Can we change the title of this thread to "Kershaw to Dog & Duck Keighley" please?

Update: It's now the Station Hotel at Keighley.

Not sure how he has history, if you are referring to him having to step away from the game as he was not earning enough to support himself then I’m not sure that’s fair.

I think us fans see playing professional sport as a privilege, but the reality is it’s a job and it is earned by talent and ability that’s what sets them apart from us in the stands.

Players have lifestyle expectations they need to support just like the rest of us and if the wages offered do not meet those expectations then they move on.

I can’t talk about the new ownership as I don’t know the policy but under the recently departed administration the attitude towards our homegrown players was very much “you are lucky to play for Trinity, this is the deal, sign it.” ….and in most cases it wasn’t in line with their market value or even value to the club.

I’m hopeful this policy is addressed under Matt Ellis.

As I’ve mentioned before I’d have preferred to retain Kersh over signing Jerry and I’m sure we could have got Kersh for less than we are paying Jerry, so looking at it like that it’s an odd one.

Looking at the bigger picture Kersh may have wanted a couple of years where as Jerry being here for 1 year gives us options as we look beyond 2024 as clearly we need to focus on this year but also be planning for our SL return and recruitment too.

Talk of TJ etc returning for 2025 it’s all part of the bigger picture and longer term planning so 1 year for Jerry makes sense from that point of view.

I think it's more linked to him supposedly signing for Newcastle not long after that Hermes storyline.

I have to confess, I have history of working and earning money too.

He has a history of putting out press stories, thought that was pretty obvious.

Playing sport for a living is a privilege, come off it. Yes it’s a job first but it’s also a dream and a vocation or it should be if you want to be the best. You seem to want it all ways.

So do I. Are you suggesting that playing RL is just done for the money. I’ve never believed that and never will, there are far easier ways to do it than getting physically assaulted once a week.

Be honest for once, you’d love to have been in Kershaws position when you were young, you make me laugh at times.

It’s a mix of money and enjoyment especially at the start of their pro careers.

Not every player is the same but just like any other job decisions have to be made along the way particularly when young men start to get families.

Generally these days the lads have back up plans and trades as they don’t make enough to set themselves up for life in most cases.

Interesting interview with Jamie Shaul a few weeks back who retired early and has gone back to being a bricky comparing the positives and camaraderie between his rugby life and new career.

Money now more than ever is an incentive. What rugby generally gives players is a living and a delay by 20 years to getting a day to day job if they are lucky.

The notion that pro sports men are not massively influenced by money is a misnomer.

You can’t feed your kids and pay your bills off fans praise and enjoyment.

Plenty of lads running round in championship who have been offered a crack at SL but turn it down because they earn more being part time and having a day job.