sport, local-sport,

GEORGE is back. The Oberon Tigers have gained the services of George Rose in what is one of the most high-profile signings in Group 10 premier league history. The deal to bring the former NRL premiership winner and six-time NRL All-Stars competitor to the Tigers was completed on Tuesday night. Rose is now set to play his first match in the Group since his under 18s success with the Bathurst Panthers back in 2000. Rose became a well-respected figure in the NRL in a career spanning 151 matches. Now the Central West will get plenty of opportunities to see him in action. Rose will be lining up alongside his brothers Matt and Trent, who are coming across from Orange CYMS to make it a sibling triple threat for the Tigers. That family connection played a major part in luring the ex-NRL star back to the region. “I always wanted to come back and play some footy with my brothers. My brothers and I talked a bit about it last year that I would like to come back to Group 10 and it’s exciting to see it happen,” Rose said. “The support out at Oberon has always been great and I’m looking forward to them coming out to cheer us on. “The fact that you get to go out there, play a bit of footy and enjoy yourself, and play the game as you see it rather than the heavily structured game you see at the top, is great.” Rose’s future in the NRL was up in the air following the end of his one-year deal with the St George Illawarra Dragons. Rose, however, said continuing at the top grade was never on his mind towards the end of last season. “I probably got halfway through last season when I knew that it was going to be my last year,” he said. “In my final game I had Trent and Matt come down and watch me play. I knew that it was going to be my last game but they didn’t. That was a very special moment for me. “I’ll hopefully be able to hang around in Group 10 for a while, but I’ll just take it as it comes.” In an NRL career spanning 11 years, Rose picked up a premiership with the Manly Sea Eagles in 2011 and a man-of-the-match award from last year’s NRL All-Stars game. “That man-of-the-match award in the All-Stars game was a big contributor to making it my final year,” Rose said. “That was one of the best and most memorable games that I played. Having the chance to go overseas and play teams there was amazing. Plus winning a grand final with one of the best teams in the past few decades was very special.” Rose said he would like to take part in tomorrow’s Group 10 Knockout but at this stage does not look set to be cleared in time.

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