Retiring Super League star Kyle Amor turned professional because his wife wanted an expensive pram for their first child.
Amor, who holds his testimonial game at Whitehaven on October 13 between Cumbria and Wales, revealed his first pro deal in an interview for the trade paper Rugby League Express.
He told writer Richard de la Riviere that his wife had fallen pregnant after he was told he was going on the 2009 BARLA tour to Fiji, Samoa and Australia.
Amor revealed: “Workington and Whitehaven wanted to sign me and Stephen Holgate took me to Whitehaven. They offered me £350 a month, plus winning and losing pay.
“They had a decent side, always in the top four or five and my wife wanted a pram that cost about £1,000. We couldn’t afford it but I knew if I signed we could get the pram.”
Amor had a special word for Gerd Stokes who coached him at Whitehaven after the father of England cricket captain Ben Stokes had moved from Workington.
“Brilliant. Ged believed in me and turned me into a front-rower, I didn’t really understand how to play the game, but I was really fit and wanted to carry the ball.
“Ben did a nice write-up for my testimonial brochure recently.”
Amor has named a star-studded Cumbria squad which will be cut to 21 men on the week of the game, and all players named will also be subject to Grand Final appearances.
Tickets have been launched from the game via Skiddle, as well as being available from Sportzone in Whitehaven.
