Izack Rodda, Isaac Lucas and Harry Hockings have ended their contracts with the Queensland Reds and Australian rugby.
The trio, who were stood down by the QRU on Monday for refusing to accept the RUPA-agreed pay cuts for the rest of the season and apply for the Federal Government’s JobKeeper wage subsidy, have now terminated their contracts with the QRU and Rugby Australia.
Rugby Australia and the players’ union settled on a 60 per cent pay cut in April to last until the end of September or, if it comes earlier, a resumption in Super Rugby.
Anthony Picone’s Newstar Sports organisation, which manages all three players, issued a statement on Friday morning accusing the QRU of “repudiatory conduct”. The statement claimed the QRU had no legal right to stand Rodda, Lucas and Hockings down and that the governing body had been given plenty of time to reverse the decision.
Picone has something of a chequered history with the QRU after Samu Kerevi, another of his clients, left the Reds and Australian rugby last year, however none of the other Australian-based players under his management decided to reject the pay cut for the rest of the season.
The players’ next steps are uncertain. There was much speculation after they were stood down on Monday that a move to an overseas club would follow – and Picone saying “The future is uncertain, but we should always have as many players in the tent as possible. South Africa have jumped the gun on us in this space and they won the World Cup with a unified squad selected from all around the world.” would indicate that’s a genuine option.
However, with the incredible uncertainty around global sport right now, it would be unusual for Rodda, Lucas and Hockings to sign for a British or French club – two nations hit far harder by COVID-19 than Australia – after Picone said “It is only reasonable that talented players want to secure stable employment during these times”.
Both Rodda and Lucas were on long-term deals with Rugby AU and the Reds, and while Hockings’ contract was due to expire at the end of 2020, he was part of the Wallabies’ long-term plans.
Reports in the last couple of days indicated rival Australian clubs could be a destination, with Rodda in particular linked to the Brumbies and Waratahs after reportedly falling out with Reds coach Brad Thorn. But tearing up their Rugby AU contracts will complicate those matters – not to mention the lingering issue of whether to accept the pay cut would still come into the equation.
Waratahs coach Rob Penney also threw doubt over any of the players moving south.
“It’s a really unfortunate situation up there, the landscape’s changing for everybody across all sports,” Penney said on Thursday.
“So the last thing you’d want to be seen to be doing is being the vulture hanging around a situation like that.
“Obviously they are very important to Australian rugby.”
Richard
Roar Rookie
Yeh nah mate. This is not situation normal so you can't judge this situation that way. We now know that their RA contracts have been cancelled as well so they ain't going to another SR club. Nor should they. Maybe they will play for the Wallabies some day the difference now is that day looks way out into the future and is contingent upon 2 things. 1. They are right people for the position and where ever they do go has a rugby programme that can continue their development to standard that is ready for the Wallabies. 2. This is related to 1. Some other young gun doesn't emerge and crowd them out. These are two biggest 'rugby' risks they have taken. People will probably get over it eventually but whether they are still seen as the next big things will remain to be seen.
robbo999
Roar Rookie
Rugbyrah
Roar Rookie
Quade Cooper tried voicing his concerns and was branded a scapegoat for calling out the problems. If we listen to him and dealt with the problems years ago, we may be in a better place. Cooper continued his criticism of the Wallabies environment on the Rugby Club on Fox Sports, saying a negative and toxic Wallaby culture was destroying him so much he would refuse to play for Australia if fit. Cooper's comments sparked anger Friday among many Wallaby players. https://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/wallabies/wallabies-tell-disgruntled-teammate-quade-cooper-to-take-a-walk-after-toxic-environment-claims/news-story/e88186fa46c6bc4f294ba854bbd905b6?sv=e705142357246a2ad84f659bd176f321
ScottD
Roar Guru
Clearly not or I'd still be a virgin !
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Thought he’s looked pretty good for the Reds so far mate.
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
Mmm the Reds look a better team under him than they did before he arrived……. Yet their results are worse - maybe looks aren't everything ;)
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Really silly isn't it.
