FORMER Scone Thoroughbreds junior Adam Clydsdale has left the Canberra Raiders with the blessing of Ricky Stuart as he kick-starts his bid to win a regular NRL spot with the Cronulla Sharks.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The talented hooker made the move to Sydney earlier in the month after being released on the stroke of the June 30 deadline.
While the Raiders have slumped to 10th on the ladder, the Sharks are sitting pretty in fourth place and in the frame to win back-to-back premierships.
Now, Clydsdale could play a huge role in their quest to do what no team has done since the Brisbane Broncos won consecutive premierships in 1997 (Super League) and 1998.
The Sharks are fighting a hooking crisis - James Segeyaro (arm) and Jayden Brailey (jaw) are both injured, while they have released Daniel Mortimer (Leigh) and Manaia Cherrington (New Zealand).
Clydsdale is named in the squad to tackle the New Zealand Warriors on Friday evening; and has the chance to haunt the Raiders in round 22 when Canberra's season could still be on the line.
The 24-year-old rake leaves the capital with the blessing of Stuart, who wasn't going to hold Clydsdale back from the chance to play more first grade.
“I had a good couple of years here, I learned a lot, especially off Ricky Stuart,” Clydsdale said.
“I really respect the man, I have a lot of time for him.
“Before I actually went, I had a good chat to him about it to see what he thought about it.
“I rang him up and asked him what I thought.
“He told me his honest opinion and I really appreciated that.
“He could have said ‘I need you here’ but he’s just said ‘if it's an opportunity you should take it’.
“I greatly appreciate that he gave me his honest advice.”
Clydsdale spent the first three seasons of his NRL career in Newcastle where he played 40 NRL games before joining the Raiders.
He was stuck behind English international Josh Hodgson and Kurt Baptiste in Canberra, and only played limited minutes in his 17 appearances for the Raiders.
Clydsdale says “it was a tough decision” to leave Canberra but the opportunity that presented itself in the Shire was too good to let go.
“Obviously it was a bit tough, me and my girlfriend are settled in down here but an opportunity like this, I can’t turn it down,” he said.
“I learned a lot off Stuart, I’ve learned a lot off [Hodgson] as well, so I’ve made a lot of good friends down here as well.
“It was obviously tough to leave but it was a good opportunity.”