Ioane to follow Barnes to NSW

[fatprop]

AFTER another day of drama, the reeling Queensland Reds are braced for another gut-wrenching Super 14 defection with strike weapon Digby Ioane admitting he could follow Berrick Barnes to the NSW Waratahs.

Ioane indicated all bets were off today just an hour after Queensland Rugby Union chief executive Ken Freer announced his resignation. The powerful three-quarter, who had a handshake deal with Freer to stay at Ballymore, could opt to follow playmaker Barnes south next week.

While he was keen to stick with the Super 14 battlers, Ioane said that Barnes' surprise decision put a new light on his prolonged contract negotiations. The injured Wallabies flyer, worried the Reds backline would be affected by Barnes' departure, said he would "weigh up'' his future again this weekend.

"I said to the Reds that I would stay but there's been a big pause in the middle (of the contract process) before Berrick going,'' he said. "I want to make the right decision for my future. That's the hard thing now that Berrick has gone.

"I just have to do what's the best thing for my rugby. I though Berrick was going to stay but I guess he wasn't happy. I just need a bit of time to think over the whole thing.''

Barnes' one-year deal with the Waratahs, with an option for 2011, puts him squarely in the picture to sign with the new Super 15 franchise, expected to be from Melbourne.

Victorian-raised Ioane has been targeted by the Melbourne bid teams but he played down thoughts of a return home. "It's a new team again and you have to think about we're you can play your best footy,'' he said.

Ioane's move back to square one has kicked Reds officials while they are sprawled on the deck. The Reds, who have also lost Wallabies forward Hugh McMeniman, started the week believing both Barnes and Ioane, their two best backs this season when they finished second last, were virtually in the bag through to the 2011 World Cup.

"We're doing as much as we can but (Ioane) has intimated to me that he's staying here,'' said Reds general manager Daniel Herbert. "But until we sign the contract there's the chance he won't, so we've got to be prepared I suppose.''

QRU chairman Peter Lewis dismissed speculation Freer had been sacked and also denied persistent rumours former CEO and coach Jeff Miller and Wallabies great Tim Horan were being viewed as replacements.

Freer, who said he decided before this month to finish his three-year stint this year, will continue in his position until October. "Ken took this decision months ago and by agreement we wouldn't say anything until the season was well and truly over and the review was over,'' Lewis said.

"There was absolutely no rush, he's kindly agreed to stay on. We're not sacking him, we're not rushing him out the door. He just feels it's time to move on.''

 

[Newb]

oh shit..... i might have to change my graphic

 

[Sully]

Fuck. When I was a boy a handshake was as good as a contract! And when exactly is someone going to something ahead of themselves. I got to do what's right for me! fuck

 

[naza]

Digby looks like he could be the Scott Fava of backs !

As long as we keep him in Oz, I'm happy. It looked for sure like he was going to bolt for the cash on offer in Japan.

 

[Moses]

oh shit..... i might have to change my graphic

Here ya go... best bit is the real Ioane is in the corner

 

[Newb]

nice Moses

here's my version. low tech but effective i think.

 

[Sagerian]

If Ioane comes over to the tahs it will basically cement Drew Mitchell in the fullback spot (unless Turner does it which is unlikely). Dunno how I feel about that :

 

[Scarfman]

Mitchell will be fine at 15 at provincial level. If Ioane comes too, that will make the best XV in the S14 (on paper). Pretty exciting for us Tah men.

 

[cyclopath]

Mitchell will be fine at 15 at provincial level. If Ioane comes too, that will make the best XV in the S14 (on paper). Pretty exciting for us Tah men.

A huge call there Scarfy. I hope it doesn't come back to bite you on the bum!
Then again, maybe the "paper" S14 is the one the Tahs should target!

 

[Sagerian]

Mitchell will be fine at 15 at provincial level. If Ioane comes too, that will make the best XV in the S14 (on paper). Pretty exciting for us Tah men.

Does he kick differently at provincial level than he does internationally? Any time I've seen him rush a kick it'll shank (and sometimes when he has 50 years to take the kick). Maybe Burkey can tell him to calm the farm and be more composed from fullback.

What I didn't say in my earlier post is that I'd love for Ioane to join the Tahs at any rate.

