The NRL’s own website could barely hide its excitement in the lead up, declaring, “Gaz is back! Yep, after 661 days in the rugby union wilderness, Mark Gasnier returns to the NRL…”
Though named on the bench in the less-than-familiar No.20, there was plenty of suggestion floating around over the weekend that Gasnier would slot straight back into the starting side. The loss of Kiwi back rower Jeremy Smith from the Dragons side did little to quell the speculation.
In the end, he didn’t start, but the 54 minutes he did play would have been more than first anticipated. He showed some glimpses of his old league-playing self too, managing a few offloads and a line break for the outing.
There were no obvious signs of trying to lay the ball back for the arriving ruck cleaner-outerers, but I do think I saw him mouth “pour les sakes de f…” as he dropped a pass in the Dragons last minute final attacking raid. As they say in the classics, he’ll be better for the run.
Of course it’s history now that Gasnier spent the past 18 months in France, playing two seasons of rugby in the borderline garish, but always bright, pink jerseys of Stade Francais in Paris.
With Stade, he linked with former NSW and current Queensland Reds coach Ewan McKenzie, who tried unsuccessfully to bring Gasnier across to rugby while coaching the Waratahs.
And he did pretty well in rugby, too. Though never really cementing himself in one position, often being switched between wing and inside or outside centre, “Marc” Gasnier (as he was referred) still maintained his ability to find the try line.
Obviously, Gasnier impressed the right people at Stade too, because as recently as April he was still very much on their wanted list. Stade CEO Mathias Poursine told the Sydney Morning Herald at the time, that despite not nailing down one particular position, Gasnier was set to become a game-breaker in rugby, and that his club would do all it could to keep Gasnier in Paris.
”I am sure he has not yet arrived at his best level in playing rugby union. He can really improve. He is one of the players in the world who, to me, is an X-factor player – a player who has in his hands the possibility to change something in the game. And only a few players have this,” Poursine said in April.
However, Poursine could also see the lure of heading home, too, ”I can feel that he misses the country,” he said later in the same article.
And the lure has been as strong as it has been persistent. Mentioned as a potential recruit almost twelve months ago when the Melbourne Rebels gained entry into an expanded Super 15 competition, the occasional whispers turned into rather loud screams when ARU interest in Gasnier became obvious early this year.
While the Rebels were obvious candidates from the start, Queensland also sounded like a likely destination with McKenzie now carrying the Reds’ clipboard, and even the Brumbies were mentioned at one point.
ARU High Performance manager David Nucifora even declared in February that Gasnier could potentially be a Wallaby tourist by year’s end if he was back playing in Australia by mid-year.
So here is where the unanswered questions start. For starters, what went wrong? How did negotiations with Australian rugby go from ‘looking to be finalised’ in mid-March, to arguments over length of contract in early May, to concessions of losing the race by the start of June?
What happened for rugby league and St.George/Illawarra to suddenly rocket back into contention?
Why was there hardly a noise from NSW this time around, given the pull of Sydney played such an obvious role in Gasnier’s return to the Dragons, and with the Waratahs then pursuing Scott Staniforth and signing Ryan Cross from the Western Force?
Was the interest in rugby from Gasnier just limited to earning Euros? And did Australian rugby allow itself to be used as a pawn for Gasnier to get back to Kogarah?
I just find it difficult to comprehend how the ARU, who at times ran a lone race to bring Gasnier back to Australia, could miss out on their man so spectacularly, especially after Gasnier himself had not twelve months ago said “I’m not going back to rugby league”.
Mind you, new Prime Minister Julia Gillard only weeks ago declared she was more chance of playing full forward for the Western Bulldogs as she was of challenging Kevin Rudd. Maybe things really do change that quickly.
Typically, the code extremists have raced to air their opinions too, with the ‘rah rahs’ declaring already that Gasnier wasn’t much chop in rugby anyway, while the ‘mungos’ decided Gasnier probably got bored only touching the ball once every 20 minutes.
Dragons back-rower Dean Young got his sneaky two cents in early, too, telling reporters last week “he probably hasn’t tackled anyone or played a hard game of footy in 18 months…” Oh Dean, aren’t you the jokester…
Don’t get me wrong here, I honestly think Gasnier playing league again is the best fit anyway, just as it was when Andrew Johns entertained the idea of switching codes years ago.
But just as I was with Johns, I can’t help but feel a touch disappointed that we’ll never get to judge Gasnier as a rugby player in Australia. And more so that the ARU could lose out from such a seemingly winning position.
chris
Guest
Iam getting board about the so-called war between League and Union and it's now time to sort stuff out because AFL and to a lesser extent Soccer are attacking League/Union area of NSW and QLD plus League seems to be going nowhere in the UK and France.
