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UPDATE: Will Genia’s Claytons move & other tidbits

We have our sauces April 30, 2012 32

No GravatarG&GR’s mail is that  that the shock move of Will Genia to the Western Force is indeed off. As a quote from our deep throat:

Deadlines not stuck to and lots of people getting involved that create head aches… Will is too nice

Apparently this is the third time this year Sanchez has flipped then flopped, so it must be getting a bit stale for everyone involved at Ballymore. Meanwhile the Force seem to have instigated a ‘catch and release’ recruitment policy — how environmentally friendly.

Leave… me… alone

In other news, G&GR hears that Robbie Deans is sick of the jockeying for his job from the two lead Australian candidates and is close to chucking in the towel.

Meanwhile across the dutch, watch for a Henry/Kirwan combo to take on the ailing Blues.

It’s gonna be a mad May!

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Discussion

  • Behind Enemy Lines

    Someone might want to tell the Reds so they can take down the news article on their website.

  • suckerforred

    I think the sweet and sour sauce is going to turn a little bitter on one side of the plate or the other.

    Anyone up for a job at the Force – Contracts Administrator?

  • ellabroz

    Hopefully the two angling for Deans’ job keep at it. Goodbye DIngo!

    It doesn’t seem all that surprising that Sanchez has reversed his decision. It all sounded like the public contract negotiations seen in the NRL where a player threatens to go to the AFL. Add an extra $200K please!

    • suckerforred

      I don’t think so. I think it is more that someone in the Force has opened their mouth before they should have. Then the Reds, knowing that Genia had been talking to the Force, responded, before they should have.

      Will be interesting to see what comes from the horses mouth this morning.

      • Flam

        It was the Reds who announced it. The Force denied it. Manipulation tactics by the Reds methinks.

        • thebigcode

          The Force leaked it first, then the Reds decided to announce it to win the PR battle. The Force couldn’t formally announce it as Genia had only agreed verbally and not signed anything.

          Not a pretty situation from any party, but the Force just should have kept their mouths shut and they probably would have Genia’s signature by now.

    • RedsTragic

      Is this Nuci and Totality Tony doing the jockeying?

  • Behind Enemy Lines

    What are the chances Pocock will also go to the Reds now?

    • suckerforred

      Little to none. We would not be able to fit him in under the salary cap and we a just fine with the Opensides we have thanks.

      (I have been proved wrong before however… but I stand by the above statement.)

  • BloodRed

    This just in on the courier mail website.

    http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/rugby-gold/will-genia-agrees-to-new-two-year-deal-with-queensland-reds/story-fn8t7efs-1226342352160

    Maybe a great piece of media bullying by Carmichael to anounce Genia was leaving and set off the expected fan reaction. So Genia is maybe definitely staying at the Reds?

  • Patrick

    I can certainly confirm that the new Force administration has an absolutely cock-headed approach to people management internally. So maybe that is being reflected across the external contracting too?

  • ooaahh

    stinks to me of a Queensland fix. Genia get’s outed by Horan (who was pissed at Force in 2005 for pillaging QLD). Genia then get’s pressure from family, team mates and fans that sways his decision. He said as much in press conference

    I feel sorry for Sanchez in this. Horan will have earned a rep from WA supporters as well for spoiling the party. Be interesting to see what Dave does now.

    • ooaahh

      stinks to me of a Queensland fix. Genia get’s outed by Horan (who was pissed at Force in 2005 for pillaging QLD). Genia then get’s pressure from family, team mates and fans that sways his decision. He said as much in press conference

      I had a chat with a few of the senior players and told them of my decision (to leave). I’d made my mind up and changed it several times,” Genia said.

      “Having those discussions with some of the senior players made it quite tough, you know, just to see the way they reacted towards me potentially leaving and how that made me feel.

      I feel sorry for Sanchez in this. Horan will have earned a rep from WA supporters as well for spoiling the party. Be interesting to see what Dave does now.

  • Dave

    As a Force supporter it’s disappointing but ultimately (and obviously) it’s his decision. Seems like he was toing and froing between loyalty, big bucks and public opinion. He would have been a great draw card for the force to fill the ranks that we sorely need. Oh well, at least it frees up the funds for a world class flyhalf and coach.

    I also feel that the Force and its cashed up sponsors are destined to be used in future more as a negotiation tactic rather than a legitimate choice for a player. Seemed to work well for Sanchez. But this is the disappointment talking.

    • Brax

      How did Genia “use the Farce” as a negotiation tactic when he ultimately got not one dollar more from the Reds original offer? He just had a good hard long think about things & decided that he didn’t want to be another, Giteau, JOC, Mitchell…. take your pick. The Force are a rabble of an organisation, this is just more proof.

      • Dave

        Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure he stayed for other reasons but please don’t make it sound as if it is a completely altruistic endeavour on Genia’s part. Through this whole saga Genia’s agent would have always been jockeying for more money from the Reds (where he undoubtedly wants to stay) right up to the end. Notice the press release, he said the Reds didn’t offer him any more money. It says nothing about third party endorsements or any other perks that aren’t categorised as financial. Plus it’s a rather long contract, 3 years. Perks need to be promised to sell a contract that long. Possibly a bit cynical on my part but I don’t believe any player in this day and age will turn down an extra $200k simply because he feels good singing the team song. I hope that’s not the case mind you, but somehow I don’t think so.

        And I agree with you. The force is a bit of a rabble at the moment. But it’s still a rabble that can offer a lot of money. It’s one of the reasons why players will use it (as many have already done) as a negotiation tactic: driving up the offer from their desired eastern teams by threatening to move out west – something they have no real intention, or desire to do. Players have been doing it with the NRL for years – and vise versa. It seems like the disarray that the cashed up Force finds themselves in makes them a prime candidate to be used as a pawn.

