By PETER JESSUP
Matthew Ridge's salary is irrelevant and the fullback deserves better than to be remembered for it, said Warriors chairman Graham Lowe yesterday after the former club and Kiwi skipper signed off.
"Despite what may people think Matthew's motivation was never money - on the field his motivation was to
win, to give it his best. He knew his value as a footballer, and good luck to him."
Ridge and the club yesterday came to an amicable agreement to part company, no one telling the exact details of the deal. The Herald understands Super League backers News Ltd have stumped up all bar $200,000 of the $650,000 Ridge was due on the last of five years of a contract negotiated by former Warriors boss Ian Robson.
Lowe said there was never any pressure on the fullback to go, despite a difficult 1999 season given his three suspensions and some injuries.
"It's no secret he was our highest paid player and it's always a concern when your highest paid player is on the sideline. But that was never held against him. He always did what he could to make himself available to play. He was always an asset."
Lowe valued Ridge for the same hard-nosed mentality that got under referees and other players' skins.
"You got a whole package with Matthew - single-mindedness, a winning attitude, total refusal to compromise or accept less than best - and there was no modifying any part of it. I think that's why some people got offside with him, because he expects everyone else to be the same."
Rated as a player, Ridge was the first he'd pick, Lowe said. "There's been more talented players but Matthew at his best . . . I wouldn't swap that for anyone."
Ridge's departure came about solely because of his own desire to go, Lowe said. "At 31 I think his body was telling him it had had enough but Matthew was never scared of injury or short on bravery backing up.
"I think Matthew had just got to the stage where he felt he wanted to do the right thing - by himself, by his family and by the club.
"I hope people won't remember him just as our highest-paid player."
