NZ Warriors coach Nathan Brown has vehemently defended the decision by star half Chanel Harris-Tavita to step away from the NRL next year to pursue other interests.
The Auckland club has tried to nail down Harris-Tavita's service beyond his current contract, which ends this season, but he has repeatedly turned them down, revealing that he will take time off to travel and write next year instead.
Despite a recent deluge of half signings to his roster, Brown obviously rates Harris-Tavita, 23, highly and was desperate to retain him for the future - but stopped short of trying to persuade him to stay.
"Anyone who tries to talk him out of it is not doing the right thing by the kid," said Brown. "You've got to want to do this sport - it's a difficult sport, the NRL.
"It's a hard business to play if you're not mentally focused or don't want to do it. Chanel is really focused on finishing the year off strong, then he'll travel... he may play rugby league again or he may not.
"You don't want to try and convince people to do something if their heart's not in it - it's not the right thing to do."
Harris-Tavita has spent the past month recovering from a ruptured testicle suffered during the Warriors' record 70-10 Anzac Day defeat to Melbourne Storm, but has been named in the starting line-up against Newcastle Knights on Saturday.
Earlier this week, he told AAP of his plans for a 'gap year' in his rugby league career.
"I just think it's the best decision for me," he said. "Each time I told a family member or friend, it was like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
"Deep down, I knew I didn't want to sign another contract and I was trying to hide that feeling from everyone, including myself."
Brown insists Harris-Tavita has his best years ahead of him, but deserves respect for his courageous decision to take a break.
"I'm really proud of Chanel," he said. "We made an offer - I'm not going to talk the dollars, but it's a lot more than the average young kid gets in the working world and a lot more than most adults.
"He also had two other clubs actively looking at him and for them to get him from us, they would have had to offer more than we were offering him.
"To turn down the money and go into no-man's land is a big, big decision, and credit to the kid for doing what he wants to do. You just don't play rugby league or sport because you're good at it, you've got to want to do it.
"We're all proud of him, to be honest with you."
Despite losing Ash Taylor to medical retirement and Kodi Nikorima as a mid-season transfer to South Sydney Rabbitohs, the Warriors are still well covered for halves, with the recent arrivals of former North Queensland Cowboy Daejarn Asi and Sydney Roosters junior Ronald Volkman.
Next season, Manly utility Dylan Walker and Cronulla youngster Luke Metcalf will also assist their cause.
Join us at 5pm Saturday for live updates of the Warriors v Knights NRL clash
