South Sydney Rabbitohs discard Kyle Turner fighting to save NRL career
While Souths celebrate signing Latrell Mitchell and Jai Arrow, the Rabbitoh who broke his neck is slogging it out in the bush in 40-degree heat, trying to save his NRL career.
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The man who broke his neck playing for the Indigenous All Stars is continuing to train in 40-degree heat in country NSW in the hope of saving his NRL career.
Forward Kyle Turner, who won a premiership with South Sydney in 2014, is in limbo after the Rabbitohs didn’t offer him a deal beyond the 2019 season.
Turner has been forced to watch on from his hometown of Coonabarabran as the Rabbitohs celebrate the signings of Latrell Mitchell and Jai Arrow, while he seriously contemplates a career change as a high school teacher while playing bush footy.
“I’m open to anything at the moment,” said Turner, who had a titanium plate inserted between his C5 and C6 vertebrae to repair damage done when he was crunched in a heavy tackle by during the 2015 All Stars game.
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“It (a country stint) is never something that I’ve been forced to decide, but I’d consider it pretty strongly.
“I’m also studying to be a teacher. I’ve done two years full-time and I’ve been offered a teachers aide role at the local high school.
“That is something that has put my mind at ease a little bit.”
For now, though, Turner is determined to land another NRL deal.
He has attracted interest from a number of Sydney clubs while Newcastle is also in the mix, but he is yet to receive an offer.
With no main income coming in, Turner, his fiancee Emma and their 11 month-old son Cheyse have been forced to relocate from Sydney to his NSW country town of Coonabarabran.
“We couldn’t save any money or keep any money, so we thought it was best to come back home to the bush and spend some time with the family,” he said.
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“I’m just living at home and training by myself at least four times a week.
“It is good though because it is about 40 degrees every day, so I’ve been training pretty hard.
“I train at the local footy oval and I’ve also got a mate who has his own gym.
“It is more a waiting game and trying to stay fit enough because clubs are well and truly into their pre-season.”
You could forgive Turner for being bitter at the Bunnies for not re-signing him.
At just 27, he still has plenty to offer at the highest level.
There are days when Turner feels frustrated, but he is trying to stay positive.
“You just have to take it as it comes,” he conceded.
“Souths weren’t in a position at the time to re-sign me. I guess they were now, but they decided that Latrell Mitchell and Jai Arrow were the picks for them.
“It is hard to say what the NRL can do. It is a business and clubs have to do what is best for them.”
Turner isn’t the only NRL player without a contract heading into the 2020 season.
The likes of Michael Lichaa, Danny Fualalo, Jai Field, Billy Brittain and Javid Bowen are all on the lookout for a new deal.
Every NRL club is now restricted to having a top squad of 30 players.
A further six development players are also eligible to play in the top grade in any given season, but only after June 30.
Sadly, players like Turner are being locked out because clubs can’t afford to carry them as back-up players, simply because they can’t be used in the top grade.
After the most recent players’ collective bargaining agreement it was decided to look after the top squad and put white-out through the rest.
It was designed to stop clubs stockpiling stars and give greater player security.
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Instead it has created a rod for the NRL’s back.
Turner hopes the game can find a solution to the market being stalled in a bid to save players’ careers.
“At the end of the day it is a business, but it just makes it hard for players who want to play on,” he said.
“Aaron Gray who I played with at Souths is in a similar situation. I don’t think there are any clubs speaking to him.
“He is only a young fella as well who probably expected to be playing more footy.”
Turner’s predicament shatters the illusion that an NRL player’s life is always glamorous, but Turner believes it highlights the hard work behind the scenes.
“It definitely isn’t an easy gig,” he said.
“I’m lucky I’ve had my wife. She has been very supportive. She always said she doesn’t mind what I do, just as long as we are on the same page about everything.”