Seymour's community service

BY AARON LAWTON

EXCLUSIVE: NEW Warriors' signing Brett Seymour will move to New Zealand in a month and will immediately begin community work for the club.

Seymour, who early this week agreed to terms with the Warriors, will come to New Zealand with a "bad boy" reputation in tow after recently having his contract with the Sharks ripped up on the back of several alcohol-related incidents.

He knows one false move on this side of the Tasman will end his NRL career once and for all but is confident he's winning his battle with the booze.

"I'm looking to move across to Auckland in about a month, give or take a week or two," Seymour told Sunday News in his first New Zealand newspaper interview.

"I'm hopefully going to get involved in a welfare and development role and get out into the community and meet some people around Auckland. I'm really looking forward to fitting into the New Zealand lifestyle."

Warriors' CEO Wayne Scurrah confirmed Seymour would begin representing the club in the community once he settles into life in Auckland.

"Obviously, if we get him across earlier we have some plans for him," Scurrah told Sunday News.

"He will spend some time doing some rehab on his knee and working on his general fitness.

"But at the same time, if he gets here early we think there's a great opportunity there for him to engage in the local community with some work for the club.

"It would be similar to what Brent Tate has been doing this year since he got injured and it would be ideal for Brett Seymour."

Seymour, who has been working in Sydney as a bricklayer, said he was "relieved" to finally sign along the dotted line with the Warriors after weeks of speculation.

"I'm certainly pleased to have finally got the deal done and dusted," he said. "It's been a tough couple of weeks. I've been a bit unsettled and obviously I've now agreed to terms with the Warriors and everyone's happy. I'm now just looking forward to the move across to New Zealand.

"We had a meeting with NRL CEO David Gallop last Friday and he was very upfront. We all know where we sit now and I know I owe the Warriors for giving me a lifeline.

"I'm really looking to repay them for the faith they've shown in me."

Seymour says he is winning his battle with alcohol and believes getting away from Sydney will help.

"It's a bit of a fishbowl in Sydney and I certainly think it was time for a change for myself and my family," he said. "I'm obviously keen to get involved in the family environment at the Warriors and that's going to suit me a lot more.

"I'm confident I'm going to keep on top of the drinking. In New Zealand I certainly think I will be able to stay on top of alcohol."

Meanwhile, Warriors officials did indeed meet with Johnathan Thurston's agent, Sam Ayoub, last Sunday but denied suggestions they have tabled an offer to the Cowboys superstar.

"We did meet Sam Ayoub in Sydney last week but it wasn't to talk specifically about Johnathan Thurston," CEO Scurrah said.

"It was just an informal meeting to cover a wide range of issues. We in no way discussed a contract at that time for Thurston."

- © Fairfax NZ News