From Sunday News
By NEIL REID
Stacey Jones has broken his silence surrounding his Warriors heartbreak - revealing why he really left his beloved club of 11 seasons.
Speaking exclusively to Sunday News from his home in Perpignan, France, Stacey told how Warriors management had forced his hand in walking away from Ericsson Stadium.
"I would have loved to have finished off my time at the club," the 30-year-old Kiwis stalwart told Sunday News.
"But when I asked if it was time for me to move on, no one told me to stay. There was no pressure on me to stay. They were happy for me to go. But I would have definitely loved to have finished up my time there - it wasn't to be.
"Unfortunately that is the way it goes."
Stacey - dubbed The Little General - made his first-grade debut for the Warriors in 1995 and had often spoken about his love of being a "one-team" player.
But last year he made a shock announcement saying he was moving to the south of France -causing fans to plead for him to change his mind.
Stacey's form - and that of the Warriors - in the NRL in 2004 had been patchy.
They finished a two-year slide from minor premiers and grand finalists to become near-wooden spooners, only four points ahead of the basement-dwelling South Sydney Rabbitohs.
But it was news that Warriors management had signed Kiwis captain Ruben Wiki and Canterbury Bulldogs captain Steve Price - both believed to be paid $300,000 a season - and a planned mass player cull that eventually forced Stacey's hand.
He made the tough call to relocate his family halfway around the world and play for Les Catalan Dragons in Perpignan. Although the move had been tough for Stacey's wife Rochelle, daughters Waiana, five and Chellcey, seven, and six-month-old son William -the talented footballer says it was the right choice.
The family settled in to life in France - capped off by a remarkable first game for the Dragons, who rolled former heavyweights Wigan Warriors in Stacey's first big Super League match.
Neither the Dragons nor Stacey could not have scripted a better start for their 2006 campaign. But disaster struck a week later when Stacey broke his arm, sidelining the gutsy halfback for eight weeks.
Stacey said the time away from the game gave him plenty of time to reflect on what he missed from New Zealand.
"I miss a lot of things about home - family and friends," he said.
"I miss the Warriors and keep up with what is going on there as much as possible."
A visit by Stacey's parents earlier this year reinforced his family's homesickness.
But while he'd love to return home to play for his beloved Warriors again, Stacey said he won't break his contract with Les Catalans, which has another year to run.
He also had to provide stability for his kids.
"The kids are settling in. But it was really hard for them. It was difficult settling them into school," Jones said.
"They still miss home - we all miss home. We miss it every day.
"The first couple of weeks were pretty hard to get around."
Jones was expected to make his return to the Super League overnight and while his team had struggled in his absence, they had the consolation of knowing they would not face relegation.
"We're a team that is still learning. We're playing OK. But there is definitely room to improve," Stacey said.
"We're still coming to grips with travelling every second week -these guys still aren't used to it.
"Another thing is being fulltime professionals. The French players are gradually getting used to it.
"They haven't been used to this position before.
"We're going OK as far as a team is concerned."
By NEIL REID
Stacey Jones has broken his silence surrounding his Warriors heartbreak - revealing why he really left his beloved club of 11 seasons.
Speaking exclusively to Sunday News from his home in Perpignan, France, Stacey told how Warriors management had forced his hand in walking away from Ericsson Stadium.
"I would have loved to have finished off my time at the club," the 30-year-old Kiwis stalwart told Sunday News.
"But when I asked if it was time for me to move on, no one told me to stay. There was no pressure on me to stay. They were happy for me to go. But I would have definitely loved to have finished up my time there - it wasn't to be.
"Unfortunately that is the way it goes."
Stacey - dubbed The Little General - made his first-grade debut for the Warriors in 1995 and had often spoken about his love of being a "one-team" player.
But last year he made a shock announcement saying he was moving to the south of France -causing fans to plead for him to change his mind.
Stacey's form - and that of the Warriors - in the NRL in 2004 had been patchy.
They finished a two-year slide from minor premiers and grand finalists to become near-wooden spooners, only four points ahead of the basement-dwelling South Sydney Rabbitohs.
But it was news that Warriors management had signed Kiwis captain Ruben Wiki and Canterbury Bulldogs captain Steve Price - both believed to be paid $300,000 a season - and a planned mass player cull that eventually forced Stacey's hand.
He made the tough call to relocate his family halfway around the world and play for Les Catalan Dragons in Perpignan. Although the move had been tough for Stacey's wife Rochelle, daughters Waiana, five and Chellcey, seven, and six-month-old son William -the talented footballer says it was the right choice.
The family settled in to life in France - capped off by a remarkable first game for the Dragons, who rolled former heavyweights Wigan Warriors in Stacey's first big Super League match.
Neither the Dragons nor Stacey could not have scripted a better start for their 2006 campaign. But disaster struck a week later when Stacey broke his arm, sidelining the gutsy halfback for eight weeks.
Stacey said the time away from the game gave him plenty of time to reflect on what he missed from New Zealand.
"I miss a lot of things about home - family and friends," he said.
"I miss the Warriors and keep up with what is going on there as much as possible."
A visit by Stacey's parents earlier this year reinforced his family's homesickness.
But while he'd love to return home to play for his beloved Warriors again, Stacey said he won't break his contract with Les Catalans, which has another year to run.
He also had to provide stability for his kids.
"The kids are settling in. But it was really hard for them. It was difficult settling them into school," Jones said.
"They still miss home - we all miss home. We miss it every day.
"The first couple of weeks were pretty hard to get around."
Jones was expected to make his return to the Super League overnight and while his team had struggled in his absence, they had the consolation of knowing they would not face relegation.
"We're a team that is still learning. We're playing OK. But there is definitely room to improve," Stacey said.
"We're still coming to grips with travelling every second week -these guys still aren't used to it.
"Another thing is being fulltime professionals. The French players are gradually getting used to it.
"They haven't been used to this position before.
"We're going OK as far as a team is concerned."
