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Reds 2021

rugbyfan90

Chris McKivat (8)
I'm still not sold the MLR is going ahead like advertised. They've pushed back their start date due an entire franchise pulling out of the competition.

COVID still popping up everywhere (although the vaccine will help) and many international recruits yet to join their teams.

The Reds may have Ruan for longer than anticipated and I think that's a good thing.


As far as the LA Giltinis are concerned - its going ahead (well they'd hope). They just announced the signing of Matt Giteau!
 

PhilClinton

Mark Loane (55)
As far as the LA Giltinis are concerned - its going ahead (well they'd hope). They just announced the signing of Matt Giteau!


Yeh I've seen that!

In terms of players who I know, that Giltini's squad actually looks fairly decent, especially considering the level of rugby I imagine they're playing over there

Giteau
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
Smith twins
Billy Meakes - this level seems a far cry from being a 'fringe Wallaby'!
Dave Dennis
Angus Cottrell
Corey Thomas (QPR and Brisbane City NRC)
Charlie Abel
Adam Ashe

Are all the MLR teams that stacked?? Or is everyone just moving to LA.
 

Dctarget

Tim Horan (67)
Yeh I've seen that!

In terms of players who I know, that Giltini's squad actually looks fairly decent, especially considering the level of rugby I imagine they're playing over there

Giteau
AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
Smith twins
Billy Meakes - this level seems a far cry from being a 'fringe Wallaby'!
Dave Dennis
Angus Cottrell
Corey Thomas (QPR and Brisbane City NRC)
Charlie Abel
Adam Ashe

Are all the MLR teams that stacked?? Or is everyone just moving to LA.

Nah it's specifically this team. Got Aussie ownership and coach. This team has like half the aussies in the entire league.
 

The Nomad

Bob Davidson (42)
Rodda left on his own terms and for his own reasons , which he was entitled to do due to a global pandemic causing his “employers “ to ask for a change to his and every other Super Rugby players’ contract.

It was his get out of jail free card and he walked leaving behind team mates who didn’t. It’s way too soon for his JOC (James O'Connor) like “prodigal son “ return . Needs to earn that back if he wants it , would be disrespectful to those who stayed.
 

upthereds#!

Peter Johnson (47)
Rodda immediately wanted to go to a different super rugby club, which would have been under the same pay cut but was blocked by RA. He either had his bluff called and didnt actually want to leave, or there were other reasons for him wanting to leave the reds and RA weren't having a bar of it.
 

Cancelled Account

Desmond Connor (43)
Rodda, Hockings and Lucas left at uncertain times in the World with COVID having a massive financial impact on Australian rugby and its future. Yet we have JOC (James O'Connor) wanting to leave a few months ago and piss off to NZ, but contractually wasn’t released and then we promote him to captain. Work that one out! I guess Thorn’s statement that “we only want people here who want to be here” was binned.
I’d take Rodda back in a heartbeat.
 

Jets

Paul McLean (56)
Staff member
Do you take all the reports in the media as fact? He never came out and said this so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. I doubt Thorn would promote him to captain if that was actually the case.

Rodda, Hockings and Lucas walked out on their team mates who were in the exact same situation as them. They chose themselves over the team. I'd love for all three to return to Australia to play and to pull on the Wallaby jersey if they deserve to but I don't think the Reds is the best fit.
 

The Nomad

Bob Davidson (42)
We will probably never know the full story on JOC (James O'Connor) wanting to head over to play in NZ, but the reality is he is still here and Rodda isn’t.

Rodda wanted to go and left. The irony of that is , had he stayed he would most likely be our current captain and would be receiving praise for the service he has supplied to the state and the Reds .
 

SouthernX

John Thornett (49)
The silver lining with Rodda departing is it was one of many dominos that saw the debut or Uru.

Please make the argument that Rodda is worth the many more thousands of dollars then the versatile Uru who looks like another Reds hidden gem.
 

SouthernX

John Thornett (49)
Yes I know our lock stocks are thin but I think at this stage if Rodda walked back in the building... no way am I benching Uru for Rodda. That entitled pr*** Rodda can go earn his way back into the reds jersey at tigerland.
 

liquor box

Peter Sullivan (51)
Do you take all the reports in the media as fact? He never came out and said this so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. I doubt Thorn would promote him to captain if that was actually the case.

Rodda, Hockings and Lucas walked out on their team mates who were in the exact same situation as them. They chose themselves over the team. I'd love for all three to return to Australia to play and to pull on the Wallaby jersey if they deserve to but I don't think the Reds is the best fit.

This is where things get interesting. Rugby is a business, I wish it was just a sport where it was purely played for fun, but the reality is that the players are employees of a business with skills that can be used at other businesses.

I dont have an issue with an employee of any other business leaving for better conditions, or at least trying to do so. It would be hypocritical of me to have an issue with rugby players doing the same.

I hate what happened, but recognise that the players have a limited earning capacity due to lifespan of their careers and the possibility of being forced to retire at a young age due to injury.

I have no issue with any of the three coming back and would welcome them.

I did have issues with players like JOC (James O'Connor) who has done things to the detriment of the games reputation, players who get in fights at pubs, players who get charged for assault/obstruct police etc being allowed to play and have their past forgiven immediately even though their stupid decisions.
 

The Nomad

Bob Davidson (42)
Agree that professional athletes only have a limited window to earn a living, but there is also life ( and another earning window) after sport.

Doors open in life after sport to opportunities that are not available to all who have played. It's often the reputation you earned while playing that decide whether these doors are opened or closed to you.

There's a lot more to the increasing your earning potential than just signing for the highest contract available at a single point in time. In fact I would offer the same advise to anyone , not just athletes.

Wonder if his manager mentioned this?
 

Jets

Paul McLean (56)
Staff member
While I get that rugby is a business it also has a team dynamic. Getting everyone to work together is part of what the coach and management need to sort out. Guys leaving because of something everyone is going through and then being welcomed back will impact that.
 
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