Shaun Ainscough: Australia a better offer than Bradford Bulls

7:40am Wednesday 24th October 2012 in Sport Photograph of the Author By Ross Heppenstall, Bradford Bulls Reporter

Shaun Ainscough may opt to take up an offer to play for an amateur rugby league side in Australia while also working in a timber mill Shaun Ainscough may opt to take up an offer to play for an amateur rugby league side in Australia while also working in a timber mill

Shaun Ainscough is weighing up a move to Australia after admitting he cannot afford to accept the offer on the table from Bradford.

The winger has explored the prospect of switching codes and spoke to a number of union clubs, including Exeter Chiefs and Glasgow Warriors, about going on trial.

That did not materialise and instead, Ainscough has a concrete offer from his agent – former Wigan coach Frank Endacott – to head Down Under.

The move would entail Ainscough possibly working in a timber mill and playing for an amateur rugby league side in Australia’s Group Nine, with scope to progress to a higher level.

He expects to make a decision on whether to accept the offer by next week but has a girlfriend and young son to consider.

Ainscough, 22, said: “I could go out there on my own at first and see how it is. If it goes well, I could then bring my family out there.

“There would be a job opportunity for me – working in a timber mill is one option – but I’m still weighing things up.

“My missus is against it all because of our little boy but if I was to go it would be after Christmas. I don’t know what to do. It’s all up in the air at the moment.

“Bradford have said they can’t go any higher than what they are offering. I’ve been scraping by every month for the past year as it is.

“I got hold of a few rugby union clubs about going on trial, just to keep my options open, but their squads were full up.

“Similarly, Super League clubs already have their wingers in place for next season. I expect to make a decision by next week.”

* Mick Potter is poised to be finally unveiled as the new head coach of NRL outfit Wests Tigers.

The former Bulls boss, this season’s Super League coach of the year, is set take the reins following Tim Sheens’ sacking on September 25.

Potter headed home to Australia shortly after the end of the English season, although his wife Megan is still working in the Bulls’ administration department for the time being.

Comments(16)

Blotto says...
8:06am Wed 24 Oct 12

Its tough for the Players like Shaun but the Clubs income has been savagely cut by the RFL witholding 50%f the Sky money, so more season ticket sales and a load more Sponsors from the Business Community ae needed to make up for it

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Sheffieldbull says...
8:07am Wed 24 Oct 12

Would have liked to have seen Shaun in a Bulls jersey for 2013 but financial budgets will have to be adhered to from now on. Good luck to you Shaun whatever decision you make.
.
Great news for Mick Potter, well deserved appointment.West Tigers are lucky to have you.

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Prycey says...
8:24am Wed 24 Oct 12

I’m afraid millions are just scraping through at the moment. It is tough but I can’t see him going down under on his own and working in a timber yard. I like the lad a lot but I also think Foster is a slightly better winger all-round. A lot depends on Purtell. If fit and he resumes at centre we then would have Blyth, Kear, Platt, Walker and Foster. With Lulia and Purtell plus any young lads filling the odd game we do have two full sets of backs. Lulia and Foster. Blyth and Purt’s does make a decent wing pair. Kear at fullback in an emergency with Kearney covering the halves along with Southernwood or Addy as 4th choice. These are my thoughts on our backs. Ainsky could still stay as well as Foster and we are then fine in the backs and halves. Two sold props and we are then just about ready.

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AdeyG'man says...
9:08am Wed 24 Oct 12

If Purtell is fit, he's better on the wing than in the centres anyway. Blythe has just added to centre options. Much as I like Ainscough, I don't think he's done anything to warrant a payrise. We're all struggling with cash, but surely it would be better to be in a job with a secure salary than run the risk of a move to a Timberyard on the hope of securing a Rugby contract?
Ultimately it's Ainscough's choice, but no point in breaking the bank for a player that would have been a "fringe player" if the backs stayed fit.

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Hudzilla says...
9:51am Wed 24 Oct 12

I think this is a catch 22 for both parties, as much as I would love Ainscough to stay, if he feels he cant live on what he's offered, he has no choice.

