JJ Collins departs Canberra Raiders

[greeneyed]

JJ Collins departs Canberra Raiders

Canberra Raiders forward JJ Collins has made the toughest decision of his young NRL career, with the forward to depart the Raiders and return home to Queensland with his young family. Collins, 24, has been forced to put his NRL career on hold due to the recent NRL shutdown as a consequence of the reduced NRL season.

“My partner and I have just had our first son and it although it was a tough decision, it was one that had to be made,” Collins said. “I’m really gutted to be leaving the club, they welcomed me last year when I first arrived, and I have nothing but respect for the staff and playing group.

Read more: https://www.raiders.com.au/news/2020/05 ... t-raiders/

[-TW-]

Clearing the decks?

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[Raider47]

Bateman, Murchie and Collins all gone in one week. Better hope we have no injured forwards...

Oh wait...

Should any forward get injured, who would be even be next called upon considering Bateman and Young are still out? Sutton, then whom?

[Kermit]

Surely has to be down to NSW Cup being limited in games and pay cuts.

Totally understand these fringe first graders leaving if that’s the case.

Who’s next?!

[UncleDrew]

Sad to see JJ go... reckon we will end up with Kane Evans to be honest

[greeneyed]

If the players are on minimum or close to... and they’re taking a 20 per cent pay cut... they’re taking a much bigger pay cut for the remainder of the year. Tough times, especially if you have a family to support. Sad times.

[Northern Raider]

Same situation as Bateman. The current environment is extremely difficult for these guys further down the depth chart. They have to make similar sacrifices to the top squad but are suffering a bigger financial impact with little chance at actually playing any games. I would think all clubs will have guys in similar positions.

Of course there's no reason they can't be re-signed if a position comes available due to injuries, suspension etc.

[edwahu]

Tough situation for these guys who have put years into the game. They could come back but meanwhile others will be getting a chance to establish themselves.

[Velda]

I would be more concerned about James Hoopers article about John Bateman’s repeated requests to leave!!!

[Dusty]

That makes me physically ill


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[greeneyed]

Why Canberra Raiders forward JJ Collins had to leave the NRL

JJ Collins is a reminder there is more to life than football.

"If it was just my partner and I, we would have stayed, but having a young family I had to make the tough decision to put footy on the back burner and my family first, and to provide for them I guess is my main thing in life at the moment.

Read more: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/ ... /?cs=14239

Club statement: https://www.raiders.com.au/news/2020/05 ... t-raiders/

[raiderskater]

This is sad. I hope he comes home one day, I liked him.

[Bay53]

This is sad. I hope he comes home one day, I liked him.

He seemed like a decent guy, but the reality is he wasn't in Ricky's plans. Played one game last year and got a few mins and then was in the team for the last game against the Warriors and even though we were focused on the next week, he didn't get any minutes.

The problem with these guys is they really don't get any chance to show the coaches they are in good form because they will be playing scratch games at best.

I think Murchie will play first grade for the Warriors and that was probably going to happen earlier if not for Covid, but I don't know if there are Luke Bateman and Collins type examples in all clubs.

[Seiffert82]

Why are all these decisions being made a week before the season re-starts? It's really odd.

[Bay53]

Why are all these decisions being made a week before the season re-starts? It's really odd.

Not that odd when you think about it. Weren’t the players getting paid in full in April? When they really only had the same restrictions the rest of us had?

Now things are starting to open up, but for NRL players they are getting more strict. They have probably received their May pay packet and things are looking a bit grim. Potentially they are now being offered civilian jobs that couldn’t be offered a month ago.

[julian87]

It makes sense to me too. These players weren’t going to walk away while they were sitting at home doing nothing.

Now bloke like Collins have come back in and been flogged fitness wise for 2/3 weeks. They are only getting a % of their normal wage and they know they have virtually no chance of actually playing any football all season. A lot of athletes say they like training but none of them would do it if it wasn’t for the actual end event.

It must be a very worrying time for all the fringe first graders and squad fillers that have contracts finishing this season. There’s a big chance rugby league will pass a lot of them by and forget about them. Teams will be incentivized to look after all the young blokes who missed out on Flagg and these sorts of fellas will be left out in the cold IMO.

[GMGT]

Sad to see JJ go... reckon we will end up with Kane Evans to be honest

Did you just make that up In your dreams?

[Seiffert82]

Why are all these decisions being made a week before the season re-starts? It's really odd.

Not that odd when you think about it. Weren’t the players getting paid in full in April? When they really only had the same restrictions the rest of us had?

Now things are starting to open up, but for NRL players they are getting more strict. They have probably received their May pay packet and things are looking a bit grim. Potentially they are now being offered civilian jobs that couldn’t be offered a month ago.

Yeah, probably. I haven't really been keeping track to be honest. Seems odd to be on full pay while the season is suspended, but come back to part pay when it resumes.

Anyway, I'm sure it makes sense to somebody.

It always makes sense to earn more money elsewhere, especially if your body isn't getting hammered in the process. Doesn't seem to be a particularly strong job market out there though.