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Left back at the esky!
Jacko
Guest
Is he tho? Every Lucas so far has looked great at junior level then faded.....It appears natural talent is there in abundance but maybe work ethic is lacking? Maybe its something else...Not sure but they do fade..
Jacko
Guest
Utah if Rodda ends up at the Brumbies its just another Wallaby being added to the strongest team in Aus. Can you imagine Barrett being shipped off to the Crusaders in NZ rugby? No the NZRU negotiated with the Blues to strenthen the weakest SR side of the past few ( many ) years. It comes down to whats best for RA not for the Brumbies and if RA has his contract then tell him what club he will be at if he leaves the one he was signed to
ScottD
Roar Guru
There's no reason at all why they won't get another SR contract and play for the WB's. This isn't a death sentence they have simply parted ways with QRU. No big deal, it happens all the time at the end of each season in fact. However, I do agree it is regrettable and was avoidable and they probably will all regret it but that is life. Move on I say.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
Omg, go back and watch those old games. Half the back lines couldn’t tackle.
numpty
Roar Rookie
What no other players have ever left under any other coach??? Once again, you assign the reason for these players leaving to thorn without evidence. Kerevi left to be with his brother not because of thorn.
Richard Turner
Guest
What is with these guys?? Money is not everything and there is no I in team so best you bugger off overseas if you think that the grass is greener 3 players out of 192 is not a bad stat but I certainly would want to play alongside these guys No different than that goose Cartwright from the Titans Obviously not team players
Hoy
Roar Guru
Their agent seems to be stacking up bad encounters with Rugby QLD lately... it seems silly for players to be apart of this, and not expect huge backlash here...
AJ
Guest
This is just sickening. Young players about to live up to their promise and the organisations and people that nurtured and encouraged them along, completely shunned and denied any return on that development, mostly just the satisfaction of seeing a player represent Club, State and Country. Does anyone think that going to Japan is a good career move, development wise? Long odds I know, but as Wayne Smith said today, Rodda and Hockings could have been drinking from the Bledisloe later this year. ..and the raft of smarty pants statements from the player manager, trying claim moral high ground... leaves me in little doubt of what's gone on here.
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
Thorn is the only coach that has that problem though, despite the fact that this agent has dozens of players on his books. Thorn also lost Kerevi last year - Another guy he overcommitted to without being able to bring on board. So this is an ongoing problem. The only cultural change that Thorn has brought to the Reds is disloyalty.
numpty
Roar Rookie
He had unity though all the way up until now. It is also not clear if thorn is the issue in this instance. The fact is Rodda and Lucas happily signed extensions just 6 months ago, after having played under thorn for a number of years. The thing that has changed is pay and covid in that time. I happily admit that there's more than a small chance it is an issue with thorn. but it isn't clear yet so I'll hold my tongue.
Amcd
Roar Rookie
Agreed.. Yes there are 2 sides to every story and we have not heard from the players other than their agent who seems to want to ship all his Australian players overseas for big $$$$s. I see the posts demanding life time bans for these boys. Get real... they are just starting their professional careers... yes they have made a dumb mistake but somehow there needs to be an attempt to reconcile them. I want to hear the players side of the story, not their agent's version. There must be something deeply wrong at the Reds. It's not enough for a coach to be a tough taskmaster. To state the obvious any coach can only truly motivate his team culture by acting as a trusted, respected and consistent leader. Does that exists at the Reds any longer. Thorn's time has shown some remarkable extreme decisions lacking in any solid rugby terms, human compassion or respect starting in his first season. I wonder if the players see Mr Thorn as a trusted leader?
Adam
Guest
Only if you want to erode team culture and performance and say individual aspiration trumps team aspiration. Yes it’s a bloody tough ask for players to accept a 60 per cent pay cut but the money is not there. The Reds can hardly then turn around and grant an exemption to three players. That would cause a rebellion among those who’d made a financial sacrifice for the future of their team and the game. I doubt whether Rodda, great player that he is, will play for Australia again. Looks like James O’Connor, in a bigger body.