Player drain danger - Hull KR's departing Clint Newton
- Published
Newton made a century of appearances for Hull KR
Hull Kingston Rovers forward Clint Newton says the British game is in severe danger of losing its best players to the southern hemisphere.
Newton is returning to his native Australia to play for Penrith Panthers.
He told 91热爆 Radio Humberside: "I think you're going to lose more and more players to Australia and then the game will severely suffer.
"That's if the RFL and clubs don't start working towards making the game better," he added.
Newton, who has clocked up 100 appearances for the Robins in a four-year stint at Craven Park, says the opportunity to join the Panthers was one he could not turn down.
"It came out of the blue but it was one of those opportunities that I couldn't really pass up," he said.
Newton fears player exodus to Australia
"With the opportunity to go back to my home country and be closer to my family, it was the right time to move, for the possibilities of playing in the NRL and life after rugby."
The former Melbourne Storm Grand Final winner says he leaves Rovers with plenty of memories: "The friendships that I've forged and obviously and having the ability to play on the other side of the world in a competition that I still regard as a strong one was a great opportunity.
"I think I came at the right time where I was able to contribute on the field and be able to leave with the fans thinking that I came over at the right time and I played my part."