JOC (James O'Connor) Gooonne

[Try-ranosaurus Rex]

Probably better for him personally to go to a place where he's a little fish in a big pond, with senior players who'll pull him into line at the slightest hint of ego.

Does such a place exist. Me thinks France is the type of place has enjoys a good ego.

 

[Blake]

Well, now is his chance to win back a lot of fans. Sign with the force and play for peanuts. I doubt that the force have offered JOC (James O'Connor) much given they seem reluctant to sign.

 

[RedsHappy]

^^^

When oh when will RugbyWA learn the lesson after years of failed experiments with 'imported star players'?

That model and all its attendant issues has NEVER built success for them, and I doubt it ever will. Yet they are still tantalised and drawn by the star siren song that is the dazzling James O'Connor. They are not being careful about what they wish for.

They need to build their own version of White's Brumbies constructed around less-than-star players with great talent, work ethic and genuine motivation towards and loyalty for the Force.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Does such a place exist. Me thinks France is the type of place has enjoys a good ego.

By all accounts they get awesome crowds in Moscow for Rugby games. The money is probably not quite as good as that in the South of France, but I'd reckon that Russia wouldn't have too much time for egos.

Either there or Georgia. Those boys in the Georgian team at RWC were not very pretty.

Good place to get inculcated with some humility and respect for the game.

 

[GaffaCHinO]

^^^

When oh when will RugbyWA learn the lesson after years of failed experiments with 'imported star players'?

That model and all its attendant issues has NEVER built success for them, and I doubt it ever will. Yet they are still tantalised and drawn by the star siren song that is the dazzling James O'Connor. They are not being careful about what they wish for.

They need to build their own version of White's Brumbies constructed around less-than-star players with great talent, work ethic and genuine motivation towards and loyalty for the Force.

I think the difference is that they feel JOC (James O'Connor) is one of their own who needs to be put on the right path.

If he is willing to make the change then why not take the punt.

They are already on the way to creating their own identity with the amount of local players filled in with senior players who are around for the long haul.

This wouldn’t be the same as blowing the budget on Gits or Mitchell or Genia.

I think the right call has been made to drop his top up and its now up to him to make the next step.

Man up and prove your worth with the Force, or punk out and head North or to RL.

Imagine if he actually did something like undermine the team and coach or get into a punch up with you team mates and break your rehab agreement might find himself with a massive contract and playing with the 2 biggest team in Aus........ Fuck me you lot are a sad bunch.

 

[Blake]

Either there or Georgia. Those boys in the Georgian team at RWC were not very pretty.

Good place to get inculcated with some humility and respect for the game.

Yip, 1 season playing in a tight 5 position in a Georgian domestic comp will teach him some life lessons.

 

[The Red Baron]

^^^

When oh when will RugbyWA learn the lesson after years of failed experiments with 'imported star players'?

That model and all its attendant issues has NEVER built success for them, and I doubt it ever will. Yet they are still tantalised and drawn by the star siren song that is the dazzling James O'Connor. They are not being careful about what they wish for.

They need to build their own version of White's Brumbies constructed around less-than-star players with great talent, work ethic and genuine motivation towards and loyalty for the Force.

Now hang on there RH, on the previous page you lambasted the ARU for not showing leadership, and suggested an alternative press release with the words:

he will be considered as a candidate for Wallaby selection subject to his contracted status with an Australian S15 team

Then you have a crack at RugbyWA for negotiating with JO'C - something which they have been doing for months now. To fulfill the criteria on your suggested press release, JO'C will have to possess a contract with an Australian S15 team. No other S15 side bar the Force have expressed an interest in signing JO'C. Yet you feel justified in criticising RugbyWA for actually throwing the player a lifeline to potentially stay in Australia. So which is it then? What is your actual viewpoint? You can't have it both ways.

Also keep in mind that JO'C would not be an 'imported star player'. JO'C has played the bulk of his professional rugby for the Force. The Force has had a major hand in developing JO'C into a professional footballer on the field. As Gaffa has already said and I will now iterate, the Force feels JO'C is one of their own. A far cry from the imported star player you suggest.

 

[Moono75]

I think the current situation will have delivered the message to JOC (James O'Connor) that time and chances are running out for him to make any kind of lasting name for himself in Rugby. If he does get a contract with the Force I expect he will knuckle down and start to deliver on the huge potential he has but has never directed 100% towards Rugby.

 

[Blue]

He needs to go to France. Learn the language, drink wine instead of smirnoff double blacks, and get his eyes opened to just how little the world cares about one footballer in Australia.

If you want that then send him to Kimberley to p[lay for Griquas in the Vodafone and Currie Cups. Only warm beer I'm afraid. There's a big dairy plan just outside of town so he can have lots of milk.

