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A TEXT message from his mum on Saturday night left Jamal Idris in tears and reminded him he made the right move to return to Sydney and join the Panthers.
The larger-than-life Idris met his Penrith teammates for the first time yesterday, then opened up about why being with his mother, Alana, left him with no option but to quit the Gold Coast two years into a $1.8 million, five-year deal.
Not only is Idris's signing a boost to the new-look Panthers, the dreadlocked giant's popularity is also sure to be used by the NRL in its on-going turf war with the AFL out west.
Idris quipped about the rival code: "AFL? I've read books about that game.''
Jamal Idris does his first media session with Penrith. Source: News Limited
The 23-year-old said he struggled with being isolated on the Gold Coast, so much so he couldn't bare another winter away from his mother. He has since moved into her home at Regents Park.
"Mum has been sick, and it was hard up there by myself,'' Idris said. "I had an awkward moment on Saturday. I'd been to the races earlier, and she sent me a message out of nowhere which said, 'My boy, I'm just listening to (Helen Reddy's 1973 No.1 classic) Delta Dawn, and it reminded me of you'. I used to sing that song to her when she dropped me off at school. I had a couple of tears.
"I tried flying mum up to the Gold Coast, but it was too much for her.''
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Idris said he made good friends on the holiday strip, but was disappointed injury prevented him from reaching the heights that earned him Blues and Kangaroos jumpers at the start of his career.
As for this season, Idris said his goals were simple.
"As long as I'm injury-free, I'll be happy, because that will mean I'm on the field every week,'' Idris said.
"It's funny because the majority of people ask me about (representative footy), but I don't think about that.
"I'm not thinking about the Blues, I'm not thinking about Australia, I'm not thinking about anything other than playing for this club.
"I was even thinking about the Auckland Nines today, but I don't know if I'll be playing.
"At the moment I'm 120kg. I was playing at that weight in 2012 when I was injured. I started last year around 116kg and 117kg, and it usually rolls down to around 113kg. I'm happy here. I smiled today. I've been smiling all day.''
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You have to wonder how much Idris's former club Canterbury could have done with his services in the centres, especially with the pending move of Josh Morris to fullback.
It was left to Panthers general manager Phil Gould to play a crucial role in securing Idris's move.
As Idris said: "Gus is the kind of bloke who talks to you and makes you feel like a school kid again. He has that sort of influence over you.''
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