Barrett to
leave Dragons

St George Illawarra Dragons five-eighth Trent Barrett has announced he will leaving the Dragons at the conclusion of the current season.

With his Club calling a media conference, the Dragons? captain confirmed he has exercised a clause in his contract which allows him to leave Australia to the end of 2006.

Barrett, through his manager Wayne Beavis, has signed a three-year deal with English Super League club, Wigan.

The 28-year-old signed a four-year contract with the Dragons in June 2004, but this contained an option to play in the English Super League after two years.

In a statement isssued this afternoon, the Club indicated the process has been complex but Barrett and the Club are now free to apply all their energies to achieving the team goals for 2006.

?To acknowledge Trent Barrett is leaving the Dragons and the game of rugby league in this country, is not easy to contemplate,? said Dragons Chief Executive Officer Peter Doust.

?I can?t over-state the contributions he has made to our Clubs since the relationship began in 1993 when he was a 16 year old.

?Trent is an outstanding athlete who has played the game of rugby league with commitment, style and skill at all levels, added Doust.

?He is a quality person who has led our Club with distinction, both on and off the field and he certainly won?t be easy to replace?.

Barrett explained it was the toughest decision of his life.

?This was definitely the hardest decision I have ever made,? said Barrett.

?I love the St George Illawarra Dragons and the Club has always been fantastic to me?.

?My family and I have always had a desire to experience the ?other side of the world? and we felt it was now or never,? he said.

?Wigan is a Club steeped in rugby league history and I am excited by the challenge that lies ahead.

?This is a decision not based on money but one that simply provides a new adventure for me and my family.

?I know I will leave behind some great mates, but we have this year to achieve what we all want,? he said.

?I am really focused and my commitment to the Dragons will be such that I will be requesting to be excused from any representative football this year,? added Barrett.

Dragons Coach Nathan Brown who has played alongside and coached Trent lamented a mate passing through.

?Our Club is not only losing a fine player but a good guy and friend to all,? said Brown.

?I understand his decision however I hope we will work together again.

?He is a wonderful leader at our Club and will remain so for the rest of this year.?

Barrett is St George Illawarra?s highest paid player and his departure, along with a possible rise in the NRL salary cap to $4 million, allows the Dragons firm up their offers to other high profile players in the Club. In particular, the Dragons are expected step up their efforts to re-sign centre Mark Gasnier who is currently considering offers from Rugby Union. Gasnier may accept a deal, reportedly worth about $500,000 per season, to stay in the NRL.

Born in 1977 in Temora, NSW, Trent Barrett played his junior football with the Temora Dragons.

In 1993, Barrett linked up with the Illawarra Steelers, debuting in first grade as a 19-year-old in 1996. The long serving player has represented Australia in 11 Tests, a World Cup and a Kangaroo tour.

In 2000 he was named the Dally M and St George Illawarra ?Player of the Year?.

Barrett suffered a season-ending ankle injury in May, 2003, but not before posting his 100th game with the Dragons' joint venture. He came back in 2004 and gained selection for NSW in State of Origin III. Barrett was selected in 2004 Tri-Nations Kangaroo squad but was forced to withdraw due to injury. He bounced back in 2005, representing NSW before playing four Tests in the 2005 Tri-Nations.

Trent Barrett Fact File:
Five eighth, Halfback.
Illawarra Steelers:1996-98, 46 games. 30t, 2fg (122pts).
St George Illawarra Dragons: 1999-2005, 134 games. 42t, 4fg (172pts).
2006 stats for the Dragons (to date): 7 games. 1fg (1pt)
TOTAL (to date): 1996-2006, 186 games. 72t, 7fg (295pts).
Club captain of Dragons in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006.
NSW rep (1997-2002 & 2004).
Australian rep (1999-2002).
Stats compiled by www.jubileeavenue.com.au