James O’Connor, the talented, frustrating, energetic, perennially up and coming Wallaby star has been thrown a lifeline by the ARU.
The ARU in releasing James O’Connor from his Wallabies contract has given the young man something plenty of others have wished for – a chance to start again.
Hit the reset button. A time out. A clean break.
Whatever you want to call it, there will be short-term pain. Yet this is also brilliant opportunity here for O’Connor to decide what he wants to achieve, what sort of man he wants to become and set himself for a shot at it.
One of my favourite TV shows, The Wire, regularly repeats a scene where two buddy cops, fatigued of life, drive their cars out to a desolated train line and drink into the night. The irony is that the image of the train on the tracks represents the very thing they wish they could escape – the relentless, onward motion of life their inability to find a new path.
Many people feel that relenting forward motion, whether they are happy with the results or not. Sometimes the journey is a result of decisions made by the individual, sometimes not.
The ARU, probably under pressure to keep one of its brightest stars in the game, have given O’Connor many lifelines in the past that effectively just opened the signals for the train to continue on its path. Now they’ve finally derailed the late-night express to an unfulfilled career.
This isn’t meant to be an attempt to absolve O’Connor for his role in the build up to this decision, but some people – young men especially – need something to knock them off their perch to truly evaluate what they are doing and where it will get them.
A list of poor decisions has finally caught up to O’Connor. The nagging doubt (of the public and probably, if he’s willing to be honest, his own) about his personal behaviour has been answered.
The other shoe has dropped.
The main question that needs to be answered now is this: “James O’Connor, what do you want?”
That question needs to be answered by O’Connor and then he can work out the next move in his personal life and career to make that happen.
Hopefully O’Connor steps away from the game and thinks hard before acting next. A fall, a low, can be used to define a man in his future success.
Without knowing what he is thinking and what his future desires are here are the possible landing spots for O’Connor.
Western Force
This is the option most likely to be taken in the even O’Connor wants to stay in rugby, represent the Wallabies and take on his personal issues and public perception head on.
That last phrase is essential. If he stays in Australian rugby, taking less money and playing for a struggling team, O’Connor is essentially saying he has the mental and emotional strength to reform his behaviour and change his career-path in the view of the public that watched him stumble.
Having said that, the Force aren’t focused on anywhere near as much as the other Australian Super Rugby teams.
Rugby overseas
It wouldn’t be too hard to image O’Connor deciding he still wanted to play rugby and perhaps represent Australia again but decide the best way to go about that would be to take a year or so and move to a country where he won’t be in the spotlight so much.
It wouldn’t be too hard to imagine O’Connor being able to find a welcoming club in Japan or France. And those locations would allow him to leave some baggage in Australia and work on his game and personal goals in a country where the language is new, people aren’t probing so much and there is less expectation.
Rugby league
While maybe not as likely, it’s entirely possible O’Connor either wants a completely new beginning in the sense of his career-path. Maybe he feels rugby isn’t his home anymore or would rather start again while still living on the east coast of Australia, closer to family or friends.
There might be more questions to be answered about his suitability to play the game here than his commitment to personal reform, but I don’t doubt there would be suitors for him to play the other code.
His defence would hold up well enough and he could probably learn the five-eighth or fullback positions quickly.
The main trouble here is he would still be very much in the spotlight as he’d likely be based in Sydney or Brisbane.
AFL
This option is a massive long-shot but there’s money and there’s star power. The gamble here is learning a new sport and whether the AFL will back his star power over the scandal that has followed him in recent years.
A long, long shot.
No matter what happens from here, for it to be successful O’Connor needs to see past the short-term pain and seize the moment for what it really is – a reset.
Eric
Guest
A hat-trick of tries against Italy in Australia's opening Test of 2009 with further honours during the 2009 Tri-Nations. Come 2010,...... for the Tri-Nations....... ended the campaign with four tries in his final three games. He also crossed the line during a famous win for the Wallabies over New Zealand in Hong Kong later that year, scoring a try to level the scores before stepping up to seal the win with a brilliant conversion. Many more! Test Career Span Mat Start Sub Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop Won Lost Draw % All Tests 2008-2013 44 36 8 223 14 39 25 0 22 21 1 51.13
richard
Guest
Then enlighten me as to what he has done.For example,he kicked a goal to win a dead rubber match v the AB's in 2010,but am struggling to think of too many other games where he has been the difference v any of the top sides. For me "brand O'Bieber" is another Aussie player blown up by your press as some kind of superstar,when he clearly isn't.
JimmyB
Guest
"Europe is full of wannabes like him..." Not one for hyperbole are you Chan!? Before slating an entire continent (good work btw) it might be worth looking closer to home where the general level of professionalism from the average Aussie rugby player, cricketer etc is fairly laughable these days. Talking about Cipriani, he came to Australia as a very talented but unfulfilled player and left Australia as a talented but unfulfilled player with a serious lack of professionalism whose general play went alarmingly in reverse. Who did he hang out with? Oh yeah, JOC and Beale. JOC could do a hell of a lot worse than going to Europe where he would have to do a lot of growing up in order to survive, he wouldn't be indulged in quite the same way but maybe just maybe in a couple of years he could return to Australia a more rounded and worldly wise person and maybe even a half decent player to boot. Leicester would sort him out!
