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In last weekend’s Australian newspaper, hidden deep in the back pages of the sports section, was a small five-paragraph article under the headline “ARU takes over the reins at Western Force”.
The silence here in the west from the club, the supporters and the media has been deafening.
Make no mistake, this is akin to an ailing business being put into administration. Were it a public company, the board and senior executives would be held to task, as this is the culmination of a catalogue of errors which started on day one.
Recall the promise under which the club started in 2005. Riding a wave of emotion to bring rugby to Western Australia, the ARU could not ignore the passionate voices from the west demanding the 12th team be awarded to Perth over a bid from Melbourne.
The start was promising. Let’s not forget by the second season the team included the likes of Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell, Nathan Sharpe, Brendan Cannon and a future leader in the 17-year-old David Pocock. Coached by John Mitchell and with the backing of major sponsor Emirates, the future looked bright.
But cracks began to appear.
A lack of due diligence and rush for cash and signings saw a side-deal done with Firepower to lure Giteau to Perth. The promised cash evaporated almost as soon as the ink was dry.
We the supporters were never clearly told what occurred, but Giteau got burnt. His mate Mitchell also decided something didn’t smell right.
Our reputation for the wild west, with deals done over a few beers, was enhanced. Firepower was found to be nothing but a scam. The Force claimed they had nothing to do with a third-party deal, but the perception became reality.
Culture and people again led to the first major issues in the late-2000s, with simmering tensions between coach and players resulted in John Mitchell leaving. Who knows what happened, as supporters we were simply not told, but something was wrong.
Richard Graham was then appointed in yet another mistake, as he left for a better offer at Queensland halfway through the 2012 season. The players were furious, deciding they would coach themselves rather than have Graham, and so they did.
It was while sitting on hot, temporary, metal seats in a stadium still under construction, watching a player-coached team lose miserably to the new Melbourne Rebels, that I decided I’d had enough and resigned my membership in protest. But we hadn’t hit rock bottom.
Pocock was doing his best to get high-profile players, and the Force should have got Will Genia but the deal was botched – or Genia was concerned enough about the lack of strategy, direction and coach not to come.
Pocock then left and with him the future of the club, for here was a man who embodied everything a club would want: courage, integrity, teamwork and absolute determination walked out the door.
After seven years of blood, sweat and tears, Pocock worked out the club had no future. The major financial backer Emirates had also seen enough and no longer wanted their name associated with the club.
A new naming sponsor could not be found, and the Force faced the embarrassment of having a different sponsor on each player’s jersey. Cash was now critical.
Michael Foley was appointed coach under yet further controversial circumstances, as an unsuccessful run at the head coach’s job for NSW saw the manager and chairman of the Waratahs resign before Foley jumped ship.
Why they chased a coach who was in the middle of an unseemly mess no one explained, but by now we were left picking up players who could not get starting positions with other countries or states.
The gameplan had to keep up with the lack of talent, and so the style of play during the 2015 season was simple: kick the ball down the field and hope something happens. The result? Three wins, a wooden spoon, and pissed-off supporters.
The side had one win from nine games in 2016 before the ARU stepped in and took control. Rumours circulated that Perth may even lose the team for a move to Western Sydney.
The loyal supporters and players who give their all deserve an apology and explanation from all who have served on the board and management since the club’s inception.
Nothing less is acceptable.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.