Concerns for long-term future saw Lachie Turner make tough decision and move to Queensland Reds

THE seeds to the biggest move of Lachie Turner's career were planted with the small shuffles he took on his backside across his kitchen floor.

THE seeds to the biggest move of Lachie Turner's career were planted with the small shuffles he took on his backside across his kitchen floor three months ago.

With his dinner plate in one hand, Turner - unable to put any weight on his broken right leg - used the other arm to slide from the stove to the table.

The broken leg Turner suffered in April - having a pin and plate inserted - was the second successive year-ending injury he has endured.

"Two years ago if you had told me I was going to be playing for Queensland, I would have seriously denied it," said Turner, the Reds’ biggest recruit from NSW since Chris Latham 15 years ago.

"But being injured, you’re not really a part of the inner core of the workings in the team, you’re a little bit removed from it.

"And that was a big factor in this move.

"I’ve had a lot of dark days, and it really makes you appreciate life a bit more.

"When you’re on crutches and eat your dinner in the kitchen out of a hot wok, or slide across the floor to the kitchen table because you can’t carry your food, it certainly makes you appreciate mobility and gives you a new perspective on life.

"As a footy player, we’ve got the best jobs in the world. It is something I love to do.

"And spending six months out with the first injury, and now five months out with this one, I just can’t wait to get back."

And Turner will return to the field for a team he has grown up loathing.

The flying winger, who won the Fastest Man in Football race three years ago, wrestled for a long time about the prospect of wearing the jersey of his former enemies.

The 15-Test Wallaby was so keen to remain at NSW he turned down a $300,000-a-year deal with Irish club Munster earlier this year, only to see coach Michael Cheika pursue Melbourne Rebels’ Kurtley Beale.

Turner, who joined NSW straight out of school in 2007, was first approached by Ewen McKenzie when the Reds played the Waratahs in Sydney on July 13.

Turner explained that he was still in negotiations with NSW but nothing had been finalised, then received a phone call from Graham two days later.

"It was something I never even considered, I’ve always considered myself a Waratah through and through," Turner said.

"I really hoped to be a one-club player and finish my career here.

"The longer the contracting process went on, I had to worry about putting food on the table for next year, I had to worry about Plan B.

"The more I started talking to Richard, the more realistic the prospect of me moving to the Reds became.

"Plan B became Plan A. The way Richard was talking, I was sort of a priority signing for them.

"I thought I would have more opportunity up there than here, playing behind Israel [Folau] and Kurtley."

It was an opportunity not to be missed. For loyalty and a pay-cut, Turner faced the prospect of playing benchwarmer at the Waratahs.

Instead, he has chosen to join a team that has featured in the past three finals series - winning the Super Rugby championship in 2011 - with a clear run at a starting back-three spot after the departures of Digby Ioane and Luke Morahan.

"I am getting to that stage, I’m 26, I’m about to hit my potential in my rugby," Turner said.

"Moving out of Sydney will be a change, it is something I’ve never done, it will allow me to focus on my rugby.

"It will be good for me, and good for the Reds, so it makes an ideal partnership."

How will he feel lining up for Queensland against NSW next year?

"It is something I’ve tried not to think about, pulling on that red jersey, or that Waratahs match," he said with a wry smile.

"I will cross that bridge when I come to it.

"It is a team I never thought I would play for, a jersey I never thought I would wear.

"But once I start training with them I will feel a part of these boys, becoming a part of that team and earning the right to wear that Reds jersey.

"The focus for me is to get up, start working, and playing the best footy that I can.

"I am lucky I have really great support from my family, I was more worried about how my extended family and friends would react.

"Broaching the subject with them was not a conversation I was looking forward to, but they all had smiles on their faces so it made me feel better about things."