Quote: Thetalentboy "I meant about life after rugby league proper jobs
Yeaman imo our best centre last 20 years working in a prison
Majority of time it's the players that are the problem not the coach'"
I'm not having a go at you at all, I just stress the fact that Yeamo had a few job opportunities when he retired, but chose to work in the prison service because of the job prospects, career path etc. and with him having a young family that gave him the best chance, and what's more . In his chosen career path he is doing OK.
The thing is before the game went fully professional all players went back to work when they finished, in fact they worked whilst they were playing!! But, on retirement, many fell on hard times. When Hodgson was here I know that Danny houghton was contemplating going back to his tools as a Plummer/electrician and no doubt he'll pursue that when he eventually retires and he does that as one of the FC's and indeed the British games all time greats (as is Kirk). But there are no guarantees in life after Rugby league.
Sadly we might love our very demanding, physically debilitating and taxing sport, but we have missed our chances and failed to grasp the opportunities over the years as a sport (probably the best in the world) so we stay what is in effect a semi part time environment, which rewards players in the short term, but doesn't however give them any sort of security, so most understands that they go back to more menial tasks etc when they retire. Most players I know have no other aspirations than that.
Sadly that's where we are, we think we are supporting the best game there is, but financially and prestige and public awareness wise we are really nothing but a sport that has all the ingredients to be great but that has been so badly mismanaged over the years we are also rans on the national scene.
That means that although our players are heroes and titanic sportsmen whilst playing, they end up back where they started, that's why they are all to be respected for the sacrifices they make, the pain they go through and the enjoyment they give us. In the end the rewards they get for that are at best short term and they all have to adjust to being back on 'civi street' when it's over.
They do whatever they have to , to support their families and that's why Testimonials ae so important as they give players who have been loyal a little nest egg to help them through. What a sad situation that is, but I respect players like Yeamo who were heroes for all of us and continue to strive to succeed in life after they finish, whatever that means they have to do.
