Aubo to retire?

[Roosta4life]

Article in the Sydney Morning Herald interviews Aubo and he says he "hasn't really made a decision on it yet". Would be a real shame if he was to retire at 31 and miss out on becoming our most capped player. He reckons he'll make a call in the next few weeks, probably after the origin series.

[stringaz]

5 maub years, 5 maub years!

[Thirteen]

No chance he will retire this year. He will undoubtedly want the three-peat.

[Flipper Hands]

I'd love him to continue. I wonder if his game on the left against the Drongos will impact his decision. It sure wasn't his best.

[Tommy Smith]

Aubs has at least a couple more years in him.

The man is a Roosters legend and it'd be a travesty if he didn't go on to rack up 300 games.

Ricko played 301 games.
Mini played 302 games.
Aubs for 303 games please.

[Mickie Lane]

He is gonna call a press conference in the next week to announce his retirement at the end of 2021.

[RoosterFanNZ]

come on aubo a couple more years just to break the record

[The Thracian]

Backwards will neck himself if Aubs calls it quits

[Louis N]

He is our Mr Fixit and we don't really have anyone since Matto left who can fill that role. Shame if he were to hang the boots up after Cronk. Both are great role models for the young guys coming through.

Aubbo must be sacrificing so that we can keep some of them. Great clubman so many great memories and on the big stage games too.

[zac]

You'd figure he's a got a year or two extra in him. Hope he stays. He says he wants to get his family's approval so, unless he's got other employment lined up, he's a fighting to chance to be around for a few more years. If he stays fit, he might play close to 350 games.

[Rooster89]

"Mitchell Aubusson, already with a Blues jersey closer than it has ever been, is poised to make a career call that will determine whether he becomes the most capped Rooster of all time.

Aubusson is off contract at the end of the season and is yet to decide whether to play on in 2020. The utility has made 273 first-grade appearances and has the chance to crack the magical 300 mark if he extends his NRL career into a 14th season. If he were to do so, he is also on track to overtake 301-gamer Anthony Minichiello as the most capped Rooster of all time.

It would be an incredible achievement to top the list given legendary figures Minichiello, Arthur Beetson, Dally Messenger, Ron Coote, Craig Fitzgibbon, Brad Fittler, David Brown and Luke Ricketson are among those to have played for the foundation club.

In his typically understated fashion, Aubusson said setting a new mark wasn’t a motivating factor in his decision-making.

“Honestly, I haven’t thought much about that at all,” Aubusson said.

“The milestone games show the hard work you’ve put in, but it’s a team game and the individual stuff doesn’t affect me that much.

“Yes, it’s a number but for me it’s about being successful, challenging myself every week. That’s where I get the excitement out of playing footy.”

Pressed on whether it would be an honour to surpass 300-gamers Ricketson and Minichiello, the 31-year-old said: “Yeah, but It’s not something I look for. Obviously, some great guys have played for the Roosters and it’s not something I’ve thought about.

“I haven’t really made a decision on it yet. I really wanted to start the year off well and didn’t want to make a decision at the start of the year with the excitement of the grand final. I wanted everything to settle and get back into the grind of another NRL season.


“I’ll make a call in the next few weeks but at the moment I’m just enjoying my footy playing in a strong team.”

Speculation about the futures of Cronk, who announced his retirement on Monday, and Latrell Mitchell has dominated headlines in recent weeks. While he gets none of the plaudits of those superstars, those within the organisation value his contribution. The one-club veteran is one of the most versatile players in the game, as evidenced by him playing in four different positions in the win against Canberra a fortnight ago. If, as expected, he wants to play on, the Tricolours will certainly accommodate him.

“I feel really good at the moment, the body feels good,” Aubusson said.

“Family comes into it as well. It’s a pretty demanding job, it’s 24-7 without being at the place all the time.

“You are always thinking about footy. Having a young child obviously has a bit to do with how the future goes. If they are happy for me to keep playing and the body holds up, I’ll keep on contributing.

“I want to play well for the next few weeks and help the team get through the Origin period.”

It may well be that Aubusson is part of the Roosters' talent exodus for this year’s interstate series. The former Australian Schoolboy has previously played under NSW coach Brad Fittler, who is considering him as a utility or a right-centre option. Not that Aubusson is buying into the debate.

“I don’t know about that,” he said.

“I’ve played a fair bit of centre, but I’m playing a whole lot of positions at this club at the moment.

“It’s not something I’ve thought about much at all. I just want to keep the team winning and keep contributing. It’s enjoyable and exciting.

“I haven’t thought a lot about (Origin). It’s about getting our team away to a good start and holding our standards at the Roosters. We’ve done that so far but we’ve got a fair way to go.”

[TheLoneRooster]

What a champion (team) player and humble bloke. It's amusing this talk about him being considered for shyte of origin at this late stage of his career as he's been doing it for many years.

[SupermanSupportsEasts4Eva]

Has there ever been a better player not to have played origin? When you think about some of the shyte players who have repeatedly made the cut its a shame Maubs hasn't been given a chance.

[ism22]

No chance he will retire this year. He will undoubtedly want the three-peat.

What kinda $$$ would he be on? I woulda thought he'd stick around because he only woulda been on like $200-300k throughout his career. Don't get me wrong it's good money but I reckon living in the eastern suburbs and stuff, you'd struggle to retire on ~10 years of that kinda wage.

Guessing Maubs has studied and stuff though? He's got a good head so I can see him easily walking straight into that kinda wage (if not higher) in some kinda consultancy role.

Has there ever been a better player not to have played origin? When you think about some of the shyte players who have repeatedly made the cut its a shame Maubs hasn't been given a chance.

IMO 'best not to play Origin' is very subjective because well... what is 'best'?

As a fellow 'nice guy' and 'all rounder' at work I get stuck in a similar situation where all the (for example) people with either amazing social skills (but no substance) or amazing analytical skills (but known to be a total d!ckhead) get ahead much quicker than me. I dunno what it is but having a strength and a weakness seems to highlight one's strength and give that strength more meaning. Whereas, being a genuine nice person who is an all-rounder can make people ignore you.

IMO Origin selectors either look for size... the biggest, strongest, most intimidating player (e.g. a 198cm David Klemmer walks past the selectors and they are like 'WE NEED YOU!!! WHAT A BEAST!!!' [even though he s*x]) or a super risky player who can create stuff from anywhere... even if they're not a good team player/organiser (e.g. woooah let's promote Todd Carney despite him being a total d!ckhead who everybody hates because he had 1 good season at Bondi!!!) Thus, all rounders aren't a great option because they're not gonna go on with a single dimension to their game... they're there to support others and add to the team.

Which all-rounders have played Origin for that matter? IMO you won't play Origin regularly unless you're a specialist.

[crikey chris]

I think the club should do what they did with Mini.

Although Mini came back from career ending injuries, the final 5 years were one year contracts with uncle nick.

At the age of 31, doing one year contracts would keep both parties happy, including his family. As well as keeping our salary cap in check.