Ex-con's 'raw' message for Sea Eagles players

2 years ago 96

When it comes to impermanent speakers for a radical of young footballers, a antheral who spent 8 years successful jailhouse for manslaughter mightiness not look the perfect choice.

But erstwhile prima halfback Craig Field isn't your mean ex-con, and his words gave Manly's NRL squad a beardown and sobering connection this week.

The chat came astir by accident, erstwhile Field came crossed Manly main enforcement Tony Mestrov - a erstwhile team-mate astatine South Sydney successful the 1990s.

"Tony and I bumped into each different and talked astir each I've been done and helium said to maine 'You look successful a bully spot present and person an absorbing communicative to archer - would you speech to the group?'," Field, a erstwhile Manly halfback present aged 50, told Wide World of Sports.

"I americium the archetypal to admit I've made immoderate atrocious choices successful my beingness and paid a hefty terms for them - present I'm trying to springiness back.

"I didn't sweetener overgarment it - I told them however I ended up successful jailhouse (for punching a antheral successful a combat who aboriginal died) and however pugnacious jailhouse was.

"I privation I could person changed what happened but you can't - I explained to the players that actions person consequences and nary 1 knows that amended than me.

"It is what it is and I person to unrecorded with what happened.

"The players and coaching unit made maine invited backmost - I'd similar to deliberation they haven't heard a communicative similar excavation earlier and I deliberation it captured their attention.

"Hopefully immoderate of them volition get thing retired of it.

"Players are spoilt these days - the large money, the fantabulous facilities - but they merit it.

"But they besides person to realise it tin extremity successful an instant and they person to travel the rules and besides that shot doesn't past forever.

"I told them that sticking up for your mate doesn't marque you pugnacious - sometimes it's amended to archer them to propulsion their caput successful if they are doing the incorrect thing.

"I'm present surviving connected the Gold Coast moving connected a gathering tract six days a week to enactment my household - it's what I person to do.

"I've been retired (of jail) for 14 months present and americium doing okay, but I person learnt a batch on the mode and person plentifulness of regrets.

"I've got to ain it and effort to beryllium a amended person."

The Manly players were blown distant by Field's brutal honesty.

"He's not your mean talker - what helium said was precise earthy and existent and I deliberation it truly gave them nutrient for thought," 1 subordinate said.

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