RUGBY LEAGUE
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In his own words, Jamie Soward yesterday made it clear - staying at the club he won a premiership with was never an option.
Soward announced a four-year deal with Penrith just days before the Dragons revealed Melbourne playmaker Gareth Widdop was their future.
Far from agonising over questions of loyalty, Soward revealed he wasn't given the opportunity to play the rest of his career in the Red V.
"At the end of the day you've got to go where you're wanted," he said.
With 19 NRL rounds remaining, Soward did not want to reveal the details of discussions with chief executive Peter Doust and recruitment manager Craig Young, overseeing the Dragons' squad management while Steve Price focused on day-to-day coaching duties.
Soward's announcement was the catalyst for the Dragons to reveal they had lured Joel Thompson and Widdop, before hurriedly revealing a contract extension for Price 20 minutes into the Anzac Day game.
"That will probably all come out at the end of the year, how it all went down," he said.
"But for me it was a decision of ... I'll get four years at Penrith.
"I get to work with Gus Gould and Ivan Cleary and their youngsters out there and that's security for me and I wasn't going to get that here.
"I had to make a decision and I did."
Soward had been part cult hero, part target for criticism during seven seasons with the Dragons, in a career which included playing State of Origin, membership of the Indigenous All Stars and being part of the drought-breaking 2010 premiership team.
In the next breath he is often derided for defence and sometimes prickly demeanour, as much he is lauded for his long kicking game and ability to throw a magic pass.
Soward admitted the days prior to announcing the Penrith deal had taken its toll in the lead-up to the Anzac Day loss to the Roosters.
"Last week was pretty draining," he said.
"I had to tell people that I care about that I was moving on.
"That wasn't easy and it was pretty tiring and I can have a good long rest this week and make sure that I'm training well and getting everything ready for Monday night."
With his future now settled, Soward said he was comfortable with his decision to move to Penrith next year and being part of the Panthers' rebuilding process.
But the five-eighth maintained he also has a role to play in securing another Dragons finals campaign.
"I get a chance to go out there and work with the youngsters," he said.
"It could come across as cockiness or anything like that quoting what I've done [in my career], but at the end of the day you've got to have time to reflect and that's not right now.
"But if you had have said that at the start of my career, then I would have taken it.
"I've worked really hard here and enjoyed my time, but it's time for me to move on at the end of the year and get the job done this year.
"Hopefully [I'll] leave here on a good note."