Ford Reveals the Crucial Conversation That Saved His NRL Career
When Jackson Ford contemplated a potential move overseas, his passion for rugby league was in question.
At just 24, the second-rower stood at a crossroads that could have drastically altered his career path.
In 2022, Ford considered leaving the St. George Illawarra Dragons, where he felt his abilities were consistently underestimated.
With limited offers and dwindling confidence, the thought of abandoning the NRL crossed his mind.
"There wasn't much on the table, to be honest," Ford remarked during an interview with SEN's The Run Home.
"I think there was like a couple of bottom dollar (offers), Parra (Eels) and Canberra were the only sort of other two options."
"But then… my manager sort of said, 'The Warriors are keen', and… at the time, I was thinking, 'Jesus, I don't know about that'. You know what I mean?"
"I wasn't gonna be getting too much money either. I'm a carpenter as well, so I was sort of half even considering that, giving it up and starting because I never really had much confidence leaving from that Dragons period."
"I was always sort of getting told that I'm not a first grader and stuff, so I was weighing up my options."