After another day of drama, the reeling Queensland Reds are braced for another gut-wrenching Super 14 defection with strike weapon Digby Ioane admitting he could follow Berrick Barnes to the NSW Waratahs.
Ioane indicated all bets were off on Thursday just an hour after Queensland Rugby Union chief executive Ken Freer announced his resignation.
The powerful three-quarter, who had a handshake deal with Freer to stay at Ballymore, could opt to follow playmaker Barnes south next week.
While he was keen to stick with the Super 14 battlers, Ioane told AAP that Barnes’ surprise decision put a new light on his prolonged contract negotiations.
The injured Wallabies flyer, worried the Reds backline would be affected by Barnes’ departure, said he would “weigh up” his future again this weekend.
“I said to the Reds that I would stay but there’s been a big pause in the middle (of the contract process) before Berrick going,” he said.
“I want to make the right decision for my future.
“That’s the hard thing now that Berrick has gone.
“I just have to do what’s the best thing for my rugby.
“I though Berrick was going to stay but I guess he wasn’t happy.
“I just need a bit of time to think over the whole thing.”
Barnes’ one-year deal with the Waratahs, with an option for 2011, puts him squarely in the picture to sign with the new Super 15 franchise, expected to be from Melbourne.
Victorian-raised Ioane has been targeted by the Melbourne bid teams but he played down thoughts of a return home.
“It’s a new team again and you have to think about we’re you can play your best footy,” he said.
Ioane’s move back to square one has kicked Reds officials while they are sprawled on the deck.
The Reds, who have also lost Wallabies forward Hugh McMeniman, started the week believing both Barnes and Ioane, their two best backs this season when they finished second last, were virtually in the bag through to the 2011 World Cup.
“We’re doing as much as we can but (Ioane) has intimated to me that he’s staying here,” said Reds general manager Daniel Herbert.
“But until we sign the contract there’s the chance he won’t, so we’ve got to be prepared I suppose.”
QRU chairman Peter Lewis dismissed speculation Freer had been sacked and also denied persistent rumours former CEO and coach Jeff Miller and Wallabies great Tim Horan were being viewed as replacements.
Freer, who said he decided before this month to finish his three-year stint this year, will continue in his position until October.
“Ken took this decision months ago and by agreement we wouldn’t say anything until the season was well and truly over and the review was over,” Lewis said.
“There was absolutely no rush, he’s kindly agreed to stay on.
“We’re not sacking him, we’re not rushing him out the door.
“He just feels it’s time to move on.”
Things went from bad to worse for the Reds late on Thursday with Lewis advising the QRU board of his decision to resign as a director and chairman, effective Friday.
Lewis told the board he was concerned that recent adverse publicity over his business affairs could cause collateral damage to Queensland Rugby if he was to remain on the board.
His decision comes in the wake of his resignation last week as deputy chairman of Trinity, the property group which has been hit by the costly walkout of key executives.
“My decision has been taken in the best interests of Queensland Rugby, to protect the organisation from any fallout that may result from the recent adverse publicity concerning my company, Trinity,” Lewis said in a statement.
Queensland businessman Steve Wilson was installed as the acting chairman.
Sammy22
Guest
ahhh reds always to break the news......tis a wonderful moment. Joking aside it will give the youngers a good spur along just need the coaching staff to do the same and we will have a dam good throw of the dice next year........just an update on today in Premier Qld, Souths with all those useless reds playing beat Brothers other useless reds 34 : 05 which is a bit of a surprise and better news was Breakers winning against Uni 25 :24 after being 21 :3 down.......so the world rolls on and the reds will again be there....half glass full
johnny-boy
Guest
Ioane is the man !
johnny-boy
Guest
The problem Barnes hasn't thought thru - is that Hickey wont let the Tah backs play footy, just like McKenzie. Tuquiri was bored s......and so entertained himself with other pursuits, obviously
reds fan
Guest
Ioane has finally made a decision based on what he wants, not what others are doing. I think its a great moment for him. Wonderful news. Glad to see you staying Digby. You can lead.
FRED
Guest
EVEN LOOSER, good calls on all fronts,well said
Even looser
Guest
I can well imagine how Qld fans must feel. If it were me, I'd be gut wrenched. I have to be honest and say that the flip side of the coin is that as a NSW fan who's lived through the bad and the not so bad, I'm excited at the arrival of Barnes and possibly Ionne (sp?). God what a backline and with our forward pack............ Yep so excited in fact that it's actually distracting me from following what the Wallabies are up to. I take this moment say that my thoughts, and I'm sure those of Rugby fans around the world, go out to Robbie Deans for his loss.
Virgil
Guest
He went from Reds to Force, back to Reds and likely now south of the Tweed. Devastating news on top of the Barnes fiasco.
