EXTROVERT WINTER 2017

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words Sam Greaves / design Helen Mather The Segeyaro Situation: The story so far Picture: steveridingpics During the Super League off-season, Leeds Rhinos hooker James Segeyaro caused controversy by revealing he did not want to return in 2017, just 5 months into his time there and 2 months after signing a 2-year deal. But how did it all go downhill so quickly? Extrovert takes a closer look. September 9th 2016. Mid-season recruit James Segeyaro had put pen to paper on a 2-year deal with reigning Super League champions Leeds, tying him down to the club until at least end of 2018. Things were looking up for both him and the Rhinos at that point. The Papua New Guinean was playing again after being given the cold shoulder at the Penrith Panthers, and his arrival coincided with the turnaround in Leeds’ fortunes, 26 with the team winning 9 of their last 10 games to avoid potential relegation. The hooker made a huge impact on the field from the moment he first appeared in a Leeds jersey. He transformed the way they played, giving them an extra edge which they had been missing for the majority of 2016, a season which saw them fall from treble winners in to one of the bottom placed sides in Super League. Segeyaro’s 6 tries in 10 appearances made him a favourite with the Leeds faithful and he had already made himself one of the most eye-catching players in the league, and somebody who all fans were looking forward to seeing more of. He looked happy on the field, playing a pivotal role in the side and enjoying a successful end to a season which just months earlier had seen him cast away to
the reserves while back in Australia and the NRL. The new contract he signed seemed to confirm that, why would a player sign a deal such as the one he did if they weren’t satisfied with their current situation? The Rhinos and Super League looked to suit him, and with the ability he possesses, he certainly has the potential to take the competition by storm. When the season had finished, Segeyaro returned to Australia where he would enjoy an extended break before coming back to Leeds for pre-season training in early January. But during that time, things started to change. Rumours emerged that Segeyaro was not happy in the UK and was seeking an early release from his new deal in order to stay ‘down under’ on a permanent basis. This seemed strange after he had just committed himself to Leeds, but when it comes to a player such as Segeyaro, who is so highly rated across rugby league, there is no smoke without fire. The speculation continued to circulate about his future, so much so that the Rhinos were forced to go against their usual policy of commenting on player transfers. In a statement, their CEO Gary Hetherington said that he had met with Segeyaro in Sydney and that the player had confirmed he would be at Leeds in 2017 and was “looking forward to it’’. He also said the West Yorkshire side were “not prepared to consider a transfer or release’’. This calmed the talk of Segeyaro’s move, possibly to NRL Premiers Cronulla Sharks, for a short while but it quickly picked back up when he gave an interview to the Australian Sunday Telegraph. In the interview, the 2014 Dally M medal winner said: “This isn’t about rugby league. It’s about happiness”. He claimed that during the 2 and half months he was in the UK he was “unhappy, lonely and struggling to settle into the English culture and way of life”. This was a huge setback for Leeds and their hopes of retaining their star player as now it was not only a matter of fighting off bids for him, but they also had to convince him that he was in the right place. “ This isn’t about Rugby League . This is about happiness ” Now the Rhinos had a dilemma. Do they fight to keep him and hope he comes to terms with life in Leeds? Or should they let him go as there is a risk he would not be at his best as he wouldn’t be ‘all there’ should he stay for 2017 and beyond? By now, the chances of Segeyaro pulling on the blue and amber kit again were very slim. The whole fiasco didn’t go down well some fans. Segeyaro’s loyalties were questioned and some said he had shown a lack of respect to the club who had given him a way out of his Penrith nightmare not long before, but when it comes to his state of mind and how remaining at Leeds could affect him, his decision to want to leave can’t be held against him. Despite all of the reported interest in Segeyaro and his apparent desire to part ways with Leeds, he is obviously not able to negotiate with other parties as long he is on the books at Headingley. And he understands that, stating: “I haven’t spoken to any other clubs nor have I signed with anyone. How can I anyway? I need to sort out this matter”. Unfortunately for Segeyaro, though, it comes at a time where overseas players dishonouring their contracts has become a regular occurrence, with Chris Sandow, who walked out on Warrington Wolves, and Denny Solomona, who claims he ‘retired’ from rugby league in an attempt to finalise his cross-code transfer to Sale Sharks. Segeyaro has been tied in with those players, and although his reasoning behind leaving is much more understandable, it is the timing of it all that doesn’t help his cause. Even if he does come back, any relationships he had built up with coaches, teammates and fans may not be quite as strong as they were previously after everything that has been said. Leeds coach Brian McDermott has declared his disappointment in the comments Segeyaro has made, and also spoke of how some of his backroom staff, who did so much to help to make the initial move from Australia happen as smoothly as possible, had been left hurt by how their efforts had been almost totally ignored. Of course, if he performs on the field and helps Leeds to become the force they were once again, then all of this will probably be forgotten, but he will have some making up to do with a number of people connected to the 7-time Super League champions. Segeyaro is still in Australia on his break, but as it stands he will still be a Rhinos player when the 2017 campaign comes around, even if he doesn’t necessarily want to be. Gary Hetherington has reiterated that we will see the 26-year old playing his rugby in the Northern hemisphere, but with the pace that this story is moving at, that could soon change again. Picture: steveridingpics 27
Page 1 and 2: EXTROVERT -Sport -Fashion -Travel t
Page 3 and 4: Contents Travel 4 - 10 Places to Tr
Page 5 and 6: 6. Australia If you’re looking fo
Page 7 and 8: the Saptpadi, when the bride and gr
Page 9 and 10: The word “hijab”, is an arabic
Page 11 and 12: 15 We all want the days were we fee
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Page 15 and 16: Outdoor wear For college, you want
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Page 21 and 22: watching it was to hope it was goin
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Page 25: 25-yard free-kick against Arsenal d

EXTROVERT WINTER 2017

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