Dalefield star Jesse Workman will be playing his hockey in Melbourne this winter.
The New Zealand Maori and Wellington national league representative and current Wairarapa Senior Sports Personality of the Year has resigned from his job as regional development officer for Hockey Wairarapa to take up a short-term contract with Melbourne-based club Southern United, one of the premier sides in Victoria.
The contract is just for the 2012 season and apart from his playing duties Workman will be coaching at secondary-school level.
"The offer was simply too good to turn down," Workman said, adding that he and his family would be in Melbourne by February 19.
Fortunately for Wairarapa hockey, Workman sees himself returning to the region in the not-too-distant future and says he may be keen to continue in a role similar to the one he is leaving.