 

[redveincheese]

If he is now lost to OZ rugby, and that seems to be the case, I wouldn't mind seeing him at the Broncos next year. I think he would make a good league 5/8 and it is close to the family home.

 

[Braveheart81]

Well, now is his chance to win back a lot of fans. Sign with the force and play for peanuts. I doubt that the force have offered JOC (James O'Connor) much given they seem reluctant to sign.

I think we'd still be talking about more than 200,000 peanuts. Possibly quite a lot more than that.

It's just a lot less peanuts than the million peanuts he might have been earning this year.

 

[BPC]

I note that Bill Pulver stated that Beiber can still make a great contribution to the game. Interestingly, he didn't say "to the game in Australia".

 

[Inside Shoulder]

How much would the Bulldogs be able to pay? Barba was on approx $350K and still had a year left so not sure if they had other funds available. Anything over that is a big gamble on a code hopper.

Where i come from you dont need to go over that figure for it be a big gamble on a code hopper.
Surely any club would want to make it incentive based and the question remains how would he go in the weekly spotlight for 8-10 months of the year????

 

[Ignoto]

It's just a lot less peanuts than the million peanuts he might have been earning this year.

I wonder if he's lost any vitamin peanuts because of this? If he leaves Australian shores, I'd imagine his marketability will be gone as he'll be a small fish in a big pond!

 

[Shiggins]

Did anyone read the story? It sounds as though he is pretty much going to the force. He will be back playing in the first test next year. No doubt

 

[GaffaCHinO]

Strong talk from JOC (James O'Connor) here.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/u...-again-20131003-2uwdi.html?rand=1380776162095

Sounds like a move to RL or France are the last thing on his mind.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Strong talk from JOC (James O'Connor) here.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/u...-again-20131003-2uwdi.html?rand=1380776162095

Sounds like a move to RL or France are the last thing on his mind.

I for one hope that he pulls his head in, straightens out and comes back a better player. It would a tragic waste of talent if he were lost to the international game.

 

[It is what it is]

If he is now lost to OZ rugby, and that seems to be the case, I wouldn't mind seeing him at the Broncos next year. I think he would make a good league 5/8 and it is close to the family home.

He'll miss Buddy and KB (Kurtley Beale) but can hang out with Bernard Tomic or better still Bernie's dad.

 

[RedsHappy]

Now hang on there RH, on the previous page you lambasted the ARU for not showing leadership, and suggested an alternative press release with the words:

Then you have a crack at RugbyWA for negotiating with JO'C - something which they have been doing for months now. To fulfill the criteria on your suggested press release, JO'C will have to possess a contract with an Australian S15 team. No other S15 side bar the Force have expressed an interest in signing JO'C. Yet you feel justified in criticising RugbyWA for actually throwing the player a lifeline to potentially stay in Australia. So which is it then? What is your actual viewpoint? You can't have it both ways.

Also keep in mind that JO'C would not be an 'imported star player'. JO'C has played the bulk of his professional rugby for the Force. The Force has had a major hand in developing JO'C into a professional footballer on the field. As Gaffa has already said and I will now iterate, the Force feels JO'C is one of their own. A far cry from the imported star player you suggest.

1. The suggested PR wording was little more than the fact that it's ARU policy that a Wallaby candidate must be contracted to an S15 team. My thinking had nothing to do with the Force per se, purely that that's what they'd have to say in such a context.

2. Fair point re 'JO'C is Force home grown'. I get that, so my formulation was shaky and not right in a literal sense. But I stand by the essence of what I was arguing.

Namely, JO"C became a rugby star in recent years. I wonder though if the record shows over time (vs single games here and there) if the Force was markedly more of a winning side with him or without him, I think that's debatable and an inferred part of my point - it was hardly that JO'C at the Force singlehandedly lifted it to regular success, or even vaguely close to it. He decided to leave the Force in a blast of mutual antagonism. His behavioural incidents record has worsened since then to have reached a severe climax of reported problems now.

Now, they're contemplating re-importing the export, obviously to harness JO'C's talents and by definition not in this case growing or building their own from a new base of players. I sense that's a potentially large mistake in a team that's keenly needing/building a fresh culture and playing mode, a bit like, for example, J White trying hard to re-recruit Giteau. JO'C has been an increasingly problematic player with obvious values and standards deficiencies and, as above, I doubt the risk-reward of having him back was demonstrated even when JO'C was first with the Force.

 

[It is what it is]

Force by name need to be Force by nature.
If they really want him, they should put their final offer to him with a 24hr expiration clause.
That way they'll know if he's serious and also will not be used by JOC (James O'Connor) as a bargaining chip for other offers.