In another twist in the story of Rugby Australia this week, three Queensland Reds players are refusing to take the 60 per cent pay cut apparently agreed around a month ago.
The players concerned are Izack Rodda, Isaac Lucus and Harry Hoskings, all managed by Anthony Picone, have received some heavy criticism. RA offered them the option of a sabbatical, which some who are critical of the situation may have forgotten.
It brings to the forefront the subject of players playing overseas and their eligibility for Wallabies matches. Is it time for Australian rugby to accept players earning their living overseas and allow them to play for the Wallabies? The practice is certainly accepted by other codes in this country, soccer being an obvious example.
Having read a recent article about New Zealander Colin Slade’s time in France, you could not argue the standard is any lower in Europe. Some top-level players will always choose to stay in Australia, but for those who don’t, perhaps it’s time to explore the options of allowing them to be eligible for the national side.
Izack Rodda (Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
A lot of criticism has been levelled at Rodda for exploring the sabbatical option. But is a 60 per cent pay reduction even feasible for all players? Some may have gone along with it, but realistically it might be placing them in financial crisis. As a player agent would Picone be doing his job if he didn’t explore all options for the players of his whose financial position may be critical?
There will be those critics who say its greed et cetera, but is it? Or is it just business for an international player in his prime – and in his prime earning capacity – facing a huge pay cut?
Really some of these issues fall back unfortunately to the dire state Rugby Australia finds itself in. To be honest, limited rugby and a potential thrashing at the hands of a hungry All Blacks side really isn’t an inviting proposition. The fact that unions have asked to take such huge pay cuts isn’t a good sign. It may take RA several years to recover from its present economic situation.
The fallout for the Reds squad is very unfortunate, and for coach Brad Thorn it must be frustrating, but unfortunately that is the professional game, with players entitled to look to secure their financial futures.
Sometimes this takes them overseas, but to limit players available for Wallabies duty is simply lowering the standard of the international game. Rugby Australia as the governing body needs to address this problem, as it will only get worse.
With players in Northern Europe earning up to £1.1 million (A$2 million) per year, it’s no wonder the dole isn’t an attractive option for top-level players here in Australia.
Unfortunately for rugby fans the player exodus may continue as our top players receive overseas offers. But fans and administrators alike should see this for what it is: business. I’m sure as a player Rodda would love to remain at the Reds, but the financial pressure on players may not make this possible until the game in Australia improves. As for up-and-coming players, a couple of years on low pay or government payments may not be enough to keep them in Australia.
This is the grim reality of post-COVID-19 sport in Australia. Other codes are seeing this also, with Greg Inglis signing an overseas contract to resume his career. Rather than simply attacking players for not accepting low contracts, we should perhaps look at the underlying reasons for the financial state of the game and how it ended up at this low ebb. How a large professional sporting organisation such as RA ended up with no money left in the piggybank really defies belief.
Gepetto
Roar Rookie
You lost me with the words": I think Marto was pretty much on the money." If RA and QR are such wise and beneficent organisations why are hey broke and why do players even need the RUPA or an agent.
Gepetto
Roar Rookie
The pay cut may be the last straw for the three. If they think the coach is hopeless and the team is faring badly, why endure more time at the Reds. They can see the way Simmons and Quaade Cooper were ditched and they may have no confidence that the QR Board will not renew Thorn's contract for three more years. Some ambitious players seek to be coached by the best so they will achieve their potential. Rodda has had to endure Thorn and Cheika.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
* can’t. Stupid typo.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Off the planet Jacko. Of course Thorn was a great player but his coaching record is about the same as Richard Graham. He is poor, his win record is poor and his culture is obviously poor. The Board need to dump him without notice. His game plans and strategies, together with his fundamentalist view on culture is terrible for QLD rugby.
jacko
Guest
That would really make him popular with his new team mates
Jacko
Guest
Ok Bobby so its about his coaching record only is it? Well How is Rodda respected more than Thorn for his coaching? Rodda has not ever coached and Thorns record as a player makes Rodda look like a park bench player so no matter where you look Thorn is FAR superior to Rodda
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
My concerns for the brumbies were how easily the rebels marched up the field when they held the ball in that game
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I can’t recall for sure. I think Rod Sieb and another NRC level coach.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Yeah they did. They lost 4 matches in a row to the Rebels over 2018-19. Kept them out of the finals in 2018. It’s why I was so terrified when the Rebels started coming back in the second half this year!
