Gooonnnnee too soon

[canefan]

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12091655

Borg was a big shock, I was a young un but old enough to have some idea of the macca Borg rivalry. The name on the list I'd forgotten was James Ryan. Amazing how time moves on the the ABs. It would be an interesting exercise to compile a top squad of NZ players that retired early or left to go to the NH far too soon. I'll start with

Hayman, Ryan, lucre (came back but left his best years up North), Nick Evans, that centre from Waikato, Charles Piatau, Mike Brewer

[Bones]

@canefan Regan King.

David Kirk.

[Bovidae]

David Kirk (only 26) and Jeremy Stanley for careers.

[ploughboy]

jasin goldsmith

[canefan]

Keith Murdoch, 29

[Bovidae]

Keeping the rugby theme - Nicky Allen. Unfortunately not his choice.

[Stargazer]

@bones Regan King? Didn't he return from Europe only last year and play in the Heartland comp for Mid-Canterbury? Pretty long career, considering he's now 37 years old.

[canefan]

Matthew Ridge and John Gallagher

[Stargazer]

I think some people are confusing what the article is about - "retiring too soon" - with gone from NZ too soon.

[canefan]

@stargazer said in Gooonnnnee too soon:

I think some people are confusing what the article is about - "retiring too soon" - with gone from NZ too soon.

I did specify retire or leave NZ to play elsewhere.....

[Nepia]

How the fuck is Lonergan on a list with Bjorg????

Anyway, Mark Ella would be one of the better rugby contenders.

[Stargazer]

@canefan Hmm, not sure I'd put them on the same pile.

[Nepia]

@canefan Mike Brewer played over a decade in NZ rugby, first made the ABs in 1986 and last played for the ABs in 1995 - so I don't think he meets your criteria.

[Bones]

@stargazer said in Gooonnnnee too soon:

@bones Regan King? Didn't he return from Europe only last year and play in the Heartland comp for Mid-Canterbury? Pretty long career, considering he's now 37 years old.

Oh sorry TSF off topic master! I thought King was 'that centre from Waikato'.

[Bovidae]

@nepia said in Gooonnnnee too soon:

How the fuck is Lonergan on a list with Bjorg????

I was wondering the same thing so read the article to see if "sports stars" was mentioned. Lonergan is known for the Lonergan shuffle not his RL career.

[Stargazer]

@bones He was. Why the name calling? I just expressed my surprise about seeing his name mentioned.

[Bovidae]

There are a few like Ryan who have had to retire young due to concussions. Ben Afeaki is another.

[Bones]

@stargazer said in Gooonnnnee too soon:

@bones He was. Why the name calling? I just expressed my surprise about seeing his name mentioned.

Yes, very surprising to see a rugby player who left NZ at a young age mentioned in a thread about players who left NZ at a young age.

[Stargazer]

@bones The article was about players ending their career early. That's how I read the subject. My bad.

[KiwiMurph]

If we are talking players leaving NZ early i'll throw out Rupeni Caucaunibuca