With newborn twins added to his growing family last month, Gundagai playmaker Chris Rose has decided to step away from football.
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After being born two weeks ago, Harley and Phoenix join older sisters Tahlira, 5, and Corby, 3, in the Rose household.
The boys remain in hospital in Wagga, but are expected to be released within the next fortnight.
Being so busy on at home, the 28-year-old has decided to take an indefinite break from football to spend more time with his family.
“There is a lot going on and I need to step away for while and put my focus back onto the family,” Rose said.
“I probably could not have put my mind to footy so I thought it would be a bit unfair if I wasn’t 100 per cent committed.”
Rose said the decision was made clearer in the later stages of wife Lindsey’s pregnancy.
“It was probably in the back of month or so but it all got a bit hard,” he said.
“Lindsey spent 10 days at hospital in Canberra about a month ago and that changes a bit of perspective on things.”
Rose has also stood down from the vice-presidency role at the Tigers but will remain on as the club’s the leaguetag coach.
While Rose is undecided on when will return to the field, he is sure he hasn’t played his last game for the Tigers.
“I still hope to play this year,” Rose said.
“I won’t say yes or no.
“It could a month, two months or having the whole season off and playing again next year.
“I will see how it goes.”
Gundagai captain-coach James Smart said Rose was also a small business owner in the town and his time was a precious commodity.
“We all know how loyal Chris is,” Smart said.
“He wears his heart on his sleeve.”
With Rose on compassionate leave, Smart has moved from five-eighth to halfback for Sunday’s important Group Nine game against Cootamundra at Les Boyd Oval.
Smart’s shift has been complemented by the return of talented Tyron Gorman to five-eighth, while lively Ben Reardon is the new winger.
For Gundagai, the clash with the Bulldogs will be a chance to reinvigorate their stalled premiership defence.
Seven months after beating Junee in the grand final in Wagga, the Tigers have won only one of their three games, falling to Albury (28-16) and the Diesels (20-18) in successive weeks.
Now fresh from the bye, Gundagai will be fiercely determined to hit back with a victory over the Bulldogs on their home turf, who are also looking to bounce back after letting an early lead slip.
