Quade telling it how it is

[Braveheart81]

IF it were just injuries, then there are guys in that list that should not have ARU top ups.

If it were about form, then there also guys in that list that should not have ARU top ups.

This is not about injury or form, but about punishment. Which then comes back to the question, why not be professional a month ago and tell him he has no money?

My main point was that there are already a lot of players who have played a fair bit for the Wallabies this season who will be on match payments next year unless they play the requisite games to get an improved contract.

If QC (Quade Cooper) hadn't done anything wrong then I'm sure he would have been recontracted. In fact there was a full contract on the table for much of the year.

The reality in my opinion is that QC (Quade Cooper) has turned his back on Australian Rugby with his comments in the last couple of months. The ARU has said that he can still play and would be on a match payments contract (like many other Wallabies). I really think that it is now up to QC (Quade Cooper) to prove that he still wants to play for the Wallabies and earn selection.

The reaction to the match payments contract offer by some people seems to indicate that the ARU has put up an impossible barrier preventing QC (Quade Cooper) from ever playing for the Wallabies again. There are plenty of current Wallabies who are happy to bust their gut to play for the Wallabies for the match payments.

If QC (Quade Cooper) wanted to be a Wallaby again, then he could do so. It would seem he has chosen not to pursue that.

 

[Scotty]

Nope. You are equal bloody vermin D ) as far as I am concerned but care to explain? Because I live in NSW? Nope.

I'm not taking side. I am speculating over what I think has transpired which is what we do around here, no?

Thought the tahs were your second team?

 

[Scotty]

They played the perfect game.
QC (Quade Cooper) repeatedly stated that he would prefer to concentrate on the Reds only next year and that money did not motivate him.
They offered him a contract that allowed him to play with the Reds,but also the opportunity play for the Wobs, should things change.
How much should they offer someone who is ATM a marginal member of the top 32, who is currently injured?
Add to that, he is a serial offender at embarrassing the game,who also has a very poor relationship with the current coach.

It is only the perfect game if we don't see through it. It was far from perfect. It was child like.

 

[en_force_er]

No I clicked on a link to ninemsn a few pages back and as well as KenandBarbie Sutcliffe talking to Dunny Wilder breaking the news, there was some vision of QC (Quade Cooper) himself unshaven looking a bit of a stunned mullet like he was on the Rugby Club saying "I guess I'll have to try boxing or overseas because I like challenges" or words to that same general effect. At least I'm pretty sure that I saw that. You have got me doubting what I saw now.

Look, Quade MIGHT be quitting but I think you misinterpreted the quotes in a way that the footage obviously intended you to.

Seems to me like he was just chatting about exploring options after a charity cricket match that took place yesterday (probably in a SBW-esc way outside of his main contract). Something about the way he was speaking meant he was obviously trying to make a point but if there was a definitive quote either side of that video bite they would have led with it. Journos don't make this kind of mistake.

Let's put of crazy theories to bed for the night, there's no official quotes from Quades camp yet. If there had been video footage of his discussing ANYTHING concrete to do with his contract taken yesterday why would it have taken until now to be leaked?

This is all fishy. Not necessary without legs but very fishy.


http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8567024

 

[Scotty]

My main point was that there are already a lot of players who have played a fair bit for the Wallabies this season who will be on match payments next year unless they play the requisite games to get an improved contract.

If QC (Quade Cooper) hadn't done anything wrong then I'm sure he would have been recontracted. In fact there was a full contract on the table for much of the year.

The reality in my opinion is that QC (Quade Cooper) has turned his back on Australian Rugby with his comments in the last couple of months. The ARU has said that he can still play and would be on a match payments contract (like many other Wallabies). I really think that it is now up to QC (Quade Cooper) to prove that he still wants to play for the Wallabies and earn selection.

The reaction to the match payments contract offer by some people seems to indicate that the ARU has put up an impossible barrier preventing QC (Quade Cooper) from ever playing for the Wallabies again. There are plenty of current Wallabies who are happy to bust their gut to play for the Wallabies for the match payments.

If QC (Quade Cooper) wanted to be a Wallaby again, then he could do so. It would seem he has chosen not to pursue that.

So you don't think they should have made their position clear as part of his hearing?

It really seems like a double punishment to me (and by most others here based on the supposition of the reasons for the reduced offer).

 

[Paradox]

For all his faults, I think it would be a tragedy to lose Cooper from Aussie rugby. Watching him play for the Reds and Ws last year was a real treat. When on form, he can do things nobody else can. Sure he has bought some bad publicity to rugby but he's put more bums on seats than most players have. He played a massive part in the resurgence of rugby in Queensland. It's a dark day for Oz rugby if the reports are true.

 

[en_force_er]

http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8567024 GO HERE FOR FOOTAGE OF THE STORY BEING BROKEN.

The fact they use footage out of context to illustrate their point is seedy and all around shameful on Nine's part.

If this is where the story has been broken I'm mighty suss about the whole this. It might be true but it's far from a done deal and this whole thing going viral and being quoted as fact makes me mad at the media.

 

[I like to watch]

Scotty, you appear not to differentiate between his form for the Reds and the Wallabies.
How many games has QC (Quade Cooper) played for the Wobs?
How many MOM's has he won?
When did he last play well for them?
He is injured, why would anyone pay him more than match payments?

 

[cyclopath]

This is what you said. How does giving the likes of tuqiri, Rogers or Tahu huge top ups demonstrably benefit WA or Victoria for instance? How does having around 10 waratah players currently getting ARU top ups benefit these states? Should we rescind all top ups to these players, particularly the ones that are currently injured or out of form?

The fact is that Australian rugby needs marketable stars that can help grow the game. There is no doubt whatsoever that Cooper is one of these. Growth in rugby in Qld = growth in Australia = more professional level players = stronger teams across the board = stronger national team.

