Mitchell to Reds?

[Spook]

Earlier this year Mitchell was bound for the Brumbies, then he was hot favourite for the Tahs....now the Reds are tipped to get his signing :lmao:

 

[formeropenside]

Drew Mitchell? Please no. He has the heart of a rabbit and the ego of a Tuqiri. Stay at the Farce, you fit in perfectly there.

 

[TOCC]

i wouldnt say no to him, but i definetly wouldnt be disspointed if he didnt join either

 

[RugbyReg]

I'm with you TOCC. I think he kicks too much. And with McLinden there next year, and Connor, Toua and Davies all in the wings (and younger than Drew), then do we need him?

I'd probably prefer him to stay west. Because, shees, it sounds like they will lose him and JOC (James O'Connor) alongside Gits. That's not good.

 

[TOCC]

yeah i agree, i reckon it would be better for australian rugby in general, if he stayed out west

 

[Ash]

Noddy, don't forgot young Luke Morahan coming through the ranks as well, and Hynes and Ioane the incumbent Reds wingers. The Reds don't need any more wingers, and I don't really rate Mitchell as a fullback at all anymore.

As a brief Lee Grant, anyone know what Caleb Brown is up these days?

 

[TOCC]

Good point Ash, Morahan and Toua are both good young players as well, QLD will be in trouble though if they suffer another injury in the back 3.

Caleb is still in rehab as far as i know, i dont think we will see much of him in 2009, even in the club scene.

 

[RugbyReg]

yep Morahan - absolutely. And there are some good wraps on the Norths fullback Jesse Mogg too. I remember him scoring plenty of tries last year and forming a pretty good combo with Blair Connor.

 

[Ash]

Meanwhile, the Force exodus is hotting up. Not good for Australian rugby. As much as I don't have any pity for the Force, they need to do something soon by the looks. Mitchell, O'Connor and Horua all look to be gone.

Brumbies admit in interest in teenage sensation James O'Connor

By Bret Harris
March 27, 2009

The Brumbies will intensify their efforts to recruit teenage sensation James O'Connor from the Western Force amid speculation his Perth teammate Drew Mitchell is leaning towards going home to the Queensland Reds.

It was originally believed that Mitchell would follow his close friend Matt Giteau from Perth to Canberra.

But the Brumbies appear to be out of the running because of a lack of third-party sponsorship.

"We are not pushing it hard," Brumbies chief executive Andrew Fagan said. "We're not confident he (Mitchell) will head our way.

"We'll continue to look at other options.

"James O'Connor is a good option. We will look at options within our own squad and we will look internationally as well."

The Force has made O'Connor its number one priority following Giteau's decision to leave.

But the prospect of Giteau running the Brumbies' backline could possibly persuade O'Connor to join him in Canberra. He could play either inside centre or fullback at the Brumbies.

The Waratahs have also expressed interest in O'Connor, although Mitchell is their main target.

It is highly unlikely Mitchell would remain at the Force, despite lucrative third-party sponsorship opportunities in Perth.

Mitchell is expected to attract the same level of corporate support in Brisbane and Sydney as he would in Perth.

He was meant to make a decision by today, but is taking more time to mull it over.

Indications are that Mitchell is seriously considering a move back to Brisbane, where he is spending the Force's bye week with his parents.

Mitchell's main attractions in Brisbane are being with family and friends and playing for a young and ambitious Reds team that appears to be on the rise.

He spent three years with an unsuccessful Queensland team before joining the Force, but the Reds are a much better side under coach Phil Mooney than the one that Mitchell left in 2007.

And the Reds play an exciting brand of expansive rugby that would suit Mitchell's attacking brilliance. There has been talk that Mitchell would baulk at moving back to Queensland because the Reds have committed to rugby league convert Mark McLinden for two years. But apparently that would not be an obstacle to him returning.

Mitchell would be virtually guaranteed his preferred fullback position at the Waratahs, whose current number 15, Sam Norton-Knight, is leaving to join Cardiff Blues in Wales at the end of the season.

On other player movement news, Force backrower Tamaiti Horua is expected to join Irish province Ulster, which is coached by former Waratahs mentor Matt Williams.

Meanwhile, the Brumbies are facing the daunting task of playing the Sharks in front of a capacity crowd of 54,000 at Absa Stadium in Durban on Sunday.

The Sharks have produced a formidable record at home, having won 19 of 22 games at the "Shark Tank" since 2006 and seven in a row since the 2007 final. They have also won five of their six games against the Brumbies in Durban, although the Canberra side caused a boilover on their last visit two years ago.

"It will be rocking," Brumbies coach Andy Friend said. "But that can work in your favour too.

"If we can keep the crowd silent, we will know we are on track."

 

[cyclopath]

Can't see the value in Mitchell for the Reds. As stated, he is lazy despite his talents, and the Reds seem to have a good thing going with some enthusiastic outside backs. Hynes, Ioane, Connor and McLinden are value.
He looks like he needs to get some of what Peter Hynes has (not the bung knee, but you know what I mean). Enthusiasm and "have a bloody go" mentality.

 

[disco]

don't forgot young Luke Morahan coming through the ranks as well,

He's a gun that bloke, Drew Mitchell should go to the Tahs.

 

[PhucNgo]

I thought Mooney was doing a pretty good job. :fishing

 

[naza]

Drew Mitchell? Please no. He has the heart of a rabbit and the ego of a Tuqiri. Stay at the Farce, you fit in perfectly there.

If you don't want him, we'll have him. Only Australian player that can go end to end for mine.

 

[disco]

After last night I'll be happy to see him back in red a back 3 of Hynes, Mitchell & McLinden would have been great last night.

 

[TOCC]

very true disco, unfortunately there is just no replacement for experience, i think Hynes would have made a incredible impact last night

 

[formeropenside]

Mitchell has the defensive skill and dedication of a Hewat.

 

[cyclopath]

Mitchell has the defensive skill and dedication of a Hewat.

At least Hewat scored more points...