Departing Sydney Roosters prop Kane Evans admits it will be tough to leave the place he has called home for the past eight years but is looking forward to the opportunity of starting matches when he joins the Parramatta Eels next season.
The Earlwood local has been in the Roosters system since he joined their SG Ball side as a 17-year-old and has been a mainstay in their NYC and NRL squads ever since.
Currently in his fourth NRL season, the Fijian international has only managed four run-on appearances and revealed that was the main reason he signed a three-year deal with the Eels starting in 2018.
The hulking prop has provided plenty of punch off the bench this season, but at 25 years of age, he feels he is ready to play more minutes up front for a side that has been crying out for someone of his size.
"It was a hard decision to leave because this has been my home for so long and I wouldn't be the player I am today without the Roosters," Evans told NRL.com.
"It's going to be sad to leave but I've got to do what's best for my family and take any opportunity that comes.
"I had a talk with the Roosters and a few other clubs, but the thing that stood out with the Eels was that they wanted a tall and rangy prop who could play good minutes.
"They've got a lot of short and powerful props, but they wanted to add a tall, dynamic prop so I fitted their needs.
"They were looking for someone who could potentially start, and that's been a goal of mine since I was young to be a starting prop in the NRL. I've only started a few games at the Roosters, and we've got so many good props here that I had to take the opportunity at Parramatta because it was my best chance to progress."
Evans – who made his NRL debut against the Eels in 2014 – was put in a strange position just recently when he came face-to-face with his future teammates 10 days after it was announced he would be joining them next year.
The Roosters pulverised Parramatta 48-10, and Evans said it felt good to put in a strong performance in front of next year's employers.
"It was awesome to play them and get the win," he said.
"It was a bit nervous for me having to play them and I wanted to earn their respect before I went to them next year.
"All I wanted to do was give it my best and get the win."
