James O'Conner about to be overpaid

[disco]

Australian rugby could soon have a million-dollar man to replace Lote Tuqiri in its ranks - and he's still a teenager.

Outstanding rookie James O'Connor, 19, is poised to become one of rugby union's top earners with new deals with the Australian Rugby Union and Western Force close to being finalised.

Following drawn-out contract negotiations, O'Connor is in line for as much as a reported $1 million a season in wages and sponsorship for the next two years by staying in Perth.

The star-studded Brumbies had hotly pursued the three-Test boy wonder, but the Force have pulled out all stops to retain O'Connor and they are now confident he is locked in to replace Matt Giteau as their crowd-pulling star.

A weekend report in Perth priced the new deal at about $600,000 a year on-field and $400,000 a year off it through a range of personal endorsement deals.

A third-party deal in excess of $200,000 a year is reportedly part of the Force package, though club sources say the $2 million figure is excessive.

O'Connor was silent on his future when he returned to the Wallabies camp in Sydney on Tuesday, but he said the Force's signing of former Springboks fly half Andre Pretorious was definitely food for thought.

"It was a big influence on me," O'Connor said.

"I wanted a marquee No.10 who I can still learn from.

"We lost Gits, and he helped me out a lot these last two years. I wanted to keep developing my game.

"I am nowhere near my full potential and I wanted someone experienced inside me. So, yeah, it's a big key factor."

O'Connor's rise up the ranks of Australian rugby's top-paid stars could come before he's played a single Bledisloe Cup or Tri-Nations Test.

The Gold Coast-raised youngster proved his mettle by scoring three tries in his run-on Test debut, against Italy in June, and he says he can't wait to experience the thrill of playing against New Zealand and South Africa.

"It's unreal," he said.

"Hopefully I can get a bit of game time against the All Blacks and in South Africa as well. A dream come true."

O'Connor said he had learned his lesson about full-time professionalism after being disciplined and fined for a food fight with two Wallabies teammates in Canberra.

"On and off the field you have to be a role model," O'Connor

Why would anyone at the ARU or other super rugby franchise pay him that much, what a joke.

The bloke hasn't proved anything at test level & still isn't a Wallaby starter yet, I personally wouldn't pay any player that much money until they have proven themselves year in year out at test level.

 

[formeropenside]

It does seem a little excessive.

 

[Gagger]

It doesn't say what the ARU top up is as a part of the $600k, and I wouldn't think it would be that much considering he ain't going nowhere outside Oz for a while.

Firepower deja vu.......

 

[Moses]

"I am nowhere near my full potential and I wanted someone experienced inside me.

At least he's explained those short shorts in the pool footage..

 

[waratahjesus]

some people have been very vocal about lote being overpayed but yet, no mistakes are being learnt.
on top of the fact he hasnt proven himself week in week out and has no permanant place in the national team yet, he has already had two warnings and been fined twice. i guess the force only have one way to keep people out west, and it aint opportunity!

 

[Newb]

hasn't done nearly enough to earn that. obviously has the potential, but he shouldn't be getting that much for another couple years when he's proven himself. i hope the money doesn't go to his head, have him thinking he can't be told what to do.

marketability obviously plays a huge factor in this. with gits off he's the face of the force now. looks like he could sell a lot of ..... styling products? must be a HUGE void to fill now that shmoo is gone ;D

 

[louie]

least we can sack him easily if it doesn't work out

 

[naza]

Funny how they are so willing to try and short change Al Baxter, yet all of a sudden a lightweight back who has done fuck all gets money thrown at him. That's an awful lot of money for a reserve.

 

[Scarfman]

least we can sack him easily if it doesn't work out

Put him on the special "last warning" contract.

The people writing these cheques know fuck all about rugby. The whole fucking road train is in the ditch if Al Baxter catches a cold.

 

[naza]

This is where our pathetic Australian rugby media let us down. Somebody stick a microphone in front of Digby Ioane while he reads what they're offering James 'Who ? Dead.set done nuthin' ' O'Connor.

 

[Scotty]

Very, very hard to believe.

Thoughts flash through my mind about what the likes of Baxter, Ioane and Dunning could be thinking at the moment.

 

[TOCC]

its a bit of a slap in the face to someone like Digby, i mean yeah JOC (James O'Connor) has some talent, but he needs to earn his wage first

 

[Pfitzy]

Unfortunately, as someone said on the Lote thread: if you get that kind of moolah shoved in your face, you're hardly likely to turn it down. Put your hand up if you've never earned more than you thought you're worth.

 

[Gagger]

I agree with most comments above, but will say again - how much of the $600k that's not sponsorship comes from the ARU and how much from the Farce?

 

[Major Spliff Biggins]

In a world where over $100 million is being paid for prima donna footballers, is $600 000 that excessive?

Yes he is young, yes he has a lot to prove; but surely the Force would see it as an investment?

They have lost Mitchell and Giteau this season, and it appears that based on their geographical location, they will have to pay above norm to retain players.

Again we are ignorant as to the ARU top up, but personally, I couldn't give a fuck what the independent provinces pay for players. We live in an age where virtually anyone with a number higher than 5 on their back in Australia could automatically double their wage should they leave overseas.

I'm not convinced this is the atrocity others are seeing it as.

I just wish to ensure the contract is secure in the Force and ARU's favour so that if he does fuck about- Lote style; he can be thrown out and have to pay back the investment...

 

[waratahjesus]

i think it is a major major problem for backs to get this much money.
when players who are proven and needed (not that james wont be but he actually isnt right now!) then they deserve big money. but i dont think australian players in any code are worth a mill.

the 100 million for footballers is worth it to the big club, real madrid got 80 thousand to pack a stadium just to see ronaldo dressed in its kit, not even for a game. imagine the 10 people who would rock out to see JOC (James O'Connor) dressed in a jersey on any given day should he sign with someone.

the kid is just that, a kid, it even says in the article that he still needs to learn. what happens if he develops. is he worth more then or the same? does he do a hissy fit and ask for double, do the aru bend over and take it?

there are several things screwing rugby in this country but the size of the conracts being offered to a select few is huge. i still dont understand why we have imports on double the money of there teammates. how much are the force paying pretorius? if there 10 and 12 are on a mill a year, then why shouldnt sheehan?

 

[fatprop]

Why is anybody surprise that the talented young kid with blue eyes, a cheeky smile and blond hair in more marketable than a quiet family orientated islander or a serious, intelligent prop.

Marketability is the issue hear. Lote had it, so does O'Conner.

 

[TOCC]

that is true as well fatprop, he has superstar marketable qualities about him, O'Connor seems like a cheekier version of Barnes, Barnes IMO is the perfect example of your marketing trump card, his reputation as the 'good guy' grows stronger by the day.

 

[fatprop]

Barnes' problem is that he wears a water polo hat so his game shots don't look great on posters.

 

[Pfitzy]

Yep. Plus he plays for the Reds.