League: Jones - why I have quit

Stacey Jones at the media conference in Auckland yesterday. Picture / Paul Estcourt

Warriors icon Stacey Jones will move to France at the end of the season, saying he has had enough of the NRL and life in the limelight.

Jones has been granted an early release from the Warriors and will head to Union Treiziste Catalane (UTC) in Perpignon.

Speculation has been rife for months that Jones and the Warriors were on the verge of parting company.

However, both parties had repeatedly denied such claims and only a few weeks ago the Warriors said they would wait until June, when the anti-tampering deadline ends, to meet Jones and discuss his future.

But at a media conference at Auckland's Ericsson Stadium yesterday - a day out from the Anzac test - the quietly spoken Jones sat alongside Warriors chief executive Mick Watson and read a brief statement outlining the reasons for his departure.

Jones, who was made a life member of the club last month, had team-mates Monty Betham and Nathan Fien in support as he carefully read his statement.

He said he met Watson last year to discuss leaving.

"Right at the start of our off-season I sat down with Mick to talk about my plans. It has been on my mind for a while to look at finishing up in the NRL at the end of 2005.

"Being a Warrior has been really important to me, but there comes a time when you know you need a change," Jones said.

"I told Mick I'd put everything into the off-season, play one more year, then I would like to move on.

"I want to get away from the spotlight so I can just play football and have some normal time with my family. That is why I am going to France."

After reading his statement, Jones then chose not to answer any questions, sitting silently at his own leaving party.

Watson described it as a "critical day" in the history of the Warriors.

"For 11 seasons Stacey Jones has been the face of the Warriors. No player has done more for this club.

"He wasn't certain about carrying on last year. But after the season we had in 2004 it was vital that we convinced him to stay. It would not have been the way we wanted to remember Stacey, or the way he wanted to leave the club at the time."

The Warriors have been criticised for releasing Ali Lauitiiti, Vinnie Anderson, Logan Swann and Thomas Leuluai, but yesterday it was reinforced the decision was Jones'.

Watson said Jones told him he was "struggling in the environment" and that he wanted to have a look at opportunities outside New Zealand.

Jones was keen to escape the media spotlight where his personal life often featured.

Watson helped to set up Jones with UTC where he has signed a letter of intent.

The UTC assistant coach is Paul Donkin, who formerly worked at the Warriors.

Jones was approached by Wigan last year, but Watson said there were no other offers on the table.

He said Jones' departure would not leave the club wanting in the halfback position.

"We won't have another Stacey Jones, but we are well placed to move on. We've got the likes of Nathan Fien and Lance Hohaia, who readily play in the No 7 jersey. There's no need to look any further than that."

Stacey Jones

Position: Halfback
Age: 28
Height: 171cm
Weight: 84kg
Club: Warriors
Club points: 557
Club appearances: 221
Club debut: Warriors v Parramatta, Parramatta Stadium, April 23, 1995
Previous clubs: City-Point Chevalier (Auckland)
Other honours: 34 tests for Kiwis (1995-2003)