Veteran Newcastle backrower Aidan Guerra has praised the Knights' decision to sign Kangaroos forward Tyson Frizell even though it may severely jeopardise his own chances of re-signing with the NRL club.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Guerra, just eight games shy of playing 200 NRL games, is in the final season of a three-year deal at the Knights and admits he is no guarantee to even wear the red and blue again following the premiership shutdown.
Toohey's News: Listen to Barry Toohey's new podcast in your Podcast app
But he is refusing to stress over his future and believes snaring Frizell from St George Illawarra for 2021 is a real coup for the club.
"It's a great signing for the club after they worked pretty hard to make it happen from all reports," Guerra said. "I just think it's a great direction for the club going forward with Tyson coming."
Asked if he was concerned that it would impact on his future at the Knights, Guerra said: "What Tyson coming really means for me, I haven't thought too much about with so much else going on around us. I just want to get back playing this year and what comes after that will come after that, I suppose."
Guerra said his playing future was a wait-and-see proposition, along with the likes of off-contract teammates Connor Watson, Herman Ese'ese, Tautau Moga, Jacob Saifiti, Josh King and Mason Lino.
"I'm in one of those positions where this season was going to determine whether my career continues here in Newcastle or possibly somewhere else," he said. "I was essentially playing for my future. I haven't really stressed about it.
"Football has always taken care of itself and as long as my family is healthy, I'm not too worried. But yeah, it's a weird situation. It's hard to play for a contract when there are no games going on. It's hard to say it but - with no real guarantees going forward yet - I might have played my last game. Let's hope that's not the case.
"I've sat down with my wife and we are pretty comfortable at the moment with everything. Life in Newy is fine and our family is healthy so I'm not going to let those sort of stresses get to me. Who knows, we could be back playing in no time at all and it will sort itself out."
Guerra has been playing at the top level for 11 seasons after debuting at the Sydney Roosters back in 2010.
He joined the Knights in 2018 after 154 NRL games at Bondi and has played a further 38 in Newcastle.
He had an injury-plagued 2019 but started the opening two games this season off the bench against the Warriors and Tigers.
While he is keen to resume playing, with May 28 the current target, Guerra believes the competition is still at the mercy of the virus.
"It would be nice to be playing this week but at the same time, there are government regulations and also our own health risks that they're looking after," he said. "We can come up with a very good plan and everything could be going right but, then all of a sudden, something happens and the outbreak intensifies and it has to be stopped again.
"All the plans are laid now but we just have to keep in mind that we are still hostage to this thing and there are still those saying the worst is yet to come.
"Everyone wants to watch rugby league again and it would be nice to be able to relieve some pressure on them on the weekend. But at the same time, we are still at the mercy of the virus.
"If we do try and start it up and we do it at the wrong time and all of a sudden there is another isolation period, it becomes a very stop, start season and it may not end well."