Dylan Walker describes it as the change he needed.
In leaving South Sydney, Walker moved on from a club at which he not only made history as part of a breakthrough premiership, but also almost became history himself after an almost fatal overdose of a prescription drug.
The move to the northern beaches allowed him to consign a significant chapter of his life to the past, although there will be several reminders when Manly take on the Rabbitohs at Brookvale Oval on Thursday. One of them will be his former teammate and great friend Aaron Gray, who was there when the pair fell critically ill at a Rosebery granny flat last year.
Walker, who changed clubs and positions after Souths granted him an early release, is looking forward to facing his former club.
"I'm pretty excited to play them, especially at Brookvale," he said.
"For the first time it will be a bit different. I always saw myself as wearing the red and green for a very long time.
"I just needed a change.
"I was a Souths junior, so it was a big move. I still get asked the question about the move. It's been pretty smooth.
"I've come here and everyone from the players, to the coaching staff and the fans, have welcomed me with open arms. I've just really enjoyed the switchover. It was a bit tough, leaving the boys in the team, especially winning a comp with them. That's probably the biggest thing, but I don't have any regrets and I find this the best path for my future.
"The fresh start has been the best thing for me. I believe in change, massively, and this change is taking me one step closer to where I want to be."
Having already represented Australia as a centre, that next step would seemingly be to wear the NSW No.6 jersey. However, there are more pressing matters. With Daly Cherry-Evans sidelined indefinitely with injury, Walker will be taking on his former teammates without an established half by his side.
Given the dramas he survived last year, it's likely to be the least of his concerns.
"That was one was the biggest, honest mistakes," he said of that fateful night with Gray.
"I was chilling at home and that's what happened, that's how it came about.
"Moving forward, it's a big eye opener and also count my stars I'm pretty lucky.
"[Gray] is one of my best mates, we've been playing footy together since we were seven.
"It shook us both up but we've definitely moved on and want to do bigger and better things, that's what we're both concentrating on. He's still over at Souths … and we're both aiming for big years."
Asked if there were any lessons to pass on for other players regarding prescription drugs, Walker said: "People will probably say there's a lesson because of what they've seen in the media.
"We were honestly just using them because we had operations three or four days before. That's what came about. Everyone knows what's right or wrong, how to use them.
"I don't believe [there's a misuse problem in the NRL], no issue at all. They are prescribed to you for a reason, that's why doctors give them to you. I don't think there's anything to worry about."
Walker said the transition to Manly had been helped by the presence of former Rabbitohs Apisai Koroisau and Luke Burgess.
"It's a good environment over at Souths, they work very hard," he said.
"But coming over here has definitely been a good eye-opener as to what else is out there in the NRL.
"It's a big change but I've found the change more suitable to me."
There is another reminder of Walker's time at Redfern, a Rabbitoh tattoo on his foot.
"The boys have been giving me some stick about that. I've told them I will put some wings on it or something," he said.
"That's something I will cherish for the rest of my life, winning my first grand final with them. Hopefully I get to add one at the Sea Eagles."
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...-rabbitohs-20160329-gnt6lw.html#ixzz44GifqH7p
Follow us: @smh on Twitter | sydneymorningherald on Facebook
In leaving South Sydney, Walker moved on from a club at which he not only made history as part of a breakthrough premiership, but also almost became history himself after an almost fatal overdose of a prescription drug.
The move to the northern beaches allowed him to consign a significant chapter of his life to the past, although there will be several reminders when Manly take on the Rabbitohs at Brookvale Oval on Thursday. One of them will be his former teammate and great friend Aaron Gray, who was there when the pair fell critically ill at a Rosebery granny flat last year.
Walker, who changed clubs and positions after Souths granted him an early release, is looking forward to facing his former club.
"I'm pretty excited to play them, especially at Brookvale," he said.
"For the first time it will be a bit different. I always saw myself as wearing the red and green for a very long time.
"I just needed a change.
"I was a Souths junior, so it was a big move. I still get asked the question about the move. It's been pretty smooth.
"I've come here and everyone from the players, to the coaching staff and the fans, have welcomed me with open arms. I've just really enjoyed the switchover. It was a bit tough, leaving the boys in the team, especially winning a comp with them. That's probably the biggest thing, but I don't have any regrets and I find this the best path for my future.
"The fresh start has been the best thing for me. I believe in change, massively, and this change is taking me one step closer to where I want to be."
Having already represented Australia as a centre, that next step would seemingly be to wear the NSW No.6 jersey. However, there are more pressing matters. With Daly Cherry-Evans sidelined indefinitely with injury, Walker will be taking on his former teammates without an established half by his side.
Given the dramas he survived last year, it's likely to be the least of his concerns.
"That was one was the biggest, honest mistakes," he said of that fateful night with Gray.
"I was chilling at home and that's what happened, that's how it came about.
"Moving forward, it's a big eye opener and also count my stars I'm pretty lucky.
"[Gray] is one of my best mates, we've been playing footy together since we were seven.
"It shook us both up but we've definitely moved on and want to do bigger and better things, that's what we're both concentrating on. He's still over at Souths … and we're both aiming for big years."
Asked if there were any lessons to pass on for other players regarding prescription drugs, Walker said: "People will probably say there's a lesson because of what they've seen in the media.
"We were honestly just using them because we had operations three or four days before. That's what came about. Everyone knows what's right or wrong, how to use them.
"I don't believe [there's a misuse problem in the NRL], no issue at all. They are prescribed to you for a reason, that's why doctors give them to you. I don't think there's anything to worry about."
Walker said the transition to Manly had been helped by the presence of former Rabbitohs Apisai Koroisau and Luke Burgess.
"It's a good environment over at Souths, they work very hard," he said.
"But coming over here has definitely been a good eye-opener as to what else is out there in the NRL.
"It's a big change but I've found the change more suitable to me."
There is another reminder of Walker's time at Redfern, a Rabbitoh tattoo on his foot.
"The boys have been giving me some stick about that. I've told them I will put some wings on it or something," he said.
"That's something I will cherish for the rest of my life, winning my first grand final with them. Hopefully I get to add one at the Sea Eagles."
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...-rabbitohs-20160329-gnt6lw.html#ixzz44GifqH7p
Follow us: @smh on Twitter | sydneymorningherald on Facebook
