Kimmorley ready to quit Sharks
By Steve Mascord
September 18, 2006
SHARKS captain Brett Kimmorley says he is willing to consider leaving the club with a year left on his contract.
In a dramatic development as the Sharks prepare to table the findings of a management review, Kimmorley said last night that while he wanted to stay in the Shire, he was willing to consider alternatives.
That follows coach Tim Sheens telling The Sunday Telegraph Wests Tigers might be interested if Sharks continue to pay a portion of Kimmorley's contract.
"If they make the decision to sack me, at least they would have to pay some money for me to leave," said Kimmorley.
"Even though no one would have much money left I'd still like to think I'd be able to get somewhere. I don't really want to go overseas at the moment because we're due to have a baby in seven weeks."
Kimmorley said he would not voluntarily walk away from the Sharks, whose coach Stuart Raper is thought to be under pressure to retain his job.
"But if they take that out of my control, I'll have to look elsewhere I suppose," he said.
"I don't know what their opinion is. They've bought (Brett) Seymour. I thought that was for beyond next year - whether their thoughts have changed, I don't know."
Kimmorley's relationship with possible new Sharks coach Ricky Stuart has been the subject of much conjecture.
Asked if such a change would affect him, Kimmorley said: "I haven't got a clause in my contract that says I can leave if any coach gets sacked.
"I don't want to speculate on things if things aren't going to change." The signing of the Shark halfback's close friend, coach Chris Anderson, to Sydney Roosters on Friday led to immediate speculation Kimmorley might be headed there.
But when asked if he would categorically rule out an approach to Kimmorley, Roosters chief executive Brian Canavan said: "yes".
Sheens said: "As far as whether we're interested in him, I would neither confirm nor deny it at this stage.
"Anyone would be interested in a player like him but I would imagine the cost would be prohibitive. We're interested in any quality player, but ..."
Insiders say while Kimmorley is popular in the Shire and highly regarded as a player, his $425,000-a-year price tag is seen as the ticket to putting the broom through the club many influential figures are presently pushing for.
Even if the Sharks continue to pay some of Kimmorley's contract while he is at Wests Tigers, the money saved would help them sign Ricky Stuart as coach and upgrade the contract of NSW lock Paul Gallen who last week asked for a release.
Kimmorley said he was trying to avoid worrying about the issue.
"A few weeks ago, you're reading they should sack Stu and a few columns saying they should sack me," he said.
"I had a few restless nights and things like that."
Sharks chief executive Greg Pierce commented: "Neither Brett nor his manager have come to me. I'm not going to worry about things that might not happen."
The Daily Telegraph