Being a fervent supporter of the Reds, I’ve become used to disappointment over the last few years, but nothing could quite prepare for the disappointment I felt this morning to read that Madness McMeniman is heading overseas next year and that Diggers may well join him.
Ok, Madness leaving is sad but understandable, even he has admitted that the ARU’s offer was more than reasonable, but it appears as though he is looking to re-invigorate his injury prone career.
This desire, plus the financial muscle of overseas clubs is just too much for him to pass up, however at the age of 26, it is possible we may yet see him come back to Australia.
What I find strange however, is the ARU’s insistence that Madness will not be allowed to play for the Reds next season should he want to move overseas after the Super 14. Why the fuck not? Could the Reds sign him as their marquee player? Would the ARU block that as well? Why did the ARU bend over backward to accommodate the Tahs in the Rocky Elsom case, but will do nothing to help out the Reds?
What is more astounding is the relative pittance that the ARU have offered to Diggers. It’s true that $190K isn’t bad coin to play rugby, but when you consider what Lote ($800K) and Timtam ($500K) are on, things look a little skewed.
Actually, more than just skewed – how about completely fucking stupefying.
As Diggers himself said
“The offer was like an insult to me. I don’t get it. I’m shattered….I don’t know what else I have to do to prove what I’m worth.”
Ioane lead the Australian players this year in running metres per game and linebreaks, more than doubling both Lote and Timtam in running metres and completely fucking embarrassing them both in line-breaks.
Based on Ioane’s ‘upgraded’ contract figure, if you worked out the cost of each metre gained this Super 14 season on a per dollar basis, each metre Diggers’ made cost $167, each of Timtams’ metres cost $862, while Lote’s per metre gained cost comes in at $1413.
When you take into account that Ioane has not yet turned 24 while both Tahu and Lote are bearing down on 30 years of age, plus the versatility he has shown this season, it again raises questions of where the ARU’s priorities lay.
A few weeks after the ARU stepped in and threw money at Phil Waugh to stay, they don’t seem to be prepared to offer the sort of cash that a player like Ioane deserves.
I wonder what Ioane’s contract offer would have been if he played for the Tahs?
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="3207 https://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/?p=3207">22 Comments
You make some good points JC. I can’t help but think it was the worst possible time for Digby to get injured. If he was fit and in the squad he would have been a certain starter, had a chance to prove himself at the highest level – which he has not yet done – and the ARU would have no choice but to put him in the top tier… It’s going to be a real shame if we lose him.
Agreed with all my rugby heart. Do what needs to be done to keep Diggers.
Stu Andrews’s last blog post..Episode #8 – Twitter and Lote, Websites, Dodgy Knees!
I think just looking at Staniforths playing history you can see if you let these guys go you dont know what you can miss out on.
Australia is gonna have an overseas 15 better than their test team if they dont make the right choices.
It made no sense that diggers was ever dropped from the wallabies after scoring on debut?
How much would Digby have been offered if he had blonde hair and was white?
Dude, I dont think you can seriously throw a charge of racism at Australian rugby. Gregan, Smith, Tuqiri, Tahu, Kepu, Kefu…how many names do you want?
But since you asked, I’d say $190K.
Diggers is after the money – he admits it, he’s basically the breadwinner for a large extended family.
For the amount of money on show up north, I’d consider doing just about anything myself, considering that you are always one serious injury away from permanent retirement.
I know what you mean, Mattass. It certainly seems the ARU has favourites, I don’t know if you could call it racism, as F7 says we have a history of selecting non anglos (so close to writing something worse there).
But the hypocrisy is plain to see.
Word up f7, starting your reply with dude.
Fuck the Aru in their stupid arses. If I had a son with rugby potential you would have to tell them “play league until you are a fringe representative then go get the cash in union”.
to true Pants
fuck him.
its a lot of money. put it into devloping other players and teams. let him go and fade away
This is ridiculous. Whoever is in charge of contracts at the ARU is not doing Dingo any favors. Australian rugby, with its limited playing stocks, cannot afford to lose its best talent. To do that the ARU has to align its compensation to present potential and Diggers (best 3/4 athlete in the country) and MMM (best lineout athlete in the country) have a better chance of helping to win the 2011 WC than Waugh and Lote. Loyalty should be reawarded but not to the extent that it robs you of your future talent (especially organic future talent).
And as for not allowing MMM to play in the super 14 next year – sheer bloody madness.
190k is a fair bit of money — let’s be honest — any of us would give anything to pull on a wallabies jersey if we we were good enough but we can’t; he’s got the ability and all he can think of is money and getting a bigger offer. i can’t believe anyone would call it an insult.
but yeah, MMM not playing in the s14 is ridiculous.
If you knew that someone else was paid nearly three times as much and didn’t contribute as much, you might feel differently.
We need to get over this stupid romanticism about rugby – we can be romantic when the teams are on the pitch but in reality even there we shipped out romanticism 20 years ago.
I’d pay to put on Wallaby guernsey but I would tell my employer the same thing in the same circumstances. And the ARU is Digger’s employer.
MMM treats rugby like a job. and good on him. Someone who is not afraid to say, you know what, im gonna get as much as i can as soo as i can…
MMM doesnt really enjoy it, its work to him, he isnt really worried by it all…if someone is prepared to pay him that much, then sure take it. He loves being able to play rugby for money…but yeah, its a job
I dont think the ARU or the Reds or any 3rd party would have kept him when he is offered that sort of cash…thats what his priorities are and sure…good on you son…
and thats a justified remark by the way…
I am a die-hard ‘Tahs fan and I totally agree. No idea what Queensland has done to the ARU to piss them off, but they should definately apologize right now before the ARU tells Berrick Barnes he has to go to Perth or he won’t be picked for the Wallabies.
There is another issue here. The ARU are the same people WHO WANT ANOTHER S14 FRANCHISE!?!?!? and they are letting talented players walk away. This is not letting Chris Latham walk away toward the end of his career, this is letting young talented people disappear. No wonder coaches say there aren’t enough players to fill a 5th team. Just think about the players that have left that could fill a Melbourne or Gold Coast team:
1
2
3
4 MMM
5 Vickerman
6 Elson
7
8 Tamati Horua
9 Whitaker
10 Manny Edmonds
11
12 Scott Staniforth
13 Diggers
14
15
And this is without those Leaguies playing in France because I forgot their names. I know a better informed person could put together an even better team of overseas players still with viable careers.
The ARU can’t have it both ways, you either need to keep players, or you can’t have the 5th team. Right now they barely have enough for 3.
You could flesh out the backline with Brock James ahead of Manny Edmonds, Craig Gower on one wing and SBW on the other, and SNN at 15.
I am not sure if there would be any frontrowers.
Rodzilla for one and the other guy who plays for Ireland
Tom Court. He’s a THP prop too.
And Ben Coutts too, but he never looked the goods at S14 level.
Which leaves a hooker – can we convert Coutts?
And another secondrow. There is also some ex-QLD youngster who could play half-back when Whitaker’s legs give way, I forget who though and could be wrong!
Roach….bring him back…he’d compete for a natioanl spot before long
yeah i actually think that repatriation is the only way to get this team going and competitive, sure beef it up with some islanders, marquee imports or leaguies but you need to have a sense of local representation in the team. Don’t know where the money would come from though.
Nic Berry is the former Reds 9 who is playing for Racing Metro in Paris. They just got promoted to the Top 14.
That’s the one, cheers!