Moono, this 'resignation' by RG is an absolute blessing in disguise for the Force, subject to the WA Rugby board emulating the 2011 ACT RU one and saying 'if there's a highly qualified world class rugby coach available with an excellent track record relevant to S15 rugby in WA, we will do whatever it takes to hire him to Rugby WA'.
You know I think my view long-standing (since mid-2010) negative view re RG, and his willingness to just leave the Force behind mid-season - when both he and the QRU could have minimised the impacts on both teams if they'd waited to explore and potentially conclude this in late July/August only 3 months hence - is extremely disappointing and reflects poorly on his judgement IMO. (NB: I am just as critical of the QRU not respecting this same sensible need to make this change at season end instead of 4 days before a Stormers game, if it was to be made at all.)
Rugby WA should have been suspicious as to why Deans and the ARU so easily let RG go in late 2010, a pre RWC year that they were allegedly determined to win. It's virtually unprecedented for a national Head Coach to release a seemingly key member of his team 12 months pre a RWC. The thing is about RG that I realise from his media presence and listening to him, he seems like the ultimate, approachable, open, affable, knowledgeable, intelligent, non-arrogant good bloke of a rugby man that you'd just love to go into battle with, have beers with, whatever. But there's something about his judgement and actual skill level and depth as a coach that I am sure - up to now anyway - has been missing. And that Llink has to gently mentor him into the QLD role and essentially oversight him for whole year, well, whatever the PR gloss, does that not say it all? His 'ready to be developed, but needing development' is perhaps 50% what Link likes in him given the way Link has structured his own set up through 2013/4. No properly rounded coach with a solid demonstrable record and genuine self-confidence would need or accept in this way a 12 month oversighting by the prior match day coach.
Whatever, what's critical is that Rugby WA gains courage and foresight from this debacle and makes a huge strategic positive out of a tactical negative. There's plenty of 'non-capital smaller but sophisticated' cities like Perth that have built really successful sports teams of pride and genuine success. It's all there for the taking in the great State of WA (that I visit regularly and love), and you can make a Force more than in name only. Good luck, Aus rugby badly needs you to succeed, and have the balls Vern!
