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'You don't dislike that person, but...' - Brad Thorn riled by Rodda return
By AAP
Brad Thorn has been riled by the prospect of Izack Rodda's Australian rugby return less than a year after he left the Queensland Reds over a pay dispute.
The 25-Test Wallabies lock and teammates Harry Hockings and Isaac Lucas refused to agree to 60 per cent pay cuts accepted by every other Australian Super Rugby player while the competition was suspended due to COVID-19 last May.
As one of Rugby Australia's highest-paid players, Rodda had the option to take a one-season sabbatical to recoup lost wages while still retain his national contract.
Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper did just that and is currently playing in Japan, but Rodda's RA contract was torn up as he headed to France for a lucrative deal with Lyon.
But the 24-year-old Rodda could return to Super Rugby alongside Hooper, albeit without the Rugby Australia top-up deal and on less than half the potential million-a-season offer he could attract in Europe.
Depth at lock was one issue highlight ed by incoming Wallabies coach Dave Rennie last season and director of rugby Scott Johnson was frustrated to lose the talent over an issue he believed could have been reconciled.
After a season in France they will happily welcome him back into the fold, with the bargain price set and Rodda now effectively able to choose between reported suitors NSW Waratahs, Melbourne Rebels and frontrunners Western Force if he wishes to return.
But the sour taste of Rodda's Reds departure still hasn't left his former coach's mouth, who insists reports of bad blood between the pair were off the mark.
"It was disappointing when it happened and disappointing to hear that (he may be back) as well, less than 12 months after the situation occurred," Reds coach and former international lock Thorn said.
"Us at Queensland Rugby wouldn't agree with it (his immediate return).
"You've got a global pandemic, everyone has suffered, players took pay cuts, guys were on JobKeeper.
< p>"You don't dislike that person, but the whole game suffered here... it was hard yakka and a lot of people made sacrifices, so that doesn't align with our values."
"It's having your cake and eating it, you know.
"It 's in Rugby Australia's hands but I just think you've got Angus Blyth, young Seru (Uru), Lukhan (Salakaia-Loto), Cadeyrn Neville, Darcy Swain at the Brumbies and in Melbourne Trevor Hosea.
"There's talent here; you can always bring it back but they're here, staying here and working hard."
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Latest Comments
Trump is most definitely random.
In this context though we are talking about the tone of recent event’s on this websites articles, which came well before Trump was made a fool and retaliated. Surely you read the part were I said it’s unfortunate given that they’re trying to find new sponsorship right now?
Well year I couldn’t comment on that, haven’t watched league up their in yonks, but I’ll say the Prem sides I’ve seen in CC certainly match you’re description of them. Pro rugby here only had the summer window, so I’d imagine that helps a lot in terms of scoring though, as do South Africa’s hard grounds? The rugby is the rugby anyway, I was more interested in the broadcast quality perspective. France’s is unique right? Prem on BT used to have some pretty dour sideline analysis, but that was half due the look, being two guys standing on the side of the pitch at night in your winter talking about the game. SRP does that now but is full on ott.
Go to commentsRight. But are they actually doing anything to ever base themselves in the islands with a mostly Pi born roster?
Or are they just content to be a 6th NZ team, filling their squad with Kiwis and Aussies (and an Englishman), spreading the talent even thinner than it already is, and make excuses every season why it’s not possible to play in the islands, let alone be based there? No, because most of their squad would rather stay home than do that.
If the Drua can manage all these things, why can’t this ‘island’ side?
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