Penrith prop Tim Grant believes on any given day, every player in every single side is shopped to other NRL teams – and he's comfortable with that.
Speaking for the first time since the club last Monday addressed rumours of offloading the longest-serving player on its current roster, the former NSW Origin representative described the dilemmas facing the modern day rugby league player.
This time last week, social media was awash with word that Grant would make a mid-season move to South Sydney, prompting Penrith boss Phil Gould to release an official statement denying any imminent departure.
"I think in the game today every player is shopped around to be honest," Grant said.
"If we need a winger and another club's got too many wingers or their salary cap [is full], I supposed they’re getting shopped around. But I'm comfortable what's going on and the way it was dealt with. So I haven't got a problem."
Kingston relieved Grant is staying
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Grant, together with front row partner Sam McKendry, is one of two remaining contracts negotiated by former CEO Mick Leary. And although his contract is due to expire at the end of next season, it is believed that his heavily back-ended deal has forced the club to consider offloading the local junior to release some salary cap pressure.
Grant said while he remained committed to serving out his contract, he understood the business side of the competition.
"I don't really like talking about it. It's a private thing. But I've got a manager that does a great job and he takes care of it," he said.
"When I'm at footy, I concentrate on footy. This is my safe haven. I don't really care about too much else. I never want anything like that to put a burden on the team so I just keep it to myself.
"It's tough [having your name thrown out there]. I had 105 missed calls, but in saying that, it's a professional sport. It's a business. I'm not into the business side of it, that's why I have a manager and he sorts it out.
"I've got a contract. That's how it sticks. Until I'm told otherwise, or going forward, that's when it isn't right, we'll have a look at it. But as far as I'm concerned, I'm here."
Grant said that being overlooked for the captaincy in favour of new signing Peter Wallace wasn't an issue.
"It wasn't what was right for the team, so you just tune out of it and move on. If it was right for the team, I would've been captain and I would've done my best job that I could but it's not what's best for the team so you move on," he said.
Speaking for the first time since the club last Monday addressed rumours of offloading the longest-serving player on its current roster, the former NSW Origin representative described the dilemmas facing the modern day rugby league player.
This time last week, social media was awash with word that Grant would make a mid-season move to South Sydney, prompting Penrith boss Phil Gould to release an official statement denying any imminent departure.
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"I think in the game today every player is shopped around to be honest," Grant said.
"If we need a winger and another club's got too many wingers or their salary cap [is full], I supposed they’re getting shopped around. But I'm comfortable what's going on and the way it was dealt with. So I haven't got a problem."
Kingston relieved Grant is staying
More Panthers news here
Grant, together with front row partner Sam McKendry, is one of two remaining contracts negotiated by former CEO Mick Leary. And although his contract is due to expire at the end of next season, it is believed that his heavily back-ended deal has forced the club to consider offloading the local junior to release some salary cap pressure.
Grant said while he remained committed to serving out his contract, he understood the business side of the competition.
"I don't really like talking about it. It's a private thing. But I've got a manager that does a great job and he takes care of it," he said.
"When I'm at footy, I concentrate on footy. This is my safe haven. I don't really care about too much else. I never want anything like that to put a burden on the team so I just keep it to myself.
"It's tough [having your name thrown out there]. I had 105 missed calls, but in saying that, it's a professional sport. It's a business. I'm not into the business side of it, that's why I have a manager and he sorts it out.
"I've got a contract. That's how it sticks. Until I'm told otherwise, or going forward, that's when it isn't right, we'll have a look at it. But as far as I'm concerned, I'm here."
Grant said that being overlooked for the captaincy in favour of new signing Peter Wallace wasn't an issue.
"It wasn't what was right for the team, so you just tune out of it and move on. If it was right for the team, I would've been captain and I would've done my best job that I could but it's not what's best for the team so you move on," he said.