Corvus
Guest
Was there an uproar when Little joined the Tah's or did it not matter because in those days QLD were riding high? Do any Tahs fans feel uneasy about all the QLD'ers in your team? I like Alex Evans idea of a one off State of Origin style series. I think this is inevitable as the teams get and more blended with players from other states and countries. Final point, I think the loss of Barnes delivered what a lot of Reds fans have been wanting for a long time and that is a clean of the admin from the top down.
Derm
Roar Guru
You applying that statement to all rugby clubs or just Australian ones?
onside
Guest
John allyne Loyalty in Australian professional rugby is an illusion. Only supporters have trouble accepting it. It's not that the players do not give their best ,but unlike the past, the cheque book rules the heart. Professional rugby players will wear any teams jersey and promote any sponsors product if the contract is acceptable.Like all professional codes this is fine as long as the team is winning.Once the team stops winning,or is less successful, supporters stop going to the games and sponsers withdraw financial support.This makes it difficult ,if not impossible ,to attrack the new talent that is necessary to win games and increase supporters to games. Elite players ,financially dependant on being part of a winning team,consider options and look for opportunities in other clubs.Because Australia has followed the American franchise system the support base is not part of a club with a long proud history.There are no club rooms,stories to embellish, or sage advice to the young.Its rugby in a vaccuum.This is particularly difficult for the majority of Australian rugby supporters as they were weaned on both school and club rugby where loyalty and integrity were the status quo. John O'Neill realises all this and that is why teams from Japan and Argentina are being touted as the salvation of Australian rugby.Its self serving spin.Rugby as most supporters would like it is a pipedream.It will never happen again.Super rugby has seen to that.If you want loyalty ,involvment mateship and fun ,then get along to a local club.Support them.Its fair dinkum.Super rugby is an emotional empty vessel.Its live theatre.The ARU negotiate with players and their agents as if they were cattle.Rocky Elsom who does not use an agent was offered a shabby contract by the ARU and promptly left the country for Ireland.How can there be loyalty if the best players in the land have to jockey with the ARU for every dollar they are worth.Like all professions rugby players want to be part of a gun side.Just imagine being an award winning copywriter in a dud advertising agency that was loosing accounts and key personnell."I'm outta here'.Ioanne and Barnes are no different.
John allyne
Guest
what a wank just shows you how bad nsw is they can`t even develope their own, why would you want to play for them , they have no forwards, and most of all no coaches, no CEO with any idea and the captain is over the hill
The Other Reds FAn
Guest
Barnes went to Sydney to play five-eighth. But they already have two and the Force were searching all around the world for one. If I was Barnes I would have gone to the Force to join O'Connor, Cross and Shepherd. Better team, better coach. NSW will do better than Queensland next year but they will still only be also-rans again - third best Australian side.Then Barnes will move to Melbourne with Ioane. After the world cup they will be gone and forgotten.
AndyS
Guest
Now that is an interesting point..."no loyalty or pride in the jersey anymore. No men of honour and principles like Horan and Eales". But I wonder what opinion you would have got on that statement in '95 when the machinations were going on with the Super League, players were forcing the change to professionalism etc...?
onside
Guest
Jason Point made re Tim Horan. But quite possibly he did not want to play League regardless of the money. In todays market however,Tim, on one leg ,would pick up a lazy million playing union in,well anywhere.
Jason
Guest
I'm from the old school Fred. I couldn't give a rats arse about management. If your a Queenslander, you should play for Queensland. I really don't like the professional, mercenary spectacle rugby has become. Tim Horan turned down $300K/season to go to Balmain to stay playing rugby for QLD. There's a real man.
FRED
Guest
jason.do you think character is strengthened thru good leadership and honest culture? do you accept mgt at reds has been strong;altruistic or selfish/ego driven.
Jason
Guest
I couldn't care less about non-international rugby anymore. They're all whores. There's no loyalty or pride in the jersey anymore. No men of honour and principles like Horan and Eales. The way rugby's going it won't be long before pick and chose what country they play for as well.
Justin
Guest
Agree Hansie, he cried until they let him back to QLD to be with his family, now he is wanting to piss off. He wont be getting more money and NSW doesnt exactly have winner written all over them (despite their recruits). Lets say I dont like how it smells....
Hansie
Guest
Ioane is starting to look like a rugby mercenary. Didn't he leave the Force, after committing to them, on compassionate grounds? Maybe he'll be less home sick for Brisbane in Sydney than in Perth.
True Tah
Guest
I can't blame Ioane for wanting to play for the Tahs, he will have a good forward pack to give him decent ball, I only hope Hickey changes the game plan...Ioane was the Reds best player this season, probably will mean Ratu wont get a look in for the Tahs next season, barring injury.