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THERE'S less than a week remaining until they resume on-field hostilities, but star Roosters recruit Michael Jennings has revealed how intensely South Sydney fought for his services during the off-season.
Jennings has also admitted he was "scared" about leaving Penrith, and was reluctant to do so until he received the support of his two younger brothers, who have remained at the club.
Given permission to negotiate with other clubs last year, Jennings found himself at the centre of a tug of war between the code's oldest and fiercest rivals.
Jennings yesterday told The Daily Telegraph he met with Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire at Christmas before opting to join the Roosters on a four-year deal worth about $2 million.
South Sydney instead chose to bring local junior Beau Champion back to the club, and the pair will go head-to-head in an intriguing battle of fate next Thursday night.
"My management team did most of the negotiations, but I did meet Michael Maguire," Jennings said.
Roosters great Brad Fittler was the driving force behind Jennings' decision to head to Bondi.
Fittler made the same move from Penrith in his youth and now rates Jennings above fellow star recruit Sonny Bill Williams as the team's most mouth-watering prospect this season.
Harsh words: Jennings dumps on ex-teammates
"For me, I'm most looking forward to seeing Michael Jennings absolutely flying down that left-hand edge," Fittler told Roosters supporters at the club's season launch on Tuesday night.
Six weeks into his new start, Jennings revealed that he was "scared" to leave Penrith.
"It was just not knowing what any other club was like and being scared what they were like," he said.
"I was nervous, I wasn't sure I could be happy anywhere else.
"I never wanted to leave Penrith. Never in my mind did I think that would happen.
"I loved Penrith and I always thought I'd play out my career there.
"I've got my two younger brothers there and I really wanted to be there and play with them.
"I needed to know they were behind me before I left.
"It was good to have their backing."
Despite the long drive from Quaker's Hill to Moore Park, which took 90 exhausting minutes in yesterday's rain, Jennings is beaming.
"I see it as part of my preparation for training - like a warm-up.
"I play my music and listen to that the whole way. It makes me ready."
Jennings will play outside five-eighth James Maloney and has been given simple riding instructions, unlike at Penrith, where he was expected to hunt for the ball.
"Pearcey and Maloney, they're two quality players and they make my job a lot easier," he said.
"All I've got to do is run off the hard work they're doing.
"I got something out of the first trial (against Manly), so when I went into the second trial (against Wests) I was confident of getting the job done."
THERE'S less than a week remaining until they resume on-field hostilities, but star Roosters recruit Michael Jennings has revealed how intensely South Sydney fought for his services during the off-season.
Jennings has also admitted he was "scared" about leaving Penrith, and was reluctant to do so until he received the support of his two younger brothers, who have remained at the club.
Given permission to negotiate with other clubs last year, Jennings found himself at the centre of a tug of war between the code's oldest and fiercest rivals.
Jennings yesterday told The Daily Telegraph he met with Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire at Christmas before opting to join the Roosters on a four-year deal worth about $2 million.
South Sydney instead chose to bring local junior Beau Champion back to the club, and the pair will go head-to-head in an intriguing battle of fate next Thursday night.
"My management team did most of the negotiations, but I did meet Michael Maguire," Jennings said.
Roosters great Brad Fittler was the driving force behind Jennings' decision to head to Bondi.
Fittler made the same move from Penrith in his youth and now rates Jennings above fellow star recruit Sonny Bill Williams as the team's most mouth-watering prospect this season.
Harsh words: Jennings dumps on ex-teammates
"For me, I'm most looking forward to seeing Michael Jennings absolutely flying down that left-hand edge," Fittler told Roosters supporters at the club's season launch on Tuesday night.
Six weeks into his new start, Jennings revealed that he was "scared" to leave Penrith.
"It was just not knowing what any other club was like and being scared what they were like," he said.
"I was nervous, I wasn't sure I could be happy anywhere else.
"I never wanted to leave Penrith. Never in my mind did I think that would happen.
"I loved Penrith and I always thought I'd play out my career there.
"I've got my two younger brothers there and I really wanted to be there and play with them.
"I needed to know they were behind me before I left.
"It was good to have their backing."
Despite the long drive from Quaker's Hill to Moore Park, which took 90 exhausting minutes in yesterday's rain, Jennings is beaming.
"I see it as part of my preparation for training - like a warm-up.
"I play my music and listen to that the whole way. It makes me ready."
Jennings will play outside five-eighth James Maloney and has been given simple riding instructions, unlike at Penrith, where he was expected to hunt for the ball.
"Pearcey and Maloney, they're two quality players and they make my job a lot easier," he said.
"All I've got to do is run off the hard work they're doing.
"I got something out of the first trial (against Manly), so when I went into the second trial (against Wests) I was confident of getting the job done."