Izack Rodda, Harry Hockings and Isaac Lucas’ decision to refuse the Australia-wide COVID-19-related player pay cut, thus igniting a chain of events leading to the cancellation of their Queensland Reds contracts, is a situation that demands action from Rugby Australia.
Rodda leaving due to disappointment over missing the Reds captaincy is sad, but having given good service at the Reds and Wallabies over nearly four seasons, his decision calls for understanding.
Queensland rugby has, however, barely begun to recover the substantial investment made to develop Hockings and Lucas, which makes their naked self interest when so many are challenged by the COVID-19 crisis unforgivable.
Their manager Anthony Picone may have been advising them, but Hockings and Lucas are ultimately responsible for their decisions. A lot has been made of their relatively young age of 21 years old and the suggestion that Picone may not have advised them well, but in reality they are grown men who should accept the consequences of their decisions.
(AAP Image/Julian Smith)
They have let down the rugby community in the clubs and schools that nurtured their careers, not even being willing to tolerate the same temporary pay cut that all of their mates have, in order to give a bit of joy back through their rugby during a tough time for all. This is despite the fact that their age and luck in the genetic lottery virtually assures them of a financial future that most Queenslanders can only dream of, if the players play their part.
Picone’s agency website makes it quite clear that a significant part of his business is about taking players from Australian and New Zealand, and getting them hired in Japan and Europe. All that is missing is directional arrows on the map.
That is fine when Picone limits his agency to finding overseas placements for players who have given back a reasonable amount of time back to the community that developed them. However, if he poaches players like Hockings, Lucas and previously Campbell Magnay, who have only just begun to generate a return for Queensland’s investment, the Queensland rugby community might ask itself why make the effort?
Queensland has produced more new Wallabies than any other state in the last five years and has heavily emphasised developing young players, so it is also in Rugby Australia’s interest to ensure that this effort is worth Queensland’s while. A statement by Picone in response to the dispute is illuminating with regards to what Rugby Australia can do to help.
“It would be wise for the Reds and RA to maintain amicable relationships with these players,” he said. “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.”
Picone’s mention of the Wallabies suggests that he wants to keep the option open for his clients to play for the national team, at least in the minds of the players themselves, thus allaying any misgivings that they may have about closing the door to that opportunity.
(Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Where he is wrong is in using the South African example, because none of the World Cup-winning South African squad were uncapped 21-year-olds like Hockings and Lucas. The Boks’ youngest player, Damien Willemse, was 22 but had played 30 Super Rugby games since 2017 before starting with Saracens in England in 2019, and was capped with the Boks in 2018. He was considerably more experienced and valuable than the two Reds.
While raw talents like Hockings and Lucas are important to Australian rugby, they are not important enough to allow them to compromise the development pathways in Queensland and other Australian states. This is why Rugby Australia should make it abundantly clear that a return of service of say four seasons from their first Super Rugby cap should be required of players before leaving Australian rugby without the consent of their current team.
If a player leaves anyway, he should be made permanently ineligible for Wallabies selection. Consequently, if a player who has left wishes to return to Australian rugby, he could only ever come back as a journeyman, with no prospect of a RA top-up. Also, any opportunity to increase their market value overseas by playing for the Wallabies would be lost.
By backing the state unions on this matter, Rugby Australia would be giving such players pause for thought before cutting and running without having paid their dues to their community. It would also would help secure great Australian player development pathways like Queensland for the future of Aussie rugby.
scubasteve
Guest
Rhys you do not know those individuals circumstances. They could have extended family to feed or are in a position not to earn income for an extended period of time. ARU is itself not in a position to offer any job security until the new broadcast deal is done (if at all). You also don't know what dues they have done for the community. If the ARU feel like they are owed a debt then they should look to a transfer system like soccer or NBA. Hardly these players problem though and definitely not yours.
mailman
Guest
Is 'Steve 50' really Anthony Picone's alias? I can't agree with your arguments Steve. This approach of Picone and some young rugby stars in the making, displays and promotes selfishness, entitlement and treats the many people who helped nurture their gifts and Australian rugby fans with contempt.
Olly
Roar Rookie
Yes and they already do.
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
"They are the same as any employee and can choose who they work for." If that is the case then Rugby Australia and the state unions should be considered the same as any employer, with the right to hire (or hire back) whoever they deem to meet whatever behavioural standards they deem necessary for the role.
