GCBRONCO
International Captain
- Mar 4, 2008
- 22,234
- 20,557
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/sam ... 5901315459
SAM Thaiday's mother has launched a blistering attack on the Cowboys, describing the club as "donkeys" for twice spurning the chance to sign the Queensland Origin star.
On the eve of the Broncos-North Queensland derby tomorrow night, Julie Thaiday spoke of her anger at the Cowboys for continually overlooking the man who has morphed into one of the most damaging back-rowers in rugby league.
A Townsville junior, Thaiday will run on to Dairy Farmers Stadium driven by the adversity of his teenage years, when the Kirwan High product feared missing the big league before a lifeline from the Broncos.
The Cowboys expressed their interest in Thaiday last month, but his biggest fan urged the Test forward, who is off-contract at the end of next season, to finish his career at the Broncos.
"I'm getting plenty of pats on the back from people because I thought they were donkeys for letting him go and plenty of people agree with me," Mrs Thaiday said.
.
"Hindsight can be a pretty good thing to have, but everyone else they signed at the same time instead of him are nowhere to be seen and look where Sam is now.
"I was a bit bitter about it but now I can look back on it and laugh at them.
"Sam has gone on to win a premiership at Brisbane, he is polishing his trophies. They had their opportunity to sign Sam and they missed it.
"I live up here and as his mum I'd love to see him play every second week up here for the Cowboys, but I'd rather he stay at the Broncos."
Mrs Thaiday revealed the family's abject disappointment when a young Thaiday was first snubbed by the Cowboys following a development camp in 2001.
At 17, Thaiday returned the following season and dominated the camp, only to again miss out on a Cowboys scholarship.
With Thaiday's footballing dreams in turmoil, she contacted legendary Broncos scout Cyril Connell pleading for her boy to be given a chance.
"Sam missed out the first year, then the second year he came home with a big purple ribbon for player of the camp and they still told him, 'Sorry, there's no money for you'," Mrs Thaiday recalls.
"They said they were making changes at the top of the club with CEOs and managers.
"Murray Hurst (then coach) told me he went in to bat hard to sign him but they weren't interested. Then two days later we read that they'd signed someone else.
"He wanted to play for the Cowboys. He didn't want to leave home at such a young age.
"Unfortunately, they didn't see what was right under their nose."
Despite her husband being a Cowboys fan, Mrs Thaiday admits she barracks for whoever plays North Queensland.
"I will be going to the game," she said. "My husband supports them, but I always cheer for the other mob, so I'll be cheering for Sam on Friday night."
SAM Thaiday's mother has launched a blistering attack on the Cowboys, describing the club as "donkeys" for twice spurning the chance to sign the Queensland Origin star.
On the eve of the Broncos-North Queensland derby tomorrow night, Julie Thaiday spoke of her anger at the Cowboys for continually overlooking the man who has morphed into one of the most damaging back-rowers in rugby league.
A Townsville junior, Thaiday will run on to Dairy Farmers Stadium driven by the adversity of his teenage years, when the Kirwan High product feared missing the big league before a lifeline from the Broncos.
The Cowboys expressed their interest in Thaiday last month, but his biggest fan urged the Test forward, who is off-contract at the end of next season, to finish his career at the Broncos.
"I'm getting plenty of pats on the back from people because I thought they were donkeys for letting him go and plenty of people agree with me," Mrs Thaiday said.
.
"Hindsight can be a pretty good thing to have, but everyone else they signed at the same time instead of him are nowhere to be seen and look where Sam is now.
"I was a bit bitter about it but now I can look back on it and laugh at them.
"Sam has gone on to win a premiership at Brisbane, he is polishing his trophies. They had their opportunity to sign Sam and they missed it.
"I live up here and as his mum I'd love to see him play every second week up here for the Cowboys, but I'd rather he stay at the Broncos."
Mrs Thaiday revealed the family's abject disappointment when a young Thaiday was first snubbed by the Cowboys following a development camp in 2001.
At 17, Thaiday returned the following season and dominated the camp, only to again miss out on a Cowboys scholarship.
With Thaiday's footballing dreams in turmoil, she contacted legendary Broncos scout Cyril Connell pleading for her boy to be given a chance.
"Sam missed out the first year, then the second year he came home with a big purple ribbon for player of the camp and they still told him, 'Sorry, there's no money for you'," Mrs Thaiday recalls.
"They said they were making changes at the top of the club with CEOs and managers.
"Murray Hurst (then coach) told me he went in to bat hard to sign him but they weren't interested. Then two days later we read that they'd signed someone else.
"He wanted to play for the Cowboys. He didn't want to leave home at such a young age.
"Unfortunately, they didn't see what was right under their nose."
Despite her husband being a Cowboys fan, Mrs Thaiday admits she barracks for whoever plays North Queensland.
"I will be going to the game," she said. "My husband supports them, but I always cheer for the other mob, so I'll be cheering for Sam on Friday night."