I don't think it is that complicated at all.

No, I didn't say anything about topping up NSW based players benefitting anyone. I asked how topping up Quade helped anyone. You introduced the magic bullet conspiracy against Qld by NSW argument. Somewhat of a strawman. Your last paragraph is pure hypothesis.

 

[It is what it is]

Guys, the ARU don't have any money.
Yes the Lions Tour will bring in some $$$ but overall their finances are woeful.
The ARU cannot sustain huge payments to the Wallabies based on their current or forecasted financials.

 

[Braveheart81]

So you don't think they should have made their position clear as part of his hearing?

It really seems like a double punishment to me (and by most others here based on the supposition of the reasons for the reduced offer).

The ARU hearing wasn't run by the same people who are in charge of contracts. The disciplinary hearing had to be completely independent from the ARU contract negotiations otherwise there would be a huge conflict of interest.

 

[Ash]

Mentioned on the Reds thread, but I suspect the biggest money play for Quade would be Reds then Japan. There's no doubt that Quade would get a bigger off than Benji for a Japanese stint, and Benji's offer was pretty obscene. Most likely followed by an attempt to join the NRL at some stage.

If Quade is still willing to play for the Reds next season and the ARU block it, I can image it would be a very unhappy meeting between some Reds and ARU officials.

Incidentally, I don't think either the ARU or Cooper look good coming out of this. With the ARU contract offered, it was basically nothing as Deans would've been odds on not to pick Quade unless Deans was bent back over a barrel. The ARU probably thought of it as a win-win: either Quade sticks around for a lot less than he's worth or he buggers off and the ARU can claim it wasn't there fault.

On the surface Quade taking the latter option is a win to the ARU as they save mega bucks for a player Deans would be unlikely to play anyway; the ARU get rid of someone they no doubt don't like; and they can take the moral high ground after Quade foolishly said it's not about the money. Not only that, the ARU also get rid of a dissenter who publicly called them out on something that's actually an issue but did it in such a retarded way that the message was wasted and lost.

But, longer term it's a gambit on Quade's value by the ARU. If Quade ends up in the NRL and shines, it'll be a disaster for the ARU.

And if Cooper isn't a better player than some of the 32 (or 39) listed previously, I'll eat my hat.

 

[Bowside]

Guys, the ARU don't have any money.
Yes the Lions Tour will bring in some $$$ but overall their finances are woeful.
The ARU cannot sustain huge payments to the Wallabies based on their current or forecasted financials.

Yet they can afford to pay deans a million dollars a year.

 

[Braveheart81]

And if Cooper isn't a better player than some of the 32 (or 39) listed previously, I'll eat my hat.

I absolutely agree that he's a better player than many people on that list.

However, after being injured for much of the year and only playing one test and then mouthing off in public about the ARU, his bargaining power is at an all time low.

If I had to choose between offering a top up contract to someone who had just broken into the team, given everything and was hugely positive like Nick Cummins or Ben Tapuai or give one to Quade Cooper right now, I wouldn't be giving the contract to Cooper.

 

[Scotty]

No, I didn't say anything about topping up NSW based players benefitting anyone. I asked how topping up Quade helped anyone. You introduced the magic bullet conspiracy against Qld by NSW argument. Somewhat of a strawman. Your last paragraph is pure hypothesis.

Really? Show me where I said that there was a nsw conspiracy against Qld. I simply brought nsw into to see if you could view the argument from the other side.

You basically said that QC (Quade Cooper)'s value to rugby in Qld should not come into consideration when it comes to the aru top up. You argument was how does a strong Qld help Vic or wa. I disagree with the sentiment that the aru shouldn't be investing to help leverage growth one of the strong rugby states.

I made the point that they have done so via big money to the likes of tuqiri and tahu for nsw despite their value to the wallabies being questionable at times. I have tried to bring nsw into it so you could see the other side of the argument when it affects your province.

I then pointed out that the aru have had their own review recommend them to be 'keepers of the game'. I take this to mean they should do what is best for the game and what is best to grow the game at all levels. This decision is not in the best interests of growing the game at all levels.

If you don't get what I am trying to say after this, I'll give up.

 

[cyclopath]

Good.

 

[ChargerWA]

I think the Rookie contract would have been appropriate if they hadn't fined him also. Now they have had two bites of the cherry it comes off as vindictive.

 

[Scotty]

Good.

Are you going to start the standard Lindommer response to my posts now?

Thanks.

 

[Roundawhile]

I am disgusted.

Once again Aus rugby is in turmoil.

Once again we have politics as the main game rather than rugby.

Who made this decision?

No QC (Quade Cooper) is not bigger than the game, but neither is the board, and neither is RD.

How many people think QC (Quade Cooper) was wrong for the way he went about trying to say what he wanted to say? Very few.

How many could actually agree with his sentiments? Well it seems that if you had a low opinion of QC (Quade Cooper) to start with then it just reinforced your feelings, but have you truely considered what he was trying to say rather than the way he said it?

I would like to know how many people on this forum would agree that the way that Aus rugby is currently run is not in the best interests of the game? But because it was QC (Quade Cooper) that raised it in an abysmal interview everything he tried to point out was wrong.

The glee which has ensued from this announcement has left me feeling that this forum is not what I thought it was.

There are posters on here who I previously really respected who have shown themselves to be people that don't really care for the long term good of our game.

For those of you who choose RD and the ARU board above a person trying to fight for the way that he, and I believe most of us want the game to be played, is a massive disapointment.

I am truely saddened for Aus rugby. . .

 

[Slim 293]

I don't understand the angst towards the ARU?

They've offered him a contract.

It's no surprise that it's a lesser contract.

If he doesn't want to accept it then that's his problem.