    • stillatragic

      Not much of a negotiation tactic if Sanchez doesn’t take the money, Dave. More an old fashoined thing called loyalty and State pride. Not something seen in the West perhaps?

      • Dave

        Like I said in my reply, money may not have been the only incentive to get him to stay. I suspect however that it also wasn’t solely out of a sense of loyalty.
        Good luck to him. Completely his prerogative to leave or stay, no matter what the reasons.

      • Justin

        Fuck me mate, as if Pocock doesn’t have state pride. The man kills himself every week for his team even when they’re shithouse. And then he agrees to take less of a salary to get Genia here and does all the legwork himself after RG pulls out of the club, gets Genia over the line before Ewen or Carmichael leaks it to Horan and shits all over Pocock’s hardwork.

        • suckerforred

          Yep, Poey does have state pride, and loyality in buckets. That is why I would be surprised if he left the Force. However, If he does move then it would indicate just how stuffed the WARU is at the moment.

          And I need to call you on the leak – Well and truely came from the Force. QRU responded once the the news was ‘confirmed’ by the Force. Force and WARU can say what they want, they need to get their ship in order as it is going to sink with the number of leaks there are. If you stood under it you could have a shower.

        • Dave

          @suckerforred Sorry, but where are you getting that the leak came from the Force and QRU responded after? Not that it really matters anymore, just curious. All indication and reports said that the Force spoke up after Tim Horan tweeted the news and QRU released a statement shortly after confirming it. As you can read here. The Force seem to be pissed off that the leak happened at all. Seems to directly contradict what you are saying.

        • suckerforred

          OK Dave,

          When rumours started to circulate I spoke to a contacts at the Force. The near to exact words were ‘I can’t confirm anything but yes it looks like we have retained the services of Australia’s no 1 Scrumhalf.’ To which I replied oh F*^&, and they replied just don’t tell anyone. Which I didn’t.

          When Horan tweeted on Saturday night, I then contact my source again and said ‘I think you have a problem are you watching Fox?’. Reply – Yeah cat’s been let out of the bag this end.

          Now with both Nick McCardle and Tim Horan telling me that their inital news came from the Froce… I would be happy that the inital leak came from the that quarter, particularly since I have confirmation from elsewhere. I have also spoken to a Reds contact this week and their response was – Yes we released our prepared media statement earlier then we had planned due to the fact that the story had been leaked and we thought that the subsequent uncertainity would have been unhelpful to other contract negotiations. Yes I did call them on the ‘prepared’ nature of that response and they laugh and said that it was the party line but was also the truth. And I happen to believe them.

          Now I think the following had come out of this whole debarcle:
          1.

        • suckerforred

          Oooops press the wrong button.

          1. Proof that the saying ‘loose lips sink ships’ is true.
          2. Will has been going trough a might tough time this year with these negotiations and it has effected his playing.
          3. The Force can say what they bloody well like. The place leaks like a sieve. I am not even a member of the media and can find out shit that is happening, so the media with well groomed sources must just about know what Vern has had for breakfast every morning.
          4. The Force need to take a good hard look at themselves and what is happening as this is the second (high profile) set of contract negotiations that have been played out in the media and have failed.
          5. Just because Tim Horan is associated with the Reds doesn’t mean that everything he does is in the name of the Reds. Yes I am defending him.
          6. As you said it doesn’t really matter now. That is all.

          Oh and 7. Would you like Quade? ;)

  • The Rant

    This is a relief- While Genia would no doubt be good for the Force, they dont need a halfback. Brett is doing pretty good there and they have justin long who if he can fully recover from last years broken leg will probably take over soon.

    Force need a world class 10, 8 and 15.

    • RedMan

      The guy from Dodgeball plays for the Force?

      • BloodRed

        Don’t know what his passing is like but apparently he doesn’t flinch when hit in the nuts with a spanner.

      • The Rant

        ha, yeah got a bit mixed up, should have been Justin Turner – not that JLong wouldnt make an impact with his killer cheerleader moves

  • bill

    Nice to see Will stay. Maybe the opening to this season, without Cooper to take the defence’s focus off him made him realise what he would’ve been buying into at the Force.

    Will’s in the enviable position of being a player that’s good enough to provide more than just his on field skills and cash in on them. For the rugby community in qld he ought to be someone who inspires youngsters to take up the game, the guy the kids in the backyard touch games call dibs on being. That doesn’t bring extra cash or time in the jersey, but at the end of his career he should take more pride in that than any amount of dollars in a contract.

  • bill

    Ah yes those dastardly Reds leaking the story to give themselves a break, what a cunning plan. Give me a f*ing break Vern, if you’re going to clutch at straws I’ve got a straw you can hold to! lol..

  • Tez T

    I would be interested to know if Ben Lucas would have re-signed on Sunday if he’d known Will was staying.
    Perhaps Genia was never leaving and the whole drama was played out to secure Lucas.

    • thebigcode

      It’s worked out well for Lucas though, in terms of securing a contract he may not have got (or may not have been to the same value) if Genia had of been locked in. The Reds are looking good now with Genia, Lucas and Frisby.

      But expect one of Lucas or Frisby to go (to the Force, why not!) to get more game time.

      I am not convinced Lucas is a halfback though. He was always a 10, and Eddie Jones tried to make him into a halfback (and we all know how well Eddie did with everything he touched at the Reds). I think his best role is probably as a utility back on the bench, able to fill in anywhere from 9-15 if needed. I did like him at 15 though last year for the Reds before he got injured.

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