Mr Saunders
Roar Guru
It's a bit site, Brett , so no worries. For future reference I might just change to Ben, like I said. My dad doesn't even get called Mr Saunders. *** Depends on the subject, RK, but an away win in Australia will certainly chill a brother out :-)
st penguin
Guest
Well there's one other issue that I havent seen anyone bring up. If he was to stick with union, it's hard to believe he would do it just to play for the rebels. The real prize would be the wallaby jersey and a chance to play in next year's world cup. But based on recent results, maybe he's thinking even if he does mange to crack the Wallabies squad, there's a good chance they'll just get bundled out in the QFs anyway?
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
Hutch - IMHO Gaz would have been another turnstile against the Boks or ABs - don't mean to offend your RL sensitivities but ex RL backs have been given the opportunities and unfortunately for them - and us - they have struggled to rise above anything but an average display in the Tri Nations - however they have performed reasonably well against the lessor nations.
JF
Guest
Yes, that was exciting news about the SRU and the possibility of a post-season club comp, hopefully something will happen - anything, please!
Go_the_Wannabe's
Guest
I always have a laugh when people cry poor for the ARU......"They don't have the funds to get rugby into the state school system, we just don't have the revenue of the AFL or NRL to compete against Auskick etc" Then how come they suddenly had the funds for a Tuquiri, Rogers, Sailor or even to try for a broken a*se like Gasnier? (Fire up bitch!!!!) And don't tell me they paid for it by extra bums on seats at the grounds......I doubt they had little impact. They don't want to get into state schools, it's too hard, end of story. They just want to rely on the self funded club system to maintain the grass roots for them - cost free! No wonder we will be coming last in the 3N for the forseeable future. Unbelievable.
The all new King of the Gorganites
Guest
I have opted for a name change as well- new financial year and all!
Brett McKay
Guest
yeah, true Reds, they did too. I just hope it gets better treatment than does the playoff between the Syd and Bris premiers...
reds fan
Guest
Although Brett, the SRU did make comments regarding closer ties with Bris rugby. Not sure what that could entail... there was some mention of an end of year knock out comp....
Brett McKay
Guest
WCR, you could well be right there, that it might prompt a rethink of the third tier/domestic comp, but I also fear that the recent reinstatement of the Sydney Rugby Union (SRU) to oversee the Sydney club scene might actually entrench the Syd clubs further. I personally would still like the NZRU open up the NPC to Australian sides (and revenue), but I fully understand and repect our Kiwi cousins' reluctance to allow this too. By the way, after making this point above, I remembered that young Matt Toomua was only last year called into the Wallabies Spring Tour squad on the back of some decent form shown for Western Province in the Currie Cup, but admittedly that was only a 6 week stint and he had been playing for Easts (I think?) prior to that...
Brett McKay
Guest
I knew the code extremists couldn't ignore this forever.....
hutch
Guest
rickety, gasnier started pretty much every game he played for stade francais and im not sure what you mean by fear of failure for the whole world to see? just on your last point, pretty much every play that has crossed from league to union has made their national team within the first year of playing a sport they had previously never played before. cannot remember a union player coming to league who made the kangaroosmso quickly! agree on one thing though, ray price (son of a north sydney bear) was a great footballer!
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Hutch 'it is the toughest “rugby” comp on earth.' That's a matter of opinion. How much Top 14/Guiness Premiership/Magner's League or Super Rugby do you watch?. Until you have actually seen other Rugby Competitions to claim one as the 'toughest' is a little premature.
hutch
Guest
i like how playing 50 plus tests at a sport you have never played before equals not making an impact. you can have your scrums mate, we'll enjoy the big hits and spectacular tries!
hutch
Guest
how is playing nrl being in a comfort zone? it is the toughest "rugby" comp on earth.
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
Hey Mr S - WW or KO have you mellowed from the times of KO when you were at your most combatitive?
Brett McKay
Guest
apologies then mate, I'd missed the update!! I knew you were WW, but I'd missed this latest change. Thanks for catching me up. If any other Roarers need to fill me in too, that'd be great (Though it might mean that after thinking I've got x number of regular commenters, it's only 3 blokes using multiple names!!!) An anyway, "Mr Saunders" barely rates in terms of pretentiousness when compared to some names out there. I mean really, who and where exactly is he the "Sheek" of?!?!?! :-p
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Brett You have a good point there. Pity. Especially if he shows something worthy of consideration during his time there. From what I did see of him playing for Toulon he certainly took to the game far easier than previous converts. In terms of pillaging the current Sydney and Brisbane setups if the door was opened to be selected via the ITM Cup. Maybe it might finally provide the impetus for the clubs to get off their collective backsides and sort out a proper third tier structure that could provide greater competition locally once and for all.
Ben
Guest
Here here rickety........exactly.....it takes something special in rugby and lest we forget KING Wally who stated in mark Ella played league he wouldn't be king.
Brett McKay
Guest
WCR, I bet he can't push for a Wallabies jumper this year, not while ever he's not playing rugby in Australia. If they started picking Wallabies from the NPC, there'd be a flood of players wanting to head east, which in turn would only further dilute the Sydney and Brisbane club comps. But I do agree, the Hawkes Bay move is a smart one for Rooney...