All the best Shaun

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Videoref says...
11:59am Wed 24 Oct 12

Hudzilla wrote:
I think this is a catch 22 for both parties, as much as I would love Ainscough to stay, if he feels he cant live on what he's offered, he has no choice.

All the best Shaun
I agree-liked the commitment Shaun showed and his attitude. Good look in whatever you choose but remember it is a long way to Australia on your own and especially with a gf & young child in UK. I worked abroad a lot when my kids were young and it's not the best frame of mind to be in whe you are homesick & missing them growing up

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A SENSIBLE LADY says...
12:51pm Wed 24 Oct 12

Get yourself down the mines with BJ it pays a lot more than the 2 and 6 offered at Odsal due to lack of cash.
PS sick off getting phone calls begging for sponsorship, Have they rung everyone in business in Bradford ? Surely if companies want to give they will without been harrassed.

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bullsmania says...
1:53pm Wed 24 Oct 12

A SENSIBLE LADY wrote:
Get yourself down the mines with BJ it pays a lot more than the 2 and 6 offered at Odsal due to lack of cash.
PS sick off getting phone calls begging for sponsorship, Have they rung everyone in business in Bradford ? Surely if companies want to give they will without been harrassed.
I like your comments a sensible lady!
You talk a lot of sense. Bradford are f&cked, we all know the saying 'you live by the sword, you die by the sword' couldn't have happened to a nastier club!!!!
I hear they have far more problems on their hands which makes the Harris court case look mediocre

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A SENSIBLE LADY says...
2:21pm Wed 24 Oct 12

I wonder how many on here will be putting their hands in their pockets to help Salford who may be going the same way bullsmania ? Foster has had a good season but like most is a confidence player hence STH getting shut and replacing him with yet another off the conveyerbelt once he started making mistakes.

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bullsmania says...
3:07pm Wed 24 Oct 12

A SENSIBLE LADY wrote:
I wonder how many on here will be putting their hands in their pockets to help Salford who may be going the same way bullsmania ? Foster has had a good season but like most is a confidence player hence STH getting shut and replacing him with yet another off the conveyerbelt once he started making mistakes.
I certainly don't think Bradford bulls will be donating any money to Salford like other SL clubs did for them in their desperate times...which are set to continue.
They haven't got a pot to **** in.

Feel for Ainy, if he wasn't on match bonus's last year & hadn't been left out of the team because of this cost cutting exercise,he may have signed for bulls this year.

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Pablo says...
3:47pm Wed 24 Oct 12

He must be on mighty low wages at Odsal. I always thought Super League players were paid reasonably well, even given the current climate.

If it's just the Bulls offering poor contracts how will they attract decent players?

Sad, very sad.

The future does not look bright. Only just over 2,000 season tickets sold.

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Pablo says...
3:47pm Wed 24 Oct 12

He must be on mighty low wages at Odsal. I always thought Super League players were paid reasonably well, even given the current climate.

If it's just the Bulls offering poor contracts how will they attract decent players?

Sad, very sad.

The future does not look bright. Only just over 2,000 season tickets sold.

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A SENSIBLE LADY says...
5:09pm Wed 24 Oct 12

Its only after various clubs early bird offers have passed that you get a real picture.

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JAtkinson says...
6:49pm Wed 24 Oct 12

Very best of luck. Shaun has a decent rugby brain and the heart of lion - just small stature keeping him from being very good, if not great.

Any chance we can invest some of OK's money in transplanting Ainy's heart into Pryce's body - we'd have a world class centre!

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JAtkinson says...
6:50pm Wed 24 Oct 12

Very best of luck. Few players showed more grit, determination and passion last year.

Shaun has a decent rugby brain and the heart of lion - just small stature keeping him from being very good, if not great.

Any chance we can invest some of OK's money in transplanting Ainy's heart into Pryce's body - we'd have a world class centre!

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Capabull says...
7:56pm Wed 24 Oct 12

I agree putting Ainsy`s battling nature into Karl Pryce would make a worldbeater.
I think the club is now spending what money it has wisely and rightly so, we don`t want to go back to the situation we were in last year. OK saved us and now we have to trust that the club is cutting its cloth according to its means. I know we probably wont set the game alight but we are still here, and to me thats success.

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