From news.com.au   22 June 2001




Trindall: I've waited 12 years 
By TONY ADAMS
22jun01


AS he spent much of last season tossing suitcases onto Ansett planes, Darrell Trindall was forced to come to terms with the fact his league career was all but over. 


At 29 and with a chequered past, Trindall had just split with English club St Helens in bitter circumstances and looked unlikely to ever return to the big time.


Little did Trindall realise that just a few months later, his career would be back on track with a semi-final berth finally in his sights after 12 years.


"It didn't look good," Trindall admitted. 


"It was then, lifting suitcases at Mascot, that I realised playing football is a lot more fun than working for a living.


"Thinking your career is over really hits hard . . . 


"I longed for another chance and it didn't look like coming.


"We sent letters out to every club but got no reply. Then just before the season kicked off, the Bulldogs came to the party.


"All I wanted was an opportunity and they gave it to me  I can't thank them enough for that."


Trindall has taken full advantage of his chance with the Dogs, so much so that today his manager Wayne Beavis will meet with the club to discuss a new two-year deal for the classy halfback.


The man who led the way in the Bulldogs' stunning turnaround against Newcastle last week is hoping to play out his career with a two-year contract.


Controversy has followed Trindall throughout his career and even his arrival at Belmore was anything but smooth, culminating in a highly-publicised fight with captain Darren Britt.


Even coach Steve Folkes was dubious about what Trindall could offer his club, but he was given little say when a deal was arranged between Trindall's mentor, radio personality Alan Jones, and Canterbury League Club boss Gary McIntyre.


Trindall couldn't get a look-in during the early rounds before injuries intervened.


Folkes took a punt on the unpredictable Trindall and it has paid off handsomely.


A team with plenty of toughness and character, the Bulldogs have lacked genuine attacking bite in recent seasons. But the arrival of Trindall, along with boom colt Braith Anasta, has quickly fixed all that.


"I've certainly got no complaints about the way 'Tricky' is going," Folkes said.


"He gave us some real spark last week and his combination with young Braith was very pleasing.


"He spent a long time out of the game and just recently missed another six weeks with a knee injury.


"But looking at him, you wouldn't know it. He is really on the ball and his fitness is naturally very good."


Trindall is under no illusions about why he has been brought into the Bulldogs side.


"They brought me back for my attack and that suits me fine," he said. "I love to run the ball and I've found a good partner in Braith. We are working well together after only a handful of games and should only get better."


After over a decade at South Sydney without tasting finals football, Trindall is itching for a crack at the September games.


"That's why you play footy," Trindall said. "Like a lot of things, I thought that was past me. But now we are well placed to get into the finals and I'd love to have a go at that.


"It's a whole new competition and something I've always wanted to experience."


Trindall recently received an undisclosed sum after a resolution of his dispute with St Helens and is determined to keep himself out of trouble.


Even the problem he has had throughout his career with high tackles seems to have been eradicated after two bad tackles earlier this year.


"He is keeping himself right out of any drama and deserves plenty of credit for getting his career back on track," Beavis said.


"The Bulldogs probably took a bit of a punt on him, but Tricky has repaid them in spades.


"The fact we're about to talk a new contract shows they must be pleased with how he is going.


"There's no doubt that the guy has always been a special player with talent most guys can only dream about.


"But the one thing he has always lacked is that he hasn't played behind a big strong pack capable of getting the opposition on the back foot.


"Not many halfbacks can fire week in, week out without that . . . I don't care how good they are.


"Now Tricky has got himself a strong bunch of forwards and they are allowing him to show the world just what a good player he really is."


Going into Sunday's clash with the Northern Eagles, Trindall shapes as the danger man for the home team at NorthPower Stadium.


"He is the type of bloke who can do anything, so we'll have to watch him," Eagles coach Peter Sharp said.


"Against the Knights last week he had a good one and his confidence will be really high, which makes him a threat."