Former South Sydney, Penrith and Gold Coast second-rower Chris Grevsmuhl will never be able to hide from his turbulent history during stints in the NRL, the last of which came to an end when he released by the Titans midway through last year.
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The 25-year-old isn’t trying to do that though, he wants to move forward and that’s a huge reason he’s signed with Orange CYMS for the 2018 Group 10 season.
CYMS captain-coach Mick Sullivan denied rumours Grevsmuhl was headed to the club in early January, but the Central Western Daily can reveal the former member of Queensland’s Emerging Origin squad has now officially inked a deal for the coming season, which kicks off on April 8.
After landing in Orange on Friday afternoon Grevsmuhl, who is married to 2014 Group 10 league tag player of the year Tori Moore, said his immediate focus is enjoying his footy but, most importantly, gaining some much-needed stability in his life.
“It was hard for us in Queensland, so it’s a really good opportunity to be around family and have that good support network there. That’s one of the main reasons (for coming to Orange),” Grevsmuhl said.
“I had a few other options but this was the best fit. I’ve picked up a good job at Forefront which was important and there’s obviously the family ties with CYMS, and Orange is a great place.
“As I said, it’s a good opportunity and I’m looking forward to it.”
Grevsmuhl did some pre-season work with CYMS in 2017 and at one stage looked likely to turn out in the West Wyalong Knockout, but his Titans contract negotiations put the kibosh on that.
“It was good, I just helped Mick out for a bit and did some training. It was a bit of fun and it got me out of the house, I was getting fat,’ Grevsmuhl laughed.
“It’ll be good to get out with the boys and play out here, I haven’t played in the bush for a while, although I’m sure I’ll get a spray from virtually everyone.”
The Townsville-born back-rower says his goal is to eventually try and get back to the NRL, but that’s obviously a long-term goal.
“Yeah definitely, I do want to get back there but I won’t kick stones if I don’t,” he said.
“In terms of footy I just want to play well out here, I’m certainly not here to lose, and try and give myself an opportunity to get back to that level.”
Sullivan is stoked to have a player of Grevsmuhl’s quality on board, but he didn’t beat around the bush in terms of the off-field challenges he’ll face.
“From a purely footballing point of view, he’s a State of Origin-level talent, but will there be challenges? Of course there will, for Chris and the club,” Sullivan said.
“But being here in a family environment will be good for him I think and he’s the master of his own destiny, so taking that road to redemption is a choice he has to make.
“Slogging it out in the country for 12 months or so might make him realise what he had in the NRL, and this might be his last chance to get back there.
“Around Christmas I did think we might be a chance to get him, but nothing was confirmed. When he was here last time he was great at training, the boys hung on his every word and absolutely loved it.
“The respect was there, so maybe a role helping with coaching is something we’ll look at to give him some more responsibility.”
Adding an interesting element to Grevsmuhl’s signing is the fact he’ll play against boom Oberon recruit Josh Starling, the pair played together at the Rabbitohs.
“Yeah I played a bit with Starlo, he’s a good bloke and he’ll go well out here,” Grevsmuhl said.
Grevsmuhl’s signing breathes life into an uncharacteristically quiet off-season for the green and golds, especially considering the calibre of player they’d lost from last year’s premiership win, with premiership-winning second-rower Garrett Field also returning to the club.
Matt Findlay
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
