brad
Great White
he playing at about 250k at the moment
"Sonny summed himself up on that night of the 2004 grand final," says cousin Henry Perenara, now with Cronulla. "When he walked into this packed nightclub, everyone was grabbing at him, yelling at him - there was chaos.
"I just pushed across the room, said 'Congratulations cuz', and went back to a corner with my mates. And five minutes later Sonny was right there beside me . . . he just smiled and said, 'It's all too much'."
CRONULLA playmaker Henry Perenara -- dubbed a Saviour of the Shire only weeks ago -- is now considering life as a coalminer.
Undergoing shoulder surgery at Baulkham Hills hospital yesterday, Perenara conceded his battling career of eight seasons, five clubs and 72 NRL games may finally be over.
As a result, the 27-year-old has suddenly become a poster boy for the Rugby League Players' Association campaign to save more than 30 NRL players from the scrapheap.
"I love the Sharks and have really enjoyed my season here," says Perenara, a survivor of six one-year contracts since 2002.
"But I have a family to consider and obviously my partner, who is studying for a Masters Degree, is getting tired of surviving on part-time deals.
"Last year I had an offer to play for Thirroul in the Illawarra competition and work in the mines at Appin -- so that could be an option.
"It just gets tough when you're injured and don't have that footy income. Thankfully I've been saving match payments to help me get through a period like this."
Perenara describes himself as a "footy trivia question" following a rollercoaster
career that includes the Warriors, Melbourne, St George Illawarra, Parramatta and now the Sharks.
But the gritty utility, who has captained Parramatta Premier League to the past two premierships, has become something of a Shire favourite this season alongside fellow rough diamonds Brett Seymour and bouncer Eddie Su'a.
And as revealed in The Daily Telegraph yesterday, RLPA boss Matt Rodwell now wants to see changes to the salary cap in favour of such "fringe stars".
"At the moment a player can be on a $30,000 contract with another $30,000 in bonuses," Rodwell explains.
"And if that player goes well enough to achieve those incentives, the next year his value to the salary cap is $60,000.
"Now that doesn't matter if he's willing to accept a 30 grand deal again. There is still another 30 there in paper money.
"So suddenly the club isn't so keen to keep him anymore. Because his value in the salary cap is more than the club thinks he's worth."
Perenara agrees "100 per cent".
"If fringe players have a good season, the following year they get pumped [punished] for it," he said.
Perenara, who works part-time in a warehouse to supplement his footy income, played nine top grade games before dislocating his shoulder against Melbourne in round 21.
"And we would like to think Henry will still be here next year," Sharks boss Greg Pierce explained. I'm just now going through the CBA to see what we can do with his contract."
we have re-signed perenara, not sure on any of the details though.