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(The Australian)
STAR Raiders recruit David Shillington says Sunday's clash with the Roosters will be "personal", taking aim at the recruitment and retention policy at his former club.
Queensland's 18th man in last year's State of Origin series, Shillington yesterday pulled no punches when asked whether he remained upset with the circumstances that forced him out of the club he joined as a teenager.
He also questioned the Roosters' ability to bounce back from last week's humiliating 52-12 loss to South Sydney.
Players around the NRL have sarcastically labelled the Roosters the "transit lounge" such has been their player turnover in recent seasons.
"I won't lie and say I wasn't disappointed ... I was," Shillington said. "I had been with the club since I was in high school and it became pretty obvious they didn't want me.
"I think a lot of guys kid themselves by saying a club wanted to keep them, but couldn't due to the salary cap. That's rubbish. If the club wanted to keep you, they would.
"A lot of players have been surprised at the way the Roosters have gone out and thrown huge cash at guys at other clubs at the expense of young guys who have come through the system."
Since 2005, the Roosters have farewelled a host of players who have gone on to earn representative stripes with other clubs, including Ben Hannant, Justin Hodges, Joel Monaghan, Ashley Harrison and Brett Finch, with Anthony Tupou set to add his name to the list after joining the Sharks this year.
Shillington said he saw the writing on the wall when the Roosters lured Mark O'Meley, Nate Myles and Willie Mason from the Bulldogs on big deals.
"They spent big money bringing over Mase and Ogre, which from where I was sitting meant they wanted those guys in the team," Shillington said.
With one eye on the first State of Origin clash on June 3, Shillington said he was looking forward to locking horns with the Roosters' representative-laden pack which was humiliated in the 40-point loss to the Rabbitohs.
Shillington said in his experience, the Roosters had traditionally struggled after heavy losses and was confident Canberra's free-flowing style of attack would cause its opponent problems.
"I was just thinking the other day that after a loss like that, they might come down here breathing fire," Shillington said. "But in my time there that sort of crazy turnaround wasn't something we were ever renowned for."
STAR Raiders recruit David Shillington says Sunday's clash with the Roosters will be "personal", taking aim at the recruitment and retention policy at his former club.
Queensland's 18th man in last year's State of Origin series, Shillington yesterday pulled no punches when asked whether he remained upset with the circumstances that forced him out of the club he joined as a teenager.
He also questioned the Roosters' ability to bounce back from last week's humiliating 52-12 loss to South Sydney.
Players around the NRL have sarcastically labelled the Roosters the "transit lounge" such has been their player turnover in recent seasons.
"I won't lie and say I wasn't disappointed ... I was," Shillington said. "I had been with the club since I was in high school and it became pretty obvious they didn't want me.
"I think a lot of guys kid themselves by saying a club wanted to keep them, but couldn't due to the salary cap. That's rubbish. If the club wanted to keep you, they would.
"A lot of players have been surprised at the way the Roosters have gone out and thrown huge cash at guys at other clubs at the expense of young guys who have come through the system."
Since 2005, the Roosters have farewelled a host of players who have gone on to earn representative stripes with other clubs, including Ben Hannant, Justin Hodges, Joel Monaghan, Ashley Harrison and Brett Finch, with Anthony Tupou set to add his name to the list after joining the Sharks this year.
Shillington said he saw the writing on the wall when the Roosters lured Mark O'Meley, Nate Myles and Willie Mason from the Bulldogs on big deals.
"They spent big money bringing over Mase and Ogre, which from where I was sitting meant they wanted those guys in the team," Shillington said.
With one eye on the first State of Origin clash on June 3, Shillington said he was looking forward to locking horns with the Roosters' representative-laden pack which was humiliated in the 40-point loss to the Rabbitohs.
Shillington said in his experience, the Roosters had traditionally struggled after heavy losses and was confident Canberra's free-flowing style of attack would cause its opponent problems.
"I was just thinking the other day that after a loss like that, they might come down here breathing fire," Shillington said. "But in my time there that sort of crazy turnaround wasn't something we were ever renowned for."
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