Wallabies lock Izack Rodda has no regrets about his decision to walk out on the Queensland Reds last year to play in France, and says he is still yet to speak to his former coach Brad Thorn since returning to Australia.
Rodda has been included in the Wallabies squad for their Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship campaigns, which kick off in New Zealand on August 7.
The 24-year-old left the Reds last year after it was announced that Super Rugby players would have to accept a significant pay cut due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thorn was riled by Rodda’s decision to terminate his Reds contract in order to join Lyon, and he expressed his displeasure again when reports emerged earlier this year that the star lock was looking to return to Australian rugby.
Rodda eventually signed with the Western Force and said his time in France had helped him grow as a person and as a player.
“I just made a choice on what I thought was best for my future and family at the time,” Rodda said of his decision to leave the Reds.
“I have no regrets on that. I’ve learnt a lot on my year away, and definitely changed a lot as a person.
“I reckon I matured a lot. I’ve grown a lot in the last year mentally and physically as well.”
And as for a chat with Thorn?
“I haven’t spoken to Thorn since I’ve been back,” Rodda said.
The intense Wallabies training sessions have challenged Rodda, who will take a bit of time to regain peak fitness.
“I was used to the training in France. I wasn’t expecting to come back into this environment so soon, so I wasn’t as fit as I would have liked to have been,” he said.
“The boys have really hit the ground running. It’s been really fast and intense, and I’ve just been trying to do my best to keep up.
“In France it’s designed differently, because you’re trying to prepare for a 32-game season plus finals, so you want to build slowly.
“But in the Wallabies, every game is a must win, it’s a grand final.
“So you have to train like that here.”
One big bonus that Rodda found of playing rugby in France was the increased physicality.
“I think from a Super Rugby point of view we are more skilful and faster into positions,” he said.
“But the Top 14 was a lot more physical.
“They are big bodies that want to whack everyone more.
“I think that’s the part that really grew in my time in France – my physicality.”
really? Thorn has coached his team to 2 finals in the SRAU comp. Won 1 lost 1....thats 50% right there!!!! Aim achieved eh!
Chufortah
Guest
No the ones who left under normal circumstances ate fine. Todd’s said to his mates: “you all take a pay cut I’m out of here”... now things are better, he returns home and opens his mouth. If you can’t see the difference between those two very different circumstances, then there isn’t much point arguing. Culture isn’t about letting grubs into the environment. Rodda is no murderer, he’s probably even a nice bloke, but we don’t need him and he made his bed. This is about culture, not letting some individual walk all over us - yes we all have rights, but I would build a Wallaby culture built on responsibility and humility. Rodda is one of those blokes for who this isn’t innate - and in war (Or a game against the ABs), who would you want at your side?
pm
Roar Rookie
Hilarious, guess. Let's all be dumb. That'll be great
numpty
Roar Rookie
You did - "he is not a great team manager." "he is going to struggle to hold onto these young guys." "he needs to get better at player management." There is no evidence to suggest experienced players do or don't want to play for the reds. All you can say is that Thorn has actively decided to pick and stick with a young crop. Whether that is a good/bad idea, history will decide but they're trending in the right direction.
Olly
Roar Rookie
Who said they don't like him? I made it clear he is excellent with the younger kids so let's not just say what has not been said. What professional organisation chooses not to recruit senior players in their prime? Call it what you want, the reality is they are not knocking on the Reds door to play for them....that is the reality and you a blinding yourself if you can't see this for what it is. These young Reds would benefit greatly to have some proper experience in that team and we can all clearly see this. SRAU, great tournament for building the game locally, but don't fall into the trap of thinking winning it is anywhere near the standard or achievement level of a proper SR tournament. The TT was the reality check of what we have achieved...AU teams won 2 games out of 25...... The young Reds are worth us locally to get excited about, but that excitement is about potential, not where they are right now.
numpty
Roar Rookie
Yes, it is a reflection of Thorn's approach. He actively decided to select a young, QLD team and build from scratch. It took 4 years, but now they are all coming into their own. Look at how many of them hit 50SR caps just this year alone. And once again, they all continue to re-sign with the reds, so they must be doing something right. Your opinion doesn't align with reality Olly. If they were all rookie school kids under a coach they don't like and whose no good, why are they such a tight group and were able to win SRAU?
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Tah “admin have been dysfunctional”. What? Well blow me over with a feather, Jez.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Well spotted Bluffboy. There are some ‘very open rumours’ getting about these days. They have other terms, ….what are they….oh yeh- Stories, opinions, guesses, consensus as premise etc etc. Grass goes in at one end of a grazing animal, and out the other end comes……..
Olly
Roar Rookie
As I said he struggles when they reach a position of stature. He has kept a team of Rookie together who are all still on their first full professional contract. Thorn is excellent at coaching the young kids coming through, no question. But he has failed to keep and attract top tier senior talent. We have JOC who is past his prime leading the team around. We are literally a team of Rookies with no senior players in their prime. This is a reflection of the coach.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Just because he was entitled to do it, doesn’t mean it wasn’t a dick move. It’s just my view though, it’s fine that we don’t agree. I can see his side of it.
jeznez
Roar Guru
And given the reports he was willing to join the Brumbies I have to assume that would have been on the reduced salary. My very strong suspicion is that the money was just an excuse to get out of Brisbane/away from the Reds. If it was just cash he could have stayed in France or followed Kerevi to Japan. He’s back in Oz at his first opportunity and taking a pay cut to do it.
James584
Roar Rookie
Umm, ok, here it is, again: “Your hero Brad Thorn came to Australia when he was 8 years old. Played all of his football here, represented Queensland and Australia in rugby league. Some might say Thorn turned his back on the country that had given him everything he had to seek fame and fortune as an All Black.”
ScottD
Roar Guru
Yes it is absolutely correct that he left his employment and got a better paying job overseas. The last i heard there were about 200 other Australian players based overseas at the current time. Some of those have returned home and some haven't. Names include McMahon, Kerevi, Hooper, Cooper, Phipps, Paia'aua, Coleman, etc etc etc. Do they all get treated with disdain or just a select one or two?
We all know exactly why mate. Do We? Please enlighten us all even tho we all apparently know. You have no problem with Thorn’s actions and his choices. What actions should I have problems with? He sacked a player he didnt want...Seems a COACHES job. He sacked a player for drug use....Most coaches do. He does things his way...Most Coaches do He wants players around him that have his same attitudes...Most coaches do. So what should I be upset at THORN about?
James584
Roar Rookie
There is no logic in your thinking Jacko, so you retreat to these silly accusations and personal attacks. You have no problem with Thorn’s actions and his choices. But Rodda, this young man of 24 years of age, you are happy to attack and defame him publicly. And, anonymously. We all know exactly why mate.
This is the thing Nics. Not sure of the contract he was on at the reds but its said he was on 750K inc the RA top up so will guess something like 400K from reds plus a 350K top up. The cut was for half a years contract but not the SR half as it was partly played etc. For 65% cuts during that 6 mths, with some stuff not cut Im thinking roughly a 175K cut. By leaving it would have cost at least half of that anyway as he cut his contract short.
nics
Roar Rookie
I don’t know. You clearly do. How much was he on at the reds and how much was the cut? How long does a professional sportsman play for given the vicissitudes of life eg injuries?
he ran away to France. Yeah thats great for the family eh James? Best choice is to run away? I see why you are a Rodda fan or "Is that you Rodda"? Like you eh?
Well he earnt 800K at his french club per year' What are his bills like for a bloke with no kids etc?????
They are SRAU winners. thats as established as any player in Aus and more successful this year than every other Aus rugby player.