Gareth Ellis to quit Wests Tigers

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Homesick Gareth Ellis to leave Wests Tigers after 2012 season

Josh Massoud
The Daily Telegraph
February 29, 2012 12:00AM

IT was during his wedding preparations in England late last year that Gareth Ellis realised the time was nearing to return home.

Yesterday the towering Tigers enforcer made it official. Addressing his teammates above Concord Oval after training, Ellis broke the news that he had just been granted a release to return to England at the end of this season.

The 30-year-old was contracted until the end of 2013, but he and new wife Rachael want to raise their young family with the support of relatives.

"I feel the time is right for me to return to England," Ellis said last night. "It was a difficult decision to make as I have really enjoyed my time at Wests Tigers.

"I have a young son (Isaac) now. My wife Rachael and I feel it is time to head home to our families."

When he joined the Tigers from Leeds in 2009, Ellis only planned to stay Down Under for the three years of his original deal.

But after being named the club's best and fairest in his first season, he extended his deal for another two seasons midway through 2010.

He has since won the highest individual honour twice more, prompting Tigers skipper Robbie Farah to label him the joint venture's best recruit.

"Gareth has come here and won our best player award three years in a row," Farah said last night. "In my opinion, he's the best signing the club has ever made. He's going to be massive for us to replace. It's not going to be easy.

"There are windows where you have a team capable of winning a premiership. It would be really nice if we could do something this season and send him off a winner."

Tigers CEO Stephen Humphreys said Ellis first approached him for a release almost two weeks ago.

"Gareth had gotten married in the UK and spent last Christmas there with relatives," Humphreys said.

"That probably made it a little tougher for him to come back and there was some homesickness.

"Gareth and his wife Rachael also have one child and they are planning more.

"Being a professional and not wanting it to affect his football, Gareth approached us straight away and we understood where he's coming from."

Farah said the senior players were aware that Ellis had been wrestling with his future for some time.

"We've had a bit of an idea he's been thinking things over for the past few weeks," Farah said. "It didn't come as much of a surprise, but he's still going to take some replacing."

 

[Chris]

How do you write the ultimate accolade for a man that deserves it as much as Gareth? All class on and off the field and I doubt there would be anyone in the world who could say a bad word about him. In 10 - 15 years time when people talk about this era of players, Gareth Ellis will be held in the same breath as other Wests Tigers legends John Skandalis and Brett Hodgson.

Big wraps for the Gareth Army who from day one built the Gareth Ellis fan club.

 

[Snake]

It will be a sad day at the end of the season when Ellis can no longer play with us. He has been our best buy to date by far. Ultra-professional and top level talent.

Professional in every way even the amount of time he has given the club to sign another…thanks for all your efforts and an injury free season .There is a lot of respect for you in this club !good luck in your final season.

 

[Swordy]

Based on his ability to play in the forwards week in, week out in the toughest competition in the world and still be one of the best forwards in the game, I personally think he is the best Englishman to come to Australia.

Whilst there have been some greats, Reilly, Morley, Hanley, Schofield and more, none have done the 80minute work that this guys has.

He came. He conquered.

I dearly hope this year we can reward him with a premiership. I also thank him for his efforts with our club, regardless of what happens this year!

 

[Tiger_Watto]

I always felt comfortable when Gareth was standing next to on of our halves in the defensive line. He is a rock and has given more to this team than 80 minutes each week. Not sure how you replace what Gareth brings?

Maybe we will make a play for Glen Stewart or Sam Thaiday :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

 

[supercoach]

Great player,great bloke, but its not all doom and gloom. Like all great players father time and the dreaded injury curse has and is starting to catch up with Ellis. Still one of the games best but his very best years are probably past and by 2013 it will be a good time to try entice or even better discover the next gun player to take over his role. I have seen a lot of Poms have a crack at the NRL over the years and Ellis is close to the best if not the best

 

[Deano1]

While I was really looking forward to seeing ellis and blair run around and dominate the competition for the next two years, it is completely understandable why he has asked for a release from the last year of his contract. Like many others on here I can only hope that his last year with us is injury free and he is sent out the way he truely deserves….a winner.

 

[tigers05]

A class act who has touched every Wests Tigers Supporter whether it be on or off the field. The news has saddened me but I respect Gareths decision, living life the way it should be to the fullest.

You will hold a special place in the history of the Wests Tigers, I'm humbled to have seen you play…...

 

[westy81]

Sad to see him go he has been a great asset to the team and will be sorely missed I just hope the guy that takes his spot is better or at least the same quality as him
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[rossop]

Hope he has an exceptional final year. He will be hard to replace. When he was out last year we fell in a bit of a hole. When he came back the boys really lifted and played some great football. :bawling

 

[Knuckles]

A massive loss ….... we need to send him out with a premiership.

 

[tigerbenji]

Have seen a lot of top English players & he is one of the best, hope can send him home a winner. More importantly Gareth would always have time to talk to anyone after the game & have photos taken with supporters, a real top bloke.

 

[851]

A dead set champion in every sense of the word,our best ever signing by far,rip it up this seaon Gaz and thank you for your whole hearted effort over the 3 seasons we had the pleasure of watching you play.

 

[andrew 474]

To hard to get the thankyou he deserves on paper , top linner , gentelman , profesional , tiger forever , massive loss but he brought us massive efforts each game , giving the club 12 months notice to replace him if needed , outstanding , we wont replace him , you just cant , thanks Gareth

 

[Mrs_T]

x 2 to all of the above! The champion player with his own army will be missed big time!

 

[Mistadobalina]

Before he leaves, we should take a sample of his DNA and keep it locked in a freezer, for the day when we're able to clone humans and scientists set about the task of creating the perfect man.

 

[monkey]

Hope the club sends him out with testimonial Honors for the contributions he has done for the club . I can see alot of happy opposition players out there knowing that Ellis isn't there to smash em
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[Flippedy]

It's a real shame that we will only have 1 season of seeing Ellis and Blair run out together for our team. We'd better make the most if then, I guess.