Punter Pete
Bob McCowan (2)
What was the bust up before the semi? Any insight
QLD Premier Rugby 2025
- Thread starter Coleman Rees
- Start date
PhilClinton
Mark Ella (57)
Just that it was over match payments. Some players who weren’t going to be available for the finals still expected their total agreed payment for the season. Wests management wasn’t going to pay it. That filtered through to the playing group and a few players who were eligible wanted to support their mates and threatened to walk off.
Still early days but it sounds like a few of the Fijian contingent may not be back next year by mutual decision.
Punter Pete
Bob McCowan (2)
Hahahah that is actually funny! All that information is absolutely totally false so I would be checking with your source…. From all reports all players happy and intending on playing again next year also no issues with match payments as they don’t exist at wests despite all these rumours.
PhilClinton
Mark Ella (57)
Unless the parents of some of these players are going around telling porky pies you might want to check about that “match payments don’t exist”.
If you’re getting hung up on a technicality then yes maybe they don’t exist as ‘match payments’ but players are 100% being paid by one of the sponsors.
The Wests contingent on here who have denied it for years are the jokers. I’m not sure why people get so precious about it. It’s happening at clubs everywhere - do you think Taqele was playing at Norths for a free sausage sizzle?
PhilClinton
Mark Ella (57)
I’ll add that I’m happy to be called out on bullshit - 90% of the posts on this anonymous internet forum are crap.
But the notion that Wests haven’t been making payments to players (at least since Elwee has been there) should have you thrown in internet jail.
But the notion that Wests haven’t been making payments to players (at least since Elwee has been there) should have you thrown in internet jail.
Red Runner
Allen Oxlade (6)
Wests have been paying players but through a wealthy benefactor. There is unrest at the club but mostly in the lower grades given Elwee has no interest in the club beyond his ‘kingdom’ in premier grade.
Elwee's Loo
Frank Nicholson (4)
Morning PP - What's Elwee on compared to other QPR coaches? Funding drying up for the role of Director of Rugby? How can a club, especially a powerhouse club like Wests operate without a Director of Rugby? How could funding "dry up" for such a significant role. Didn't Wests just win the Doughtey Shield? Was the DOR's contribution toward that so insignificant that the funding dried up? Isn't his team into the GF? I don't understand any club rugby governance model that doesn't have a DOR. As for player payments, are you saying not one Wests player was on payments?
PhilClinton
Mark Ella (57)
I’m starting to think PP might be Public Relations Petey.
Wests so flush with cash that they’ve hired their own digital media relations officer!
Wests so flush with cash that they’ve hired their own digital media relations officer!
hdnmstsnr
Allen Oxlade (6)
With all due respect, and without emotion or subjectivity, Wests and Easts walked in as favourites. They walked out as Bond highlight reels. A Mac Davis song definitely comes to mind. However, this comment may well be moot in 7 days. Then again, it may not...
Keeno3
Peter Burge (5)
Bond have been so good the last couple of weeks, hope to see them take that form into the GF and win it all.
One question for you all though, whilst I know that technically Bond is different to the Breakers, there is plenty of Breakers memorabilia at their clubhouse and strong links with past players, members and coaches. Do we genuinely see this as their first GF or if they win does it get counted alongside the Breakers' success (like Teachers/Norths)?
One question for you all though, whilst I know that technically Bond is different to the Breakers, there is plenty of Breakers memorabilia at their clubhouse and strong links with past players, members and coaches. Do we genuinely see this as their first GF or if they win does it get counted alongside the Breakers' success (like Teachers/Norths)?
Bulldog
Colin Windon (37)
You are living I la la land if you don’t appreciate that many players at Wests have been paid rewards for effort over the last 4/5 years - I question whether one premiership is a great return on investment.
Surely the coach has to have some accountability. Yet it seems that others are paying the price for under performance but the coach is teflon.
Surely the coach has to have some accountability. Yet it seems that others are paying the price for under performance but the coach is teflon.
Red Runner
Allen Oxlade (6)
Phil is only new to the role this year. Not sure there was a role like this last year? There are other paid staff at wests though.
Elwee's Loo
Frank Nicholson (4)
RR - Google indicates he started the role in September 2023. Who else is on the books at Sylvan Road that does DOR duties?
Red Runner
Allen Oxlade (6)
good question...don't believe there is..which is part of the issue.
Elwee's Loo
Frank Nicholson (4)
Which makes this development so strange.
I believe history shows that this is a pattern of behaviour. This seems awfully similar to what happened at GPS under Elwee’s tenure.
He has a definite way of operating, you can’t argue that he brings a level of success where he goes, but a level of carnage as well. Up to the clubs to manage the risk v reward factor.
hdnmstsnr
Allen Oxlade (6)
The club, coaches and players see it as a history-making feat, as Bond University Rugby, but also see it as indelibly linked to the rugby history/foundation that was the Breakers. The efforts over the years in melding Bond as a genuine pathway to national representation / a full-time rugby career for young Gold Coast players is reaping some rich rewards. Even more so when players return to Bond to extend/consolidate the future of the club.