Wallabies’ director of rugby Scott Johnson said Rugby Australia couldn’t have done more to keep star centre Samu Kerevi.
The Queensland captain will play his final Super Rugby match on Saturday night against the Brumbies and play in Japan following this year’s World Cup after knocking back a “very, very good offer”, according to Johnson.
Johnson said Rugby Australia didn’t want to lose a player in their prime and had done their best to keep the 25-year-old, who has played 23 Tests.
“Let’s get it straight, the offer was good,” Johnson said on Thursday.
“I’ve seen the offer that Samu was given and it was a very, very good offer that would have put him in the higher echelons of our country.”
Johnson, who joined the Wallabies set-up from Scotland in March, said Kerevi’s situation was “complex” and alluded to his extended family commitments.
“It’s not perfect for him and for us and we understand there are issues away from the game for him.
“It opens the door for other players who we may be talking about in a different light in 12 months’ time.”
Speaking at a Melbourne Rebels function, Johnson said he backed Rugby Australia’s current policy of only selecting players who played Super Rugby or Test veterans with 60 caps who could be included under “Giteau’s Law”.
“I think the key component is that we have a responsibility to make sure our competition is the best in the world,” he said.
“It’s great to be able to control the player – their strength and conditioning and their skill development.
“We understand there are challenges but at the moment we think there’s a nice mix of rewarding longevity.”
Former Wallabies, Brumbies and Rebels captain Stirling Mortlock said the game was being wrecked by the loss of players such as Kerevi and the self-interest of Super Rugby clubs.
“It’s a massive challenge and if we don’t get our house in order in four years time we will have to change the eligibility rule because you might have a lot of players not in Super Rugby,’ Mortlock said.
“It baffles me that we still haven’t got our house in order with everyone pulling in the same direction.
“We’ve got still different factions in different areas looking after their own backyard and that’s what’s stifling us.
“The New Zealand model is all about creating great All Blacks and everyone club and player knows that but it doesn’t happen in this country.”
deadwood
Roar Rookie
I'm not sure why you fear for the Reds next year. Finishing second last this year isn't exactly a high point to fall from. They've already lost most of their supporters. Most of us who still go to the games are going to have a beer with mates because there just isn't much to cheer about on the field. The change of coaching personnel clearly wasn't the answer and I don't see any change in the dire player recruitment and retention we have had over at least the last 5 years either.
Olly
Roar Rookie
I doubt it. The Reds have very little around Kerevi. He will have KT at 13 who grows an extra leg at Test level, plus the Brumbies forward pack that is full of strong ball carriers. At the Wallabies level, we have other options. Naisarani is overhyped. He does a lot of carriers but they are hardly strong carries. His tackle bust numbers are low. He also has no ability at the breakdown and is not a lineout option at Test Level.
Olly
Roar Rookie
Agree!! The era of the ball playing 12 was two world cups ago. The Wallabies just have not woken up to it yet. Playmakers are now the 10 and 15 with hard running centres that can offload. This stop sliding defence creating some room our wide.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Now. In their entire SR existence they got funding from RA. Now you’re blaming RA for them going into voluntary administration after they took legal action, lost, and then being ordered to pay the costs of their losing action crippled them?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I feel that to sign him, they’d have to offer at least $1.2M over 3 years. And it wouldn’t be until year 3 that you would be getting the value of a $1.2M player - and then you’d have to compete again. I’m sure he’d adapt but you can’t sink top paid player money into somebody who is adapting over a couple of years.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
So was Kyle Godwin and Mack Mason
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Agree. From what I’ve seen from him, seen nothing to make me think he’d automatically be a right superstar. He may be, but if he can’t adapt to being a 5/8 in league where the opposition is back 10m, how could he succeed as a flyhalf in rugby?
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Nah his passing isn’t as good as Foley’s. He is very much a league player, awesome runner but wouldn’t stand out as a rugby distributor.