Hoy
Roar Guru
The agent leaves a dirty feel here for mine... dirty all around... He has used the situation to do the dirty on other players and the club paying the bills. Pretty rough I think. I don't like him, and I am sad to say, I am immensely disappointed in the three players... this is a universally tough time. To ditch out now out of self interest, is a very disappointing thing, and they will be tainted in my eyes.
Nabley
Roar Rookie
While the Guys have prooved them selves, not very appreciative of what Aust Rugby has done for them, we should cut them some slack. To not do so means that we have not learnt anything from the Folau issue. We may be in the top Teir of rugby playing nations, but top level players are few and far between. Find a fit for them. That is why we pay top administrators the big bucks to find a way through the maze of difficulties. Not to have them further deplete our ranks.
piru
Roar Rookie
Well that's the football model I suppose. I'd rather we didn't all end up as feeder regions for the big clubs, I don't think rugby would survive it here.
Steve 50
Roar Rookie
I disagree with you. I think it’s unfair if you denied the chance to be wallaby if you okay overseas. Pick the best and reward disloyalty, winning is all that counts.
Amcd
Roar Rookie
That's a sad and reactionary position Rhys... These guys are represented by an agent whose strategy is to sell players to overseas clubs and take a big profit. He "played" the RFU and the Reds for contact cancellations and got what he wanted. The failure is with the RFU and the Reds. They mishandled things as is their habit, pathetic!. We need to know what happened with Kerevi and these young players. I can't entirely agree with what these three Reds boys have done, but we have not heard their side of the story; in particular what the h%&& is going on at the Reds, and the Coach's "iron fist". There must be a serious culture problem there. Over the last few years the Wallabies brand is badly damaged. The RFU and the erstwhile coach are responsible. It's no surprise that players no longer want to take significant pain for the hope of a Wallaby shirt. "Giteau's law" with its inherent threats and blackmail are out of date at least in Australia where the Wallabie's brand is so damaged. Look at NZ and the loyalty to their unique All Black's brand. No coercion is needed to keep the best players in NZ due to the deeply loyal rugby culture. We do not currently have that in Australia and it will not improve if we hammer boys at the start of their careers. I look forward to seeing these talented kids playing for Wallabies.
Thaikiwi
Roar Rookie
While I sympathise with this article, one of the paths for self development is overseas experiance and this is very true for forwards who want to develope their craft in an environment that pushes the forward part of the game which has emphasis in the northen hemisphere and therefore should not prematurely close the door for these players who go overseas and then want to come back and represent their country.
scubasteve
Guest
Agents do the best thing by their clients. Clients get presented with options and recommendations. It's up to the clients to make that decision.
enoughisenough
Roar Rookie
Yes, just like some have agendas backing the Kiwi legend coach, all the time, in every way, and making excuses for his abysmal performance, just because he is who he is. It seems that quite a few of the Reds are disenchanted with the Kiwi legend, and that there may be more players lining up to leave the club if he's not punted. There's little doubt the "Thorn factor"played a significant role in the departure of the 3 young Reds.
piru
Roar Rookie
eh?
enoughisenough
Roar Rookie
For yoU to Childishly seeK to reply as yOu did, i Fear, says Far more about you PIRU than anything i could say.....But don't feel left out, in addition to identifying you as a sinner, the Bible does make reference to Onanists as well....
piru
Roar Rookie
- should add I didn't necessarily think your point was bad, just that you seemed to be deliberately wording it in a way that made it seem you thought it was
piru
Roar Rookie
Yeah if only. If you think I'm going to engage you on antivax hysteria and imaginary Christian persecution you'll be disappointed I'm afraid.
piru
Roar Rookie
My point was you seemed to making a very bad point very loudly, usually the hall mark of satire. My view is if you don't wish to play in Australia, you don't get to play for Australia - I think that's fair
Steve 50
Roar Rookie
Your point, yet you haven’t given your views on RA policy and Gitz law.
enoughisenough
Roar Rookie
Gee Piru, if only I had your towering intellect, and your rapier wit eh? About the only thing your comment proves is that there's a fortune to be made - buying you for what you are worth, and selling you for what you think you are worth.....How about you stick to commenting upon the topic instead of small minded personal slights? Or is that too much to ask?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
How have they possibly run roughshod? They negotiated with the player union to get these cuts agreed.