NRL 2016: Bulldogs’ Sam Perrett winning without placing a bet

SAM Perrett is proof you don’t have to bet to be lucky in life.

Paul Crawley

2 min read

June 4, 2016 - 1:24PM

NRL

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SAM Perrett is proof you don’t have to bet to be lucky in life.

One of the NRL’s most respected players, Perrett recalled how he found rugby league literally by accident.

“I used to cruise around on my skateboard,” Perrett said of growing up on the Gold Coast. “That is what I loved to do. Then I started hurting myself too much so I decided to go to rugby league.”

In just his second year playing the game, Perrett was selected in the Australian Schoolboys side when he was spotted by the Sydney Roosters.

That was 14 years ago.

On Monday night the now 31-year-old father of three will run out against the coach who gave him his first shot in Sydney when the Bulldogs take on Shane Flanagan’s ladder-leading Sharks.

“Flanno was my Jersey Flegg coach at the Roosters,” Perrett said. “We went undefeated under his guidance. He has definitely got a special ability about bringing the best out of people.

“They (the Sharks) have got talent all over the park and I really think Flanno has played a big part getting the best out of some of those boys. There is a reason for them sitting on top of the table at the moment and we have a challenge ahead of us.”

But as for the NRL’s latest challenge relating to the ugly match fixing allegations, Perrett said he just doesn’t understand it because he doesn’t bet.

“I never have,” he said. “I played one game of poker and I won. It was a New Zealand tour and we were just having a fun game. Me and Frank Pritchard split the pot.

Bulldogs Sam Perrett sets up a try for Bulldogs Craig Garvey during the Wests Tigers v Bulldogs rugby league game at ANZ Stadium, Sydney. Pic Brett Costello

“That is my experience in gambling. I don’t believe in it. I don’t promote it. I think there is honest and sure ways of achieving things in life and earning money.”

Which he is doing with his time away from football as he builds a successful property development business that he hopes will secure his young family’s future beyond rugby league.

Asked about the amount of betting promotions in the game today, he added: “I think if that is going to be promoted so much there is going to be side effects of some sort.

“I am hoping that there is no truth to it. I know there has been past incidents. I guess time will tell.

“Our game is so tough as it is without that stuff. That is why it surprises me. It is so hard to prepare, to gain trust, to build unity, to have integrity. Let alone having that stuff creeping in. And if that is in a club, it is going to affect the players, the team.”