Tate leaves after Bennett's blessing - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Tate leaves after Bennett's blessing

By Laine Clark 30/05/2007 08:25:24 PM Comments (0)

A final blessing from Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett helped Kangaroos flyer Brent Tate make the difficult decision to leave his beloved Broncos and take up a three-year New Zealand Warriors deal.

Tate, 25, on Wednesday night said he sought out Bennett's advice after receiving the tempting Warriors deal reportedly worth $400,000 a season.

The Maroons matchwinner said the wise words from the Broncos master coach - and not his brother-in-law and Warriors captain Steve Price - helped make up his mind.

"It was pretty important that I spoke with Wayne. It was important to have his blessing," Tate told AAP.

"I've got such respect for Wayne and he's been such a big part of my career.

"He was really good about it.

"He said it wasn't a nasty split or an ugly thing.

"It was just time for me to move on and I think Wayne realised that.

"I leave the club on a really good note, and that's important to me."

Price is married to Tate's sister Jo.

Tate's wife, Lani Bourke, is part-Maori and many of her family also live in New Zealand.

While Tate admitted he quizzed Price about the merits of a move to the Warriors, the Broncos matchwinner said the inspirational prop did not play a major role in the deal.

"I spoke to Price a fair bit but that's as far as it went, at no stage did he try and talk me into going there," Tate said.

"Steve wouldn't do that sort of thing. I was very conscious of making the decision with my wife.

"I asked (Price) what direction the club was going, the players they had, the ins and outs but the final word was with me and my wife.

"This is a huge relief, I'm just glad it is over.

"I'm now looking forward to finishing on a high note with the Broncos and very excited about the last rounds with the club."

Tate said his first love would always be the Broncos, a club he first joined at the age of 17.

The Redcliffe junior made his NRL debut as a 19 year old in 2001 and has gone on to earn 15 Test caps and play 10 Origins.

"I will always love the place, growing up as a kid it's all I wanted to do," Tate said.

"I was always one of those guys who thought he would end his career at Brisbane.

"But things change. It doesn't change the way I feel for the club.

"I've got some great memories here, made a lot of mates, they will stay with me forever - it is a special place for me."

Tate knocked back NRL and English Super League offers to take up the Warriors deal that starts in 2008.

But Tate admitted he would have been tempted to switch codes if it was not for an International Rugby Board ruling.

The Australian Rugby Union withdrew its offer last week after the IRB ruled that Tate could not be registered because of the neck brace he has worn since his career was seriously threatened by injury in 2005.

"It (rugby) was (tempting) when I started contemplating it. But I hit the hurdle with the neck brace," he said.

"And that's fine, they've got rules that they've got to stick to them.

"But I feel rugby league is in my blood.

"I'm really happy with the decision I have made. I felt passionate about moving over there, enjoying the culture and taking up the challenge."

Staying in contention for Origin and Tests ensured he knocked back the Super League deal.

"Origin is such a very special thing to be part of as is the Kangaroos," he said.

"I think I have found my niche in those teams and I wasn't ready to turn my back on it."

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