Wests Tigers as Benji Marshall or Robbie Farah.
>
So important, that at a recent awards ceremony he was nominated for a local sports award alongside Paralympian Kurt Fearnley. Ellis didn't win, but there's no shame in being beaten by Fearnley, a man who has won two Paralympic gold medals, four New York marathons and crawled the Kokoda Track in 11 days.
>
"If he was available for NSW they would pick him, if he was available for Queensland they would pick him, and if he was available for Australia they would be considering picking him," Tigers coach Tim Sheens said.
>
"Backrow is a pretty hot spot in the Australian side. He's playing to that standard. I don't think there would be too many people he plays against who would disagree with that. He's a strong character.
>
**"When you're looking to build a culture at a club, you build it around players like him.** He didn't come over here for a bludge. He came over here to prove he was good enough to play in the NRL."
>
Ellis has done just that. In no time at all he has become one of the most dominant backrowers in the competition. And he's done it with a smile plastered on his face.
>
Ellis clearly relishes his new surrounds. When he first joined the Tigers, his plan was to stay three years and return to England. A recent contract extension will result in him remaining in the NRL until 2013.
>
"I see myself playing out my contract over here and I will be 32," he said. "Then it's just a matter of deciding what I will do at the end.
>
"When I originally came out here I thought I would do the three years. As it's turned out, I am really enjoying it. If I had gone home at the end of three years with time to play, I would have regretted it."
>
The only downside of the move: his son Isaac was born in Sydney. It's become a source of mirth to his teammates. A proud Englishman with a son born in Australia.
>
"He's not an Aussie," Elllis said. "He's a proud Yorkshireman. That's me now, that family life. I am loving every minute of it.
>
**"I can only speak from my own point of view and it's one of the best decisions I have ever made – not just football, but in life.**
>
"As footballers we start at a young age and don't get much chance to travel. This has given me an opportunity to see Australia and the world. When we first came here, it was just me and my missus (Rachael), and we did a road trip from Sydney to the Gold Coast. It was fantastic. I had been to Australia six times before, all with football, and never seen anything of it."
>
Western Australia remains on Ellis's must-see list, but his priority for now is helping the Tigers win a premiership. A top-four place is at their mercy and a win over Melbourne tomorrow would secure a home final.
>
"It wasn't like a thing where someone said do you want to go to Australia and I said 'Yeah, yeah, yeah I want to do that'," Ellis said. "To actually say to myself I am going to give it a go, have a crack at it and make a success, that's the most pleasing thing."
Great Read......What a fantastic buy Ellis has been....The bloke is a true professional...I agree with Sheens a player you build your Club around.....
1 more thing....GARETH ARMY.....
:sign:
