Shaun makes sacrifices chasing dream
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 eight-month-old firstborn, 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 their return from their preliminary final win over the Roosters.
“To see that at the airport the other day was incredible,” Fensom said.