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Who were Stiles’ assistants?
Don
Roar Rookie
I'm a Reds supporter so my preference was not to lose him at all. But I want a very strong Reds side and I also want a strong NSW side. It's good for rugby in this nation that this happens. Say what we like about expansion and a national competition. Get QLD and NSW beating other sides more often than losing and you get a better and faster return in support and $ than pumping $ into WA and Vic. Though I am a supporter of both having sides in any comp.
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
Are you sure you want him? I admit he’s got potential but he also got stopped by 10 2 meters out from the line and seems to be a bit self entitled
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Except you wouldn’t have more successful wallabies. Because while the all blacks train in camp for weeks before then rugby championship, the wallabies turn up together on Monday like it’s a scratch match. And of course as domestic rugby declines with the best players overseas, you slowly produce less players, until eventually you’re a lower tier 2 nation.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
My understanding of RA top ups is Rodda cans leverage a better deal. I believe he signs a deal with RA and the franchise he signs with is obligated to pay 50%
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
How has Thorn proven himself as a coach? What he’s done as a player means very little in regards to him as a coach. If it did, Bob Dwyer and Rod McQueen would never have gotten near coaching the Wallabies. Also Giteau was 100 test wallaby. Deans was never the equivalent as a coach.
Ad-O
Guest
The amount of talent the Reds have lost since Thorn has taken over, for various reasons, it's pretty obvious if you read between the lines. I am a Broncos fan so I like the guy cos he was a top player for us. But it's pretty clear he needs to look in the mirror and drastically adjust his man management style if he wants to be a top coach. Maybe a guy that's succeeded as a player at everything he touched doesnt have the sense of perspective to be a coach. Firing him may be the making of him, but that's where I'm at with him right now.
Alex
Roar Rookie
What I personally think isn't really that relevant to be honest. The fact is that players are leaving RA. I believe more players unfortunately will go with this pay schedule as overseas teams make offers. The failure of RA to have a solid financial position to cover wages etc is not the player fault.It is financial mismanagement. In Nz they have only had a 30 percent cut. Reality is some players will not sit around losing money waiting for RA to get its act together, that is professional sport. For what it's worth I am a Reds supporter and do go to watch games regularly.
Ad-O
Guest
Agreed. Top coaches take mercurial players and motivate them to run thru brick walls. Thorn takes top talent and makes them want to bail. He can PTFO for all I care.
Ad-O
Guest
I said years ago that deselection of European or Japanese based Australians is like any other form of protectionism. You just spend more and more money trying to prop up an uncompetitive system, rewarding worse and worse quality until the whole thing goes broke and theres nothing left. Rather than adjust to the realities and try to find your place within them. If Australia just let European clubs pick up the tab for top players, you would have a more successful Wallabies which generates more interest in the game, which creates better players to fill in for the guys that left. At the end of the day, France and England only have limited space for foreign players. Would there really be that many more that havent already gone? You'd also have the benefit of not having Super franchises and RA on the hook for contracts they clearly cant afford. It would allow them to reinvest in the grass roots rather than topping up millionaires bank accounts. It's a no brainer if you ask me.
gatesy
Roar Guru
Alex, whatever you think about the rights of a few players, think about what everyone else out there is facing. The Prime Minister's mantra "we're all in this together" is not just fluff. Many of us are lucky to still have an income, even if we have taken a hit. If our industry suffers a particular percentage hit then we either need to cop it or find a new industry to work in. I am sure the Reds know their numbers down to a tee and most of the players would accept their lot. You are either a team player or you aren't. I think Marto was pretty much on the money. Maybe too much is being made of Rodda's rift with Thorne, and maybe Rodda can use that as a way to leverage his way to a better deal with another franchise, because of what has gone before. It strikes me that this is a story of one individual who has found a way out of a situation that had not, hitherto presented an opportunity. A sore that was already festering? Lucas and Hockings? That is an enigma. They are young guns on their starting paths. Brave moves, and you have to think they are both confident players who are prepared to back themselves as much off the paddock as they do on it. Or maybe they just place too much faith in their agent? Good luck with that, lads. We are definitely living in interesting times. There may well be more of these types of stories, before this plays out.