Shaun makes sacrifice
COWBOYS forward Shaun Fensom has revealed he has spent most of the NRL finals series separated from his wife and young daughter after making the most of his unexpected shift from Canberra.
While it has helped him get some more shut- eye, Fensom said it had been difficult watching his eightmonth- old first- born, Elsie Joan, grow up from afar.
It’s a situation he found himself in at the start of the season when salary cap constraints forced the Raiders to offload their two- time player of the year.
For the first two weeks in Townsville he was isolated as he settled in, but it’s proven the right move as he prepares for his first NRL grand final.
The Cowboys have played every finals game in Sydney, which prompted his wife Leah to stay down south with his daughter.
“They were on the flight home from Sydney ( last Sunday) with us, which was good because I haven’t seen them since the start of the finals series,” Fensom said.
“They’ve been down south and it was good to spend a couple of days with them. They’re coming back down on Friday or Saturday to watch the game.
“It’s tough not seeing your little girl growing, especially at the age she is. It’s been good for myself to just concentrate on footy, but it’s hard as well.”
Fensom found himself in the unfamiliar position of signing autographs for young fans at the airport when hordes of fans mobbed them on return from their preliminary final win over the Roosters.
“It’s a massive experience, the community support and to see that at the airport the other day was incredible,” Fensom said.
“A few of the ( Raiders) boys have been texting me congratulations and I still keep in touch with a lot of the players down there.
“As soon as the Cowboys they were keen, I jumped at it.” said
Raiders skipper Jarrod Croker said Fensom’s former teammates were ecstatic he had landed on his feet and were on the Cowboys bandwagon.
“I’ve been a Cowboy fan the last four weeks,” Croker said.
“They’re playing some tough footy and really working hard for each other.
“Guys playing for each other and busting their backside, playing tough and wounded, that’s everything Fenno is into one. I’ve been mates with Fenno for a long time now and not many blokes deserve a premiership ring as much as him. “
Croker said it was a strange feeling when Fensom informed the playing group he was leaving after eight seasons of first grade in green.
The pair were part of the Raiders side which won the inaugural under- 20s title in 2008, which Fensom captained.
“It all happened so quickly, like that stuff does most of the time. No one plans or expects it, it just happens,” Croker said.
“A lot of the time no one wants it to happen at all. It was tough for Fenno, he got up and told the boys the situation and it was unfortunate.
“No one wanted Fenno to go and I don’t think Fenno wanted to go. ( But) he’s been really lucky in where he’s gone to. They seem like a great bunch of guys up there.
“I’ve never played in an NRL grand final but I” m pretty sure in those big games, they’re the blokes you want next to you.”