Tuesday, March 16, 2004
Jamie sick of the City
The Daily Telegraph has claimed today that Jamie Lyon was sick of the city and wanted to head back to the bush "to get some fresh air in his lungs". It also claimed his decision was related to personal issues with his partner Ellie.
Peter Frilingos quoted Noel Cleal, who was responsible for bringing the young Kangaroo to Parramatta, as saying Lyon had been contemplating retirement for at least 12 months.
"Jamie or 'Killer' as we call him is a very strong-willed boy," Cleal told The Telegraph.
"It appears he has lost his taste for the game and for a player of his talent that's very sad. This time he just said he was over footy and was sick of the city. He just wants to get some fresh air into his lungs in the bush and it doesn't look as though anything will change his mind.
"My eldest son Gareth is Jamie's best mate. Gareth has spoken to him too and he reckons the more people try to talk him out of quitting footy the more he will just dig his heels in."
Lyon's managed Alan Gainey again insisted the walkout had nothing to do with the Parramatta club or last week's humbling loss to the Bulldogs.
"Jamie loves Parramatta and his teammates but he just doesn't want to play any more. We are trying desperately to get him to change his mind but so far we're having no luck."
Captain Nathan Cayless said he "can't believe it". "This has come of the blue".
In an interview with the official Parramatta web site only days ago, Lyon said that he couldn't wait for the season to begin and was looking forward to a successful year.
Meanwhile, Captain Cayless yesterday brought his team together for a heart-to-heart as to why the Eels had been so "lethargic" and "pedestrian" on the weekend, according to another Daily Telegraph report. The players also sat through the heart-breaking video of the Bulldogs belting.
"We looked at the video and were very lethargic and very pedestrian. It was very disappointing because our enthusiasm levels were down, which shouldn't happen in round one. We just thought we were going better than what we are -- it was a wake-up call.
"We will learn from the loss but it's now gone."
Peter Frilingos quoted Noel Cleal, who was responsible for bringing the young Kangaroo to Parramatta, as saying Lyon had been contemplating retirement for at least 12 months.
"Jamie or 'Killer' as we call him is a very strong-willed boy," Cleal told The Telegraph.
"It appears he has lost his taste for the game and for a player of his talent that's very sad. This time he just said he was over footy and was sick of the city. He just wants to get some fresh air into his lungs in the bush and it doesn't look as though anything will change his mind.
"My eldest son Gareth is Jamie's best mate. Gareth has spoken to him too and he reckons the more people try to talk him out of quitting footy the more he will just dig his heels in."
Lyon's managed Alan Gainey again insisted the walkout had nothing to do with the Parramatta club or last week's humbling loss to the Bulldogs.
"Jamie loves Parramatta and his teammates but he just doesn't want to play any more. We are trying desperately to get him to change his mind but so far we're having no luck."
Captain Nathan Cayless said he "can't believe it". "This has come of the blue".
In an interview with the official Parramatta web site only days ago, Lyon said that he couldn't wait for the season to begin and was looking forward to a successful year.
Meanwhile, Captain Cayless yesterday brought his team together for a heart-to-heart as to why the Eels had been so "lethargic" and "pedestrian" on the weekend, according to another Daily Telegraph report. The players also sat through the heart-breaking video of the Bulldogs belting.
"We looked at the video and were very lethargic and very pedestrian. It was very disappointing because our enthusiasm levels were down, which shouldn't happen in round one. We just thought we were going better than what we are -- it was a wake-up call.
"We will learn from the loss but it's now gone."
