"An idiotic decision": Forrest fires back after ARU axe the Force

How will you pay the players?

I think somewhere between this 'Storm as saviours of the NRL' and the multiple 'Storm are a non entity' posts above is the truth about where that well run (but operating in a challenging environment) club sits.

What a massive disappointment! Here's my random alternatives Quit Super Rugby and have a 6 team domestic comp inc Brisbane Sydney Western Sydney ACT WA VIC with a view to increasing teams if viable Save NSW and QLD for origin series(apologies to other states we need the dollars) International teams eg Fiji to play a few tour matches before a test. Let players go overseas and still play for the Wallabies. Pay local players what you can afford. Stay at cheap hotels, bus instead of plane, cut the size of the Wallaby training squad, Move the ARU to Parramatta, Save wherever you can. Hit up every billionaire in Australia and sell them a vision Stop employing bankers to run the game. Market to the masses instead of preaching to the converted. Think outside the square when recruiting eg Kenya, US etc adding flavour and personality to the comp. Show some imagination.

As a result of their (ARU) actions I think that will happen anyway. Bledisloe attendance this year will surely be at an all time low. A 'financial decision' that will hurt them elsewhere I'm sure.

Rebels barely any better, but had upto 8vs2 quota of marque players, and over twice the amount of money over $21mil vs $12mil, and that's only 2014-2016. Here's a link for you to get your facts straight, or look up and article by Alison Foskett. http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/who-do-you-think-you-are-kidding-mr-clyne-if-you-think-we-cant-do-sums/

Here's the financials: ERU and VRU are one and the same corrupt spendthrifts http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/who-do-you-think-you-are-kidding-mr-clyne-if-you-think-we-cant-do-sums/ The percentage of registered players by state was quoted in one of these articles in the last day or two, the relevant numbers were something like: WA nearly 9% Vic just over 4% The Force had just signed the largest australian sponsorship deal this year. The Force now have significant backing from Twiggy and other WA businessmen and the WA Govt. The Rebels are millstone on the australian rugby, the first fatality was the one state where there was growth with more potential. The ERU and its apologists are dancing whilst Nero fiddles and rugby in this country dies. They've already reduced WA rugby to ashes.

Mat and Phantom, He, like everyone else in the West assumed there were actual measurable KPIs for the Force to pass before they were cut. It became apparent as time went on that infact there were none. Hence our (the wests) frantic late challenge to the corruption coming from the ERU. We all know in the west what has now been lost due to the ERUs poison, if only we'd realised it earlier.

Nobody in melbourne knows who the storm are? What a load of garbage rah rah.

I also would like to add Cameron Clyne stated that Andrew Forrest came on the scene late. So what? The important thing is that he came on aboard when he saw the danger of being cut. Last minute saviours are heroes ... ask any exhausted swimmer pulled out of rip by lifesavers. Ask any home owner who was in danger of having their house burnt down and all posessions lost but for the firemen who came along 'at the last minute' ..

Let's publish playing numbers, home grown wallabies, financial backing and the 2017 results. Then get back to us..

And this is exactly the type of thinking that is killing this country.

Who cares? The bigger question is why did the ARU stick to such a dumb decision? What criteria can possibly support it and how on earth is it best for Aust. rugby? Potshots at a guy who is fighting the good fight don't make sense.

I'm a Waratahs supporter who feels exactly the same as the Force supporters. I am extremely angry about this decision and can't see myself watching or supporting Australian rugby until it is reversed. The decision was wrong and came from Australia's most corrupt state, NSW. We are corrupt on water, corrupt on waste, corrupt on development, corrupt on environment, corrupt on gambling, corrupt in sport. Now we poison the rest of the country.

I saw a good comparison to this decision: that of a child that was very sick but miraculously recovered and are now healthy but that has die so that his organs can be used to save four other sick children. Put yourself in the shoes of a parent of that child and you will understand why WA fan’s are outraged and turn their backs on Australian rugby. For many Force fan’s the team is their baby, it is family. This is an injustice to WA, a shame on the ARU and even the teams that will benefit from the cannabilisation of the Force should take a good look at themselves. The argument that this is for the greater good rings hollow and only show a lack of emphathy.

Agreed wholeheartedly with Rah Rah

Whilst conceptually I agree with you in regards to a Board clean out, however a whole new board and CEO will inherit the same continuous issues. Until root and branch reform happen in NSW & QLD State bodies, the same political machinations will continue to deathride the game here.

Perth is afl country, the numbers don't lie. We hardly heard or knew who the force were playing at home most of the time.

Exactly... another johnny come lately hero, grandstanding and soaking up all the limelight. Look at the free publicity he's getting over the past week.

Will ziggy put money into WA rugby or is he only interested in funding a team with profile? Will he support the community without a Western Force or only interested in the Force? Time will tell.

Thats rubbish jacko. Utter rubbish.