No Rest For Radradra
France- bound winger ready for next challenge
Semi Radradra will skip Parramatta’s Mad Monday celebrations and get on a plane to France the day after the Eels’ NRL finals run ends.
Radradra has signed a two-year deal with French rugby club Toulon, and will leave the Eels at the end of the season.
The French rugby season has already begun, and Radradra plans on linking up with his new club and making his debut the weekend after his last match for the Eels, whenever that may be.
“I head off straight after our last game so I’m just going to go the next day. No Mad Monday, I’m just going to go straight out,” Radradra said.
“Their games started two weeks ago. I’m just going to go straight in and play. There’s no rest or anything.
“I have to honour my contract.”
Radradra grew up playing rugby union but has previously made no secret of the fact he is interested in returning to Parramatta once his French stint finishes.
But in the meantime, he is determined to leave the Eels faithful and his teammates with the perfect parting gift - a drought-breaking premiership win.
The 25-year-old has crossed for eight tries in the past three weeks, starting with a four-try haul against Brisbane in round 25.
And he admitted it was around the same time it struck him that he could be playing alongside his teammates for one of the last times.
“I’ve been feeling emotional that I’m going to leave the club and the boys,” he said.
“I feel it pushing me from the boys. You have to find something to motivate you to play good footy. It’s been driving me a lot and helping me a lot with the boys.”
Radradra’s quick departure effectively means he’ll have a 15-month season, given he kicked off in March with the Eels and France’s Top 14 competition doesn’t finish until next May.
But he is not concerned about the ability of his body to survive the gruelling workload, or any impact it may have on him in the long term.
“I used to make a joke to everyone. ‘I was born ready. Whatever comes, it comes. I just try to fix it.’ I’ll be good to hang in there,” Radradra said.
“You just do small things, stretch exercises to keep your body right and try and eat healthy.”