 

[Scotty]

I thought it was ironic of Hickey last night on the rugby club, when asked about a second Sydney or NSW team talking about Sydney having the biggest pool of players in the country. This coming just after fielding questions about Barnes signing and the possibility of Ioane's.

I don't think the presenters saw the ridiculousness of the whole interview.

 

[Lee Grant]

The article is vague but I feel a bit like when Tuqiri came to rugby union - and probably more so when he got his renewal - I didn't want the money spent on him but if he did come over/stay I would be the first to queue up to watch him play for my team.

I don't want Ioane to come to the Tahs from an Oz rugby point of view but I will be the first to be cheering him on here if he does play for us.

We Tahs fans may be getting cocky but in the back of my mind is what happens at the end of 2010 - our 3 flyhalves are off contract, including Barnes who has an option to stay, but may not exercise it.

There won't be too much sympathy for us north of the Tweed if that happens.

 

[Moses]

When did we ever have sympathy from north of the Tweed? They still "owe" us for Latho...

 

[Scarfman]

Does he kick differently at provincial level than he does internationally? Any time I've seen him rush a kick it'll shank (and sometimes when he has 50 years to take the kick). Maybe Burkey can tell him to calm the farm and be more composed from fullback.

Well, everything is a bit easier at provincial level. Mat Rogers was always a 50/50 call at international level, but was actually a very good fullback for us.

In response to the QLDers above, I do agree that it's a bit strange to get rid of Hewat and SNK just to hire Mitchell. Fullback was a long way from our biggest problem.

10/12 on the other hand ...

 

[fatprop]

Does he kick differently at provincial level than he does internationally? Any time I've seen him rush a kick it'll shank (and sometimes when he has 50 years to take the kick). Maybe Burkey can tell him to calm the farm and be more composed from fullback.

Well, everything is a bit easier at provincial level. Mat Rogers was always a 50/50 call at international level, but was actually a very good fullback for us.

In response to the QLDers above, I do agree that it's a bit strange to get rid of Hewat and SNK just to hire Mitchell. Fullback was a long way from our biggest problem.

10/12 on the other hand ...

I disagree SNK at fullback just wasn't working (he couldn't break a tackle), Mitchell is a major improvement.

We miss Hewat's goal kicking

 

[fatprop]

Waratahs waiting on Ioane

July 31, 2009 - 7:27PM

The NSW Waratahs expect to know by early next week whether they can add Queensland flyer Digby Ioane to their mid-year backline rugby shopping spree.

Having already secured two other Test backs and Queensland products in Berrick Barnes and Drew Mitchell plus centre Rory Sidey, NSW still have room on their roster for one outside back and one second-rower.

Waratahs coach Chris Hickey revealed he had held further discussions with Ioane on Thursday.

"Earlier in the week I would have thought that Digby had made up his mind and committed himself (to Queensland)," Hickey told reporters on Friday.

"But in the last conversation he indicated that he hasn't formally signed and he would like a couple of days to think about the decision."

Hickey said Barnes' decision could influence Ioane's thinking and he hoped to get a decision from the powerful outside back by early next week.

While Hickey said the Waratahs were also looking at backs from overseas, he said Ioane was their primary target as he had a preference for an Australian.

The NSW coach said the list of candidates for the vacant lock spot included players from South Africa, New Zealand and the United Kingdom and they hope to make a decision on the position within a "couple of weeks".

Hickey said Barnes, who lined up at inside centre for Australia for most of the last year, also wanted to be looked at as a five-eighth.

"He (Barnes) says he will play at 10 or 12, whichever best suits the Waratahs, but he also wanted the option to be looked at as a 10 and not just thinking of him as a 12," Hickey said of Barnes.

The Waratahs mentor stressed he had plenty of options and flexibility with Kurtley Beale and Daniel Halangahu also capable of playing at five-eighth and inside centre.

Meanwhile NSW Rugby Union chief executive Jim L'Estrange said he expected his organisation to report a loss of between $225,000 to $275,000 for 2009.

L'Estrange anticipated 2010 would be another fairly tough year for his organisation.

He said most of their major sponsors were locked in for next year, but between $600,000 to $700,000 worth of current sponsorship still needed to be renewed for 2010.

He said a Western Sydney team would not be his organisation's preference for the extra Super spot available for 2011.

"If it so happens that Western Sydney get that offer, they need to know that they are going to be competing against the NSW Waratahs and it's going to be tough for them," L'Estrange said.