Let's not boo Dura at the match back in Welly

Long time Nix fan, first time YF poster.

I'm all for booing Rudan when he comes back to the Cake Tin, but does Durante deserve the same treatment? Club legend, he wanted game time, and WU offered it to him, simple as that. I say we focus on supporting our current boys for the amazing season they've had, rather than booing Dura.

YohanGoodbye

Long time Nix fan, first time YF poster.

I'm all for booing Rudan when he comes back to the Cake Tin, but does Durante deserve the same treatment? Club legend, he wanted game time, and WU offered it to him, simple as that. I say we focus on supporting our current boys for the amazing season they've had, rather than booing Dura.

we offered him game time, keeping the captaincy and a back office role when he retied. Pretty sure he would have played more with us than he has with WU. Yet he still shafted us.  

Judge a man by the company he keeps. 

It would be quite nice if we could be a bit different and applaud this true club legend when he returns.

Just wondering what people's beef with Dura is? Serious question. I mean, player leaving for a better opportunity isn't unusual. What is it that I am missing? 

It's the fact that he was offered playing time and a subsequent deal working in the back-office which made many feel like a slight when he left.
I was one of those, though as time passes I can perhaps understand how he'd want to return closer to his family.
I think he copped a lot of flax for being one of three valuable players who left along with Rudan, so we felt betrayed by that.

I also think this post is fairly meaningless. Boo him/them if you want, cheer them on if you want, or just do nothing and enjoy the first home game in 400+ days!

I don't think any of those things cast him in a bad light.
Rudan's a grub. Does following a grub out the door make Dura a grub too? Was Dura a grub before he met Rudan?

He’s due some stick for how his team behaved and behaves and their boorish fouls last time. 
I don’t expect any quarter from him as a player and I don’t think we should be kind to him.
That said legend of the Nix and there  may be an appropriate tribute, perhaps after the game?
Genuinely conflicted.

Yeah, the ongoing fouls are irritating
We sure didn't lose anything when he left

for me the fact he went with rudan and other nix players grinds my gears.....
do still think he a legend and should be celebrated once he retires....
or after the game....

I think ultimately both him and the team are better off for the change, and I think that’s what people are getting at. A new coach may not have played him as a starter.
Though he did seem to be on Rudan’s sour grapes train when he left. 
But he’s Dura! The Phoenix captain. Don’t think that’s a regard you lose. Still think Ross Aloisi is a legend.
To think the other way round what does he think of Welly, the Fever and his time in Welly now do you reckon?

Durante was out of contract and free to do what he wanted, if you get a better offer for you or your family then you'll take it despite any loyalty to your current job. Heck, a change of scenery is always good - Durante was with the Nix for ten years, I tend to change jobs every two.

Rudan was different as he was making hiring decisions and consulting with WU while still contracted to the Nix.

Let's not forget how he departed the club. Yes, he was out of contract and so had every right to go elsewhere (tbf I think it was better he left because he was poor for much of his time here). But to go with Rudan. Total dick move.

This is also soon after the club help fund his post-playing personal development trip/holiday to the US.

This is also soon after the club organised a testimonial for him, where he himself collected a tidy sum from money raised, rather than a charity. For someone who probably made $3 million plus here that seems a little on the nose.

It's really up to people to decide if they want to boo him. I can understand why people would want to because the way he left tarnished his 'legend' status.

Let's not ignore the self-centered whining from his friends and family about how the club hadn't handed him even more money from his testy.

Fudge him. He's fair game. He could have departed, even in that window on terms that wouldn't have burnt bridges but he chose not to.

Interesting. There are a couple of new perspectives here that I wasn't aware of.

Renrub

Let's not forget how he departed the club. Yes, he was out of contract and so had every right to go elsewhere (tbf I think it was better he left because he was poor for much of his time here). But to go with Rudan. Total dick move.

This is also soon after the club help fund his post-playing personal development trip/holiday to the US.

This is also soon after the club organised a testimonial for him, where he himself collected a tidy sum from money raised, rather than a charity. For someone who probably made $3 million plus here that seems a little on the nose.

It's really up to people to decide if they want to boo him. I can understand why people would want to because the way he left tarnished his 'legend' status.

You never took professional development and then changed jobs? 

Boo him on field during the 90 mins, applaud him walking off.

I have no qualms with him leaving. He dealt with so much bullshark during his time here. However, if you leave, then don't expect love when you come back. It's just how football is.

WhoStoleMySock

Boo him on field during the 90 mins, applaud him walking off.

Agree with this. The crowd likes to boo players in an attempt to put them off their game, and give the home side a home advantage right? Nothing wrong with that. But if the game is played in good spirit (which might be asking too much given the opposition) then cheer Dura off the field for everything he gave the Nix during his time here.

I remember years ago when Adnan came back to the stadium with Brisbane (at near their best) for the first time after having his penalty saved in the qualifier. The crowd certainly didn't let him forget it, and he had an absolute mare, was pretty funny even though I think we lost the game in the end.