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Izack Rodda 'left questioning' after missing out on Reds captaincy

(Photo by Getty Images)

Izack Rodda wasn’t sure what more he could’ve done to win the Queensland Reds captaincy this season.

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But the 22-Test Wallabies lock says he’s swallowed his pride and backs the appointment of Liam Wright as skipper for the Super Rugby season starting Friday.

Rodda missed both trial matches following off-season ankle surgery but is fit and expected to play against the Brumbies in their Canberra opener.

After deputising for now-departed captain Samu Kerevi last season, Rodda was surprisingly pipped for the Reds’ top job by 22-year-old backrower Wright.

“At first it was a pretty hard pill to swallow,” vice-captain Rodda told AAP.

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“It left me questioning what else I had to do to get it.

“But we all got sat down and explained why and it made it easier to take and I learnt a lot from that.”

The 23-year-old Rodda’s selflessness was a big reason he was tipped for the job in the first place.

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But that, and his appreciation of the selection process, have helped him move on.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7rZxxUgRbS/

“It was an open playing field; you got to say your bit and I have complete faith they picked the right guy for the job and 100 per cent back that.

“It’s hard to swallow your pride, but if it’s best for the team then I’m 100 per cent here for it.”

Rodda thinks that mentality is a clear strength as the side chases a return to the finals for the first time since 2013.

“It’s time we do go well and there’s no limit to what we can achieve if we stay hungry,” he said.

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“We’re a very close team, we get along, travel well and there is that good vibe you don’t get in certain teams.”

That close bond will be put to the test in a torrid opening three weeks that features a road trip from Canberra to Argentina via South Africa to play the Brumbies, Lions and Jaguares before their first home game on February 22.

– AAP

Former Wallaby wing Henry Speight is one of the Reds’ best pick-ups for the season ahead:

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Bull Shark 2 hours ago
Rassie Erasmus' Boks selection policy is becoming bizarre

To be fair, the only thing that drives engagement on this site is over the top critiques of Southern Hemisphere teams.


Or articles about people on podcasts criticizing southern hemisphere teams.


Articles regarding the Northern Hemisphere tend to be more positive than critical. I guess to also rile up kiwis and Saffers who seem to be the majority of followers in the comments section. There seems to be a whole department dedicated to Ireland’s world ranking news.


Despite being dialled into the Northern edition - I know sweet fokall about what’s going on in France.


And even less than fokall about what’s cutting in Japan - which has a fast growing, increasingly premium League competition emerging.


And let’s not talk about the pacific. Do they even play rugby Down there.


Oh and the Americas. I’ve read more articles about a young, stargazing Welshman’s foray into NFL than I have anything related to either the north and south continents of the Americas.


I will give credit that the women’s game is getting decent airtime. But for the rest and the above; it’s just pathetic coming from a World Rugby website.


Just consider the innovation emerging in Japan with the pedigree of coaches over there.


There’s so much good we could be reading.


Instead it’s unimaginative “critical for the sake of feigning controversial”. Which is lazy, because in order to pull that off all you need to be really good at is:


1. Being a doos;

2. Having an opinion.


No prior experience needed.


Which is not journalism. That’s like all or most of us in the comments section. People like Finn (who I believe is a RP contributor).


Anyway. Hopefully it will get better. The game is growing and the interest in the game is growing. Maybe it will attract more qualified journalists over time.

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