Eric
Guest
You haven't really been watching the Rugby, have you Richard?
Tricky Dick
Roar Rookie
But then you deny so-called fans of their righteous indignation that a talented, rich, and famous (and blonde) guy gets to live by different rules than the rest of us. I'll take eccentricity and ego all day if it comes with talent. This is sport, not mining or industry. It's supposed to be entertaining.
mania
Guest
canes will have him. we need a decent fullback. andreTaylor needs to be looking over his shoulder with a bit of fire under his butt and JOC is exactly the kinda player that can do that. unfortunately NZ doesnt pay that much but JOC would become an infinately better player with a better under standing of the game and knowledge of what team dynamics should be.
Nathan
Roar Rookie
I have no problems with a young man with the world at his feet, messing things up and losing direction. Hell, it can even happen when you only have the McDonalds deep fryer at your feet! The trouble with staying in Oz is that he only seems to have The Force as an option. Their overall quality means he has to carry some of his team mates. It's that sort of pressure which seems to be stalling his development so maybe a year in France might do it. Is a NZ side a possibility?
mania
Guest
ARU need to be careful here. playing for the WBs does not improve your brand and the jersey isnt as coveted as it has been in the past. in fact wearing green n gold at the moment would be ruining what goodWill levels of alot of WBs have. overseas clubs will be looking at buying kiwi's, saffa's and puma's before looking at a WB. market wise JOC is probably better off distancing himself from brand WBs. go overseas JOC, have an OE, make some money, do some growing up then come back home and see if u still want to be an WB.
Ra
Guest
Yes and Kevin Camody great lyrics a humble man who could not read or write but went onto get his PHd. What another great story. And what humble respect he and Paul have for each other.
Justin3
Guest
Paul Kelly, well played sir
Squirrel
Guest
Joc would be the only one decent at League the other two would be horrendous.
Ra
Guest
i answered you Allan but it doesnt look as if it has come up. Anyway, to say it again. I served my time at Gear Meat and Patea freezing works'. I said billionaire Lord Vesty worked in the guthouse at Patea for a season apparently. He must of hated it so much he closed it down one year short of its century. Shows what a prized P&%@K he must have been eh. Anyway, there's a song called From Little Things Big Things Grow. It tells a story of a humble Aborigine elder who led a passive resistence against Lord Vesty and the Aussie government to take back his ancestoral lands, back in the 1960-70s; and won. If Vesty can work in the guthouse and bow to humility, then so can O'Connor, but humility is a huge burden to carry.
IronAwe
Guest
Not a bad idea Fox, I like it.
Chracol
Guest
Well I'd like to see it - Broncos or Bulldogs. One the three amigos is always on the verge of crossing codes but it never happens.
Elisha Pearce
Expert
Check through my writing history Sprigs. I wrote a whole rugby column using House of Cards, Francis Underwood quotes!
RICHARDN
Guest
The best fit for James would be the Broncos who are desperate for class and pace in the halves. He is one of the few Wallabies who can make a break. Would probably play State of Origin in his first year in the code. The only other Wallaby who comes close is Genia.
Geoff Parkes
Expert
Let's hope for your sakes Sprigs it doesn't get canned after a disappointing first season... The ratings so far aren't good. I have the whole series of House of Cards lined up ready to go on the IQ, but haven't had a chance to watch yet.
Chracol
Guest
Where to next? A Buddhist monastery in Upper Pradesh? A few months on a Thai beach chewing peptides? Regular night owl at The Ivy in Sinny with Bud and Beale? Currently in consultation with family on the GC where an endless summer beckons. But I think Force 2014 with open arms. I mean, they must be kicking themselves with how things have turned out, him now coming with cap in hand. Thence Wallabies 2014 RC with open arms but not open wallet until 2015 whence star of a RWC in which the Wallabies under McLink scorch the field in the Australian way. Okay, 2015's a piss-take. They win it by playing what's in front of them.
Forwards can learn from JOC
Guest
I wish the wallaby FORWARDS would carry the same amount of arrogance, confidence and competitiveness that JOC has and then maybe they wont get trampled over every game. Whats worse for rugby in Australia is not that JOC occasionally gets in the paper for the wrong reasons but the fact that fans are watching the forwards being absolutely pummelled every game and not showing any form of confidence and pride. Against SA the SA forwards were bullying the wallabies by pushing them around during breaks of play and what did the wallabies do?? absolutely nothing it was embarrassing at least refuse to be intimidated and give it back to them and if it comes down to it punch on... i along with many other fans im sure would love to see some passion come out of the wallabies in the form of a good old fashioned punch on. Its a stupid move by the ARU, i dont care how arrogant JOC is and what petty incidents get blown out of proportion, he is the best back australia has ATM and the wallabies need him now more than ever, if you disagree watch this youtube tribute, it shows what he did in 2011 alone. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qRYIbdvkF4. and if you are going to argue about his defence watch scott Allens vid analysis and he'll prove you wrong. Its obvious JOC needs help but the ARU, Mackezie and the playing group should be helping him with his off field issues rather then potentially losing such a quality player overseas or to another code.
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
Whether you like him as a player or not it would be good to see him get his act together and continue to play rugby. Some of these wayward guys can succeed. This must be his last chance though otherwise he will never learn.