The Little General to lead Warriors again
November 7th 2008 08:06
He is the greatest Warrior of them all but Stacey Jones has some unfinished business to attend to before he officially gives away the game he loves.
Jones has re-signed as a player with the New Zealand Warriors on a one-year contract for 2009. He announced his signing at a press conference at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland on the 7th of November 2008.
Suburban newspapers editor in chief David Kemeys said Jones is expected to start as a halfback for the Warriors next season.
Indeed The 32-year-old never officially retired from rugby league but opted out of the final year of a deal with UK Super league club the Catalan Dragons.
While playing for the ‘All Gold’s’ this year with great mate Ruben Wiki, Jones had a moment.
He started regaining the belief that made him the world’s best player in 2002, which inturn also made him the only current life member at the Warriors.
The momentum started to return for a player that scored one of the greatest grand final tries in the history of the game back in 2002. Now, Jones is ready for one last tilt at the prize that he is yet to get his hands on - a Premiership.
He believes that at the ripe old age of 32, he can indeed muster the honour that has eluded him and the Warriors for, well, ever.
Much of that faith comes from the massive strides the Warriors made in season 2008, where from eighth position, they became the first team in the history of the McIntyre system to upstage the reigning premiers in the first week of the finals.
The Warriors eventually fell one game short of the most unlikely of Grand Final appearances, losing to eventual premiers, the Manly Sea Eagles.
Although the fairytale fell short, the Warriors have given Jones enough confidence to return to the toughest competition on the planet.
Even though the legs will grow tired faster than per usual, the inclusion of Jones in the Warriors line-up will provide the Kiwi side with the structure that could deliver them their maiden premiership.
For Jones however, this new found passion for the game of rugby league could indeed erase the recent bitter memories overseas, which were filled with injury and uncertainty.
Jones felt ‘homesick’ during his tenure in France and needed change. He retired from the game at the end of 2007 and returned in 2008 as the Warriors kicking coach.
Now, the former Golden Boot winner will have the responsibility of guiding the biggest pack in the NRL to its maiden premiership.
Under coach Ivan Cleary, Jones has the chance to play the game as he sees fit, inturn control a side that was considered premiership material during his 238 match tenure at the club.
Indeed ‘the little general’ has what it takes to provide the Warriors with strength in a position where they have longed suffered since Jones’ departure.
Now that he is back, there is no reason why the Warriors cannot repeat the efforts of yesteryear, where they rescued a season that really looked expired.
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