New Catalans Dragons signing Luke Keary has admitted feelings of embarrassment after his Super League move was first confirmed with the deal confirming that he had U-turned on his previous retirement.
The ex-Australia and Ireland international announced in April this year that the 2024 season would be his last with the Sydney Roosters, the club statement even going as far as to state that he would ‘retire from rugby league at the end of the 2024 NRL season’.
That decision was then reversed, something the playmaker has now detailed to James Graham on the Englishman’s Bye Round Podcast, with Keary confirming his deal with Catalans Dragons back in July.
“I was planning on not playing at all and had got into the process of what life was going to be like after,” Keary explained to Graham.
“Then we were on a bus home from Canberra and Robbo pulled me up to the front and said ‘Mate, I’ve spoken to Steve Mac, would it interest you?'”
Roosters head coach Trent Robinson formerly coached Catalans Dragons whilst Steve McNamara, current head coach of the Perpignan side, has worked under Robinson in the NRL meaning there is already some connection between Keary and his new head coach.
Luke Keary explains how Super League move and retirement U-turn happened
Credit: Paul Currie/SWpix.com
With the idea of a move to Super League floated towards him, Luke Keary explained that the fact it had been brought to him as opposed to something he had sought out meant he saw it as a ‘blessing’.
“When Robbo came to me about the move, it felt like a blessing. I didn’t go looking for it, it came to and it felt right,” the 33-year-old said, however, the circumstances were ones he found embarrassing.
“I was really embarrassed about saying I was finishing and then coming out three or four months later and saying I’m not.”
Keary explained that his initial plans of retirement were not born out of a being finished either physically or mentally but instead ‘other things’ and the ‘blessing’ of a Catalans approach was what it took for him to U-turn on his decision.
“At the time, I’d never have thought about playing over there. I’d had a few World Club Challenges I had enjoyed but I thought I’d finish with the Roosters.
“As soon as he put it in my head I thought about it for a couple of days. I didn’t tell my wife but when we spoke, I slowly started to feel excited about it.
“I knew I still had footy in me. I knew when I retired from the NRL that I still had footy in me but there was a couple of other things that wanted me to finish but I’m now really open-minded about going there. I’m excited about joining a new club and learning a new system.”
He’s also spoken on what level of play he’ll bring with the former NRL champion holding himself to high standards, insisting that he will give Super League a ‘very high level’ of himsef.
“The one question I knew I had to be okay with myself was the footy,” Keary explained.
“I want to go over there and perform at my best and give that club a very high level of me, not just go through the motions.
“I was really content with finishing but I knew deep down that I could have kept playing. Physically I feel really good, and mentally too.”
He’ll join a Catalans team that is stacked with NRL talent after the French side signed players such as Elliott Whitehead, Nick Cotric and Tevita Pangai Junior, in addition to last year’s signings of Reimis Smith, Tariq Sims Bayley Sironen.
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