Rugby League: Leeds Rhinos players left shocked by James Segeyaro’s desire to quit
Hooker says he cannot return to the UK after failing to settle into the way of life
LEEDS players are shocked at James Segeyaro’s insistence that he will walk out on his contract.
The hooker is adamant he will not return to the Rhinos – even though he has a deal until 2018 – because he cannot settle into life in England.
But SunSport understands that his admission has come as a surprise as many of his team-mates were under the impression he would be back in January for training.
Now they face a battle off the field to keep hold of the man who made a big difference at the end of a disastrous season, that saw the 2015 treble winners fight relegation.
Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington, who has met Segeyaro in Australia, is adamant the 26-year-old is going nowhere.
NRL champions Cronulla Sharks are interested in taking him, as is another club down under, but the Headingley boss warned that if Segeyaro does walk out, he may have to wait for a move until 2018.
And if the player gets his way, the whole of rugby league could be blown open.
Hetherington said: “The comments attributed to James have obviously come as a big disappointment and a surprise following my meeting with him and his manager last Wednesday.
“When speculation first broke regarding Cronulla and their interest in James, I alerted both the RFL and NRL Chief Executives to the issue.
“The NRL confirmed a player cannot be registered with a club while his registration sits with a Super League club and in James’ case he is registered with us and the RFL until the end of 2018.
“Interest in him from other NRL clubs has been reported but they know he is not for sale however I have no doubt this has become a key issue.
“The integrity of our game is now on the line and I hope to have further discussions with senior officials from the RFL and NRL at the earliest opportunity.”
Segeyaro, who was born in Papua New Guinea but grew up in Australia, was clear that he would not be coming back.
He said: “I want to get on with my life and unfortunately, that doesn’t include going back to the UK. I just can’t do it.
“It’s hard when it’s just you eating dinner by yourself within four walls, especially the type of person I am.
“You start missing home, you look on your phone and see your parents and friends, who I treat like family and you’re a million miles away.
“That’s probably when I started questioning, ‘Why am I doing this?’
“The last two weeks I spent over there I tried hard to get into the English culture as I was really struggling.
“I’m from North Queensland and I was born to go outside all the time. I fish, swim, go camping, all my childhood was outside. I’m a person who likes to do a lot of things, be outside and active.
“I was trying to do that over in England, but it’s not me. Mentally, I wasn’t happy - I found myself so lonely.”
Segeyaro’s decision comes after Chris Sandow walked out on Warrington and Todd Carney and Dave Taylor left Catalans.
However, he insists he has not been tapped up, adding: “I haven’t talked with any clubs nor have I signed with anyone, how can I anyway? I need to sort out this matter.
“I wouldn’t say I was pressured into taking up an option to re-sign with Leeds, but I certainly didn’t have the support network I lean on when I make key life decisions.
“I told them I can’t make the decision to take up the option without sitting down with my family.
“But we had a deadline and I had to make a decision. That’s what I’ve explained to Gary throughout this period.”
