Mortimer’s a Shark in quick time
MOST players take weeks, even months, to commit their future to another NRL club.
Former Titans utility Daniel Mortimer took one hour.
The Cronulla recruit has spoken of the unexpected phone call from the premiers late last year which saved him from a switch to England.
The switch to the Sharks is a scenario the well-travelled 27year-old would never have considered possible only a few months ago, without a contract at the Gold Coast and fearing his NRL career over.
“The Titans had secured Nathan Peats and they also had coverage in the halves with Kane Elgey coming back and Tyrone (Roberts) as well,’’ he said. “I had a great relationship with the club but I thought my best opportunity was to look elsewhere.
“It was getting late in the year, so it was a little bit stressful as a contract year always is. This came up at the last minute.”
When Cronulla put in a concrete offer, he made one of the quickest decisions of his life.
“I was sitting up there (on the Gold Coast) having a coffee with a few of the Titans boys and I got the call and I pretty much let the Sharks know within the hour that I was committed.
“And that’s rugby league – you’ve got to ride with it. It’s a crazy ride but it doesn’t last forever.
“It was a pretty easy decision in the end.
“It’s not every day you get to sign with a club that’s just won the comp.’’