| By Chris Kennedy , National Correspondent, NRL.com |
Star Parramatta prop Junior Paulo says an agonising decision to leave his junior club was made in the best interests of his young family but feels he owes the blue and gold a big final year.
Paulo has been a wrecking ball over the opening three rounds and a huge factor in Parramatta's strong start to the year, and though his big-money move to Canberra from next year is a blow to Eels fans the 22-year-old Cabramatta Two Blues junior is keen to go out on a high after sorting out his playing future.
"It was something I was hoping to do in the pre-season, I was hoping to get it out of the way and put it to bed but I'm just happy my future's secure," Paulo told NRL.com ahead of his side's big Round 4 Easter Monday clash against Wests Tigers.
"I'm still 100 per cent committed to the blue and gold this year and giving whatever I have to offer to the blue and gold.
"It sort of feels like I owe them something for coming through the junior ranks here. I'm happy the team are still happy to have me on board. This is my last year here and it's something I've got to work on as an individual to give back to them."
Paulo said at the heart of his final decision were his two young children, 17-month old Mario-Cade and four-month-old Rosalina.
"It was something I kept dwelling on in the pre-season, it was a hard choice for me but I'm a young dad, I've got two kids at home," he said.
"Being young, it's probably one of those opportunities that won't come around very often. If the opportunity was there to jump at it I probably did what most other people would have done and that's look after their family so for me, I'm just happy to put it to bed. I've got a young family, two kids under two and I'm only 22!
"Canberra's going to be the next chapter in my life and I'm happy my partner and kids are going to come down with me. For now I'm just focusing on week to week footy with the blue and gold."
Paulo was speaking out the front of Westmead Children's Hospital on Wednesday where, along with the bulk of the first grade squad, he was about to tour the wards, hand out some Easter eggs and put some smiles on a few kids' faces.
Showing his softer side, the imposing-looking Paulo – even well before his official club duties began – posed for photos with young kids and their parents out the front of the hospital, along with fellow hard men Manu Ma'u, Danny Wicks and Kenny Edwards.
Those four players may all have been soft touches with fans and kids at Westmead on Wednesday but they'll be out to show the other side of their characters on Monday when they take on an unheralded Tigers pack that has also been getting the job done over the opening three games.
"The Tigers are a team to get off to a fast start so it will be up to us to match it with them. It's going to be a tough challenge for us but in saying that in the past three weeks our middle's been holding our heads high and we're hoping to do another job this weekend," Paulo said.
"I'm just happy to be doing a job for the team each week. To get two wins out of the three games we've had and coming up against three of the best defensive teams, it's been a solid challenge for us and we're happy we're living up to that so far.
"We're lucky enough to have a lot of depth at the club, especially in the forwards as well, there's a lot of depth so it's keeping us starters in first grade on our toes so to have that depth at a club like this is something special."
Replies
He own us more then that he should stay
I hope he has a great year this year and next two years i hope only play 3 game in two year
Glass houses, stones.
Listen to this junior burger clown, thinks he owes us something because he's leaving, listen here you clown, we are paying your salary, you owe us a big year no matter how you want to look at it junior, thanks for being a good bloke and putting in for us in your last year here junior, very commendable of you mate.
Here is my take on Paulo and the money issue.
He is 22 years old. He lives local, his kids are not at school, money should not be a factor at his Age.
How many 22 year olds can earn 400k + playing 50 mins footy. Please end this discussion about money being the main factor here.
Most people can live off 180k double income easily and buy a house and live comfortably.
Here is my Possitives and Negatives for Paulo and why he has no idea about life and his advisers are fucking dumb shits and it not because I support the EELS
Possitives to stay at the EELS
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Less travel
Family are here
Doesnt have to pack up and move
Parra are a team on the rise and will most likely challenge for title with our squad
Money being offered is plenty and staying with a bigger club like parra would have been for him at his age now to make rep teams, If he makes NSW 120k more add another 50k if he makes australia plus 3rd PARTY TPA's.
Not having to lift and shift means he wont have to worry about settling down and making friends. Avoids the bad times away from family and friends if his wife go's through the tough times. Kids needing nanna to help out wont be there for him in ACT.
Negatives
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His focus seems to be how can he get such an opportunity like this again, His value on his own abilty is a massive ???
Living away from close family and friends
Travel with footy to away games.
Well there are no close games every sydney game = 6 hours travel
Every interstate game longer as they need to be there 1 day before to train and so on.
Settling in ACT, this place is nothing but Govt workers and is a bludger of a place to live in. In fact I rate it right up there as the worst place to live in Australia. Its cold its freaking freezing in Winter day and night.
His wife and kids, this to me is the biggest issue. Right now they are prob not worrying about the move and are only seeing it as $$$$ signs. Wait until Parra make a massive run at the premiership there will be some tough times for him come August Sept.
His Wife and 2 young kids will be a massive issue and his football will be impacted by this. Fucking dick for brains and I dont mean it in a bad way but as in look you have to have a good think about it before you pack up and go.
I know about packing and moving to other parts of australia. Ive had family members pick up and leave and there familys were never the same when they realised it would have been smarter to stay.
Buying a shitbox house in ACT will be cheaper but when selling and trying to buy in Sydney its going to cost double and the extra money he is earning will need to be saved ASAP otherwise if he plays bad footy and the raiders dump him or he gets injured whats he going to turn to. Its a freaking 2 year deal. Its not the lotto. I would have stayed at parra for 100k less but asked for a longer contract ??
His wife and kids are going to be so lonely that when she is all alone looking after 2 very young kids on her own she is going to lose her mind and want out within 6 months. Like I said his football will be impacted by his wife and the health of his kids.
If Ricky is the reason he thinks he can become a rep football player he is delusional.
There are massive reasons why good football players reject the ACT. It is the burial ground for your rep career a bit like parra between 2011 and 2015.
To sum it up for you all,
Junior is a big chance to play SOO this year but when he retires in ACT he will be forgotten.
How many rep players do the raiders have really outside of 2 englishman.
The remaider of their squad are local juniors who get paid overs to stay that includes the talented ones but I would not pick 1 of their players to play SOO.
There is a reason why milford left.They also lost another super talent to the bronco's.
Someone should have reminded Junior about Tedesco Tamou and many others.
How about Waca he has been there how long and is already leaving. Its a fishbowl there look at dugan carney and fergo, they all got into trouble living there. Ive mentioned every talented player they have had recently. All were rep players. they have been sacked but they prob should have been sacked the 3rd time they got into trouble. The issue I have is the Raiders have let key players get into trouble 1000 times before a sydney paper got wind of it and they had no choice but to sack the player.
If you hate parra being in the media now, think of the raiders every year its the same old shit.
Just watch their football and you will see they are very very average.