No regrets for Cronulla’s departing rookie Jesse Ramien ahead of prelim final
HE’S on the brink of a grand final with the Sharks but rising centre Jesse Ramien says he has no regrets ahead of his move to the Knights.
Sharks
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sharks. Followed categories will be added to My News.
WHEN gun rookie Jesse Ramien decided to leave Cronulla he knew he was walking away from a club that would be title contenders for years to come.
A former Junior Kangaroo and the 2017 Holden Cup Centre of The Year, Ramien hasn’t looked out of place in a Sharks outfit boasting a wealth of premiership experience.
The Dally M Rookie of the Year hopeful is giving all that up to be closer to his four-year-old daughter, who lives on the Central Coast.
So when Newcastle coach Nathan Brown came knocking, Ramien was given an opportunity he couldn’t refuse.
LISTEN! Nick Campton and Tim Wiliams preview the preliminary finals and celebrate the return of a legend.
Subscribe to the League Central podcast on iTunes
The Coonamble Bears junior says he hasn’t had second thought about the decision to sign a two-year deal with the Knights. Not even a grand final victory could change his mind.
“I made the call to leave the club pretty early in the year before the season even started. I had to make the best decision for my career going forward and as well as the best decision for my family. I’m pretty happy with my decision and I can’t say I regret anything,” he said.
Ramien will be joined on his journey up the M1 by his current edge partner Edrick Lee.
The lanky winger will also depart the Sharks at season’s end after two years with the Shire club.
He’ll join the Knights on a three-year deal and like Ramien he made the decision with his family in mind.
“It was an opportunity to join a club on the rise that got me over line, so did being closer to my partner’s family, they live near Gosford,’ he said.
“She’s been away from her family for about six or seven years now so anything I can do to help her out is definitely fulfilling to myself.”
Lee, a Brisbane product, has been in some fine form this year and is averaging more run metres than Ramien.
He’s even managed two more tries and three more linebreaks than the powerhouse centre.
As well as the Knights, his impressive performances in season 2018 caught the eye of the North Queensland Cowboys, Gold Coast Titans and even the Broncos.
“I had offers from all three clubs from Queensland, being a Queensland boy. It was hard to knock back those offers,” Lee told The Daily Telegraph.
“It would have been nice to head back home but I like the lifestyle here in Cronulla. I thought I could continue you that in Newcastle and keep the trend going with the good footy that I’m playing here and transfer it to the Knights.”
But for now the right-edge duo is focused on getting the job done for the Sharks and progressing into the next week’s grand final.
While the game against Melbourne at AAMI Park will be Lee’s second preliminary final, Ramien, 20, only played his first finals match last week against Penrith.
“It was more than I expected to be honest, running out and having all that fireworks and the crowd,” Ramien said.
“Even the build up during the week, the older boys talk about it a bit more.
“To run out onto the park, I had shivers and that much adrenaline, I looked up and looked at the crowd and looked around and took it all in.
“I just loved it. I loved every second of it.”
Get ready for cricket like never before. FREE Sport HD + Entertainment until the first 4K cricket ball as part of 3 months free on a 12 month plan. SIGN UP TODAY. T&Cs apply.