Chris Rattue: Regrets? I should have opened up, says Jones

Warriors icon Stacey Jones has conceded he erred in not taking questions at his strange-but-true media conference last week.

The press mob were stunned when Jones read a statement announcing he would join a new club in France after this NRL season - then refused to be interviewed.

The Claytons conference helped fuel the conspiracy theories about him being pushed from the Warriors.

But Jones said a combination of nervousness and emotion meant that he didn't want to front a press conference at all.

The experience of playing in front of big crowds was apparently no preparation for this particular day.

"It was my decision but, looking back, I should have talked to the media, especially to let all the fans know what was going on," Jones told RoW.

"The media has been very kind to me about my football career.

"Who knows how it would have turned out. It might have made things worse. But I should have taken questions.

"I was really nervous in front of all the people there. I was shaking the whole way through reading my statement.

"I've been a part of the club for 11 years and it still hasn't sunk in that I'm leaving."

Jones, who says he has made the move for a fresh challenge, is also adamant that his test career is over.

Well, almost adamant.

"Maybe if the Kiwis were in France and they lost a couple of halfbacks ... but, really, my decision is final."