Ex force fan
Guest
The Force gets no funding from RA - they are funded by Mindaroo Foundation. Now lets have a look at Rugby WA and what RA did for Rugby WA from a financial perspective: It is well known that RA drove Rugby WA into voluntary administration in 2017 and Rugby WA is still recovering from this. The most significant financial concern that threaten the long term viability of Rugby WA is the debt obligation associated with the long term lease of the RugbyWA facilities. These facilities was build by the WA government and leased to Rugby WA on the insistence of Rugby Australia to support a Superugby team in Perth. When RA cut the Force, the team that used the facilities and the revenue source to cover the lease disappeared however the lease obligation remains. So thank you so much RA for not only driving RugbyWA into voluntary administration but also crippling the organisation by axing the Force. It was Mindaroo Foundation, that came to the rescue as RA then also cut their annual grant to WA Rugby to only $200k a year (same as SA). This on a budget of more than $2 million. The net financial contribution that RA makes to Rugby WA is negative! If they did not dumbed us into debt by making promises they never intend to keep, Rugby WA would be in a much better financial position. Other states would be foolish if they do not learn from the Rugby WA! We survive thanks to Mindaroo (Twiggy) - there may not be a Twiggy where you are.
Bluesfan
Does he perceive himself as Australian or a Maori New Zealander? Born in Oz, but lived for a time in NZ - like a lot of Kiwi's who swing between the 2 countries dependent upon jobs like in mining etc. He might not even have an Australian passport - my daughter was born in Sydney and was not entitled to one automatically, so when she was born we had to rush off and apply for a NZ citizenship/passport. So potentially he could be holding NZ Citizenship as that is what he probably what he would have obtained dependent upon his parents circumstances.
Ex force fan
Guest
If RA could say that the sun is going to rise tomorrow I will have to stand in the long line to check if it is true...
Warrick Todd
Guest
I doubt you'll see CFS at 12. He has a long history of injury and its almost a full time job for the medical staff to keep him on the field. He's an outside back when he's fit and just wouldn't stand up to the traffic sent through the inside channels and crash ball requirements of 12.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I doubt his Maori heritage would be as big an influence if the All Blacks were ranked 15th in the world though. Ultimately rugby is a career like anything else. Ambitious lawyers want to be partners at the biggest firms. An ambitious player who is eligible for multiple nations wants to be an integral player in the team considered the best in the world if he makes the move.
ken gargett
Guest
personally, i would want to play for my country, whether it was ranked 1 or 100. he does have the maori heritage so that could be a big influence, as will his family. born in australia so that will impact as well. but there will be a lot of footy under the bridge before he decides anything, i think.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
How can you say a guy that wasn’t yet able to adept to 2nd playmaker will be a great 10?
Bluesfan
If he really wanted it to make a go of rugby, NZ has the best structures and coaches to bring him through. Look at the state of rugby in each country and ask, if I was going to switch codes - in which country would I have the best systems and coaches to work with? Further don't discount that he and obivously his parents are Maori, so obviously heritage will play a major part - but let's face it, would you want to play for the No. 6 ranked side in the world or No.1?
Zado
Guest
At 21 Ponga already already has a far superior passing running and kicking game than Bernard Foley.He also doesn't miss tackles.Be a great 10.Look at those two 30 meter passes in origin one for tries and that tackle on 100kilo Latrell Mitchell.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Most importantly, for the agreed period. Not indefinitely.
Markus
Roar Rookie
That is not perpetual, that is adhering to agreed terms of a current contract.
ken gargett
Guest
i think that was an off the cuff comment made around a year or so ago (might have said it again but i have not seen it). i gather that his parents are keen on a switch to the all blacks, from what i have read. who knows how keen he is and how committed to the all blacks he would be. understand he also told wally lewis that the pinnacle of his career would be playing in a winning origin side at suncorp. so who knows what he'll do or who he'll do it with. i gather he is eligible to play for either the wallabies or ABs. the most recent statement i saw from him was that he was contracted to newcastle until 2021 and not looking to make any decisions before that. i'm sure he'll have everyone in his ear but a comment made by a kid a while back is hardly likely to be the final word in his future career or stop the wallabies trying to poach him. and you can bet league is looking at every possible way to keep him.