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Reds trio terminate contracts with Rugby Australia following stand-off

(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Queensland Reds trio Izack Rodda, Harry Hockings and Isaac Lucas have sensationally ended their stand-off with Rugby Australia by terminating their contracts.

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The group had refused to take pay cuts of an average 60 per cent that their Australian Super Rugby counterparts accepted, prompting the Reds to stand them down ahead of Monday’s return to training.

On Friday the players’ agent Anthony Picone argued the Reds had no legal grounds to do so, in confirming the termination of their RA and Queensland Rugby Union contracts.

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Jim Hamilton is joined by Robbie Owen to discuss the state of the game and his unique career path.

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Jim Hamilton is joined by Robbie Owen to discuss the state of the game and his unique career path.

That claim comes despite RA, through director of rugby Scott Johnson, supporting QRU chief executive David Hanham’s decision earlier this week.

Rodda was reportedly at odds with Reds coach Brad Thorn and seeking a move to a rival Australian team, while Lucas and Hockings were both said to be assessing their options overseas.

Johnson was keen to mediate and hoped a resolution could be reached to ensure the trio remained at the Reds, or at least in Australian rugby, given all three were part of the Wallabies’ future plans.

Those hopes appear to be fading fast though, with Picone in a statement labelling the QRU’s actions “repudiatory conduct” that forced his hand when the organisation failed to retreat this week.

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The statement said the players had arrived at their decisions because of the “enormous uncertainty surrounding the financial state of rugby, including the lack of a broadcast deal, and ability for contracts to be honoured into the future”.

“This is their livelihood. It is only reasonable that talented players want to secure stable employment during these times,” Picone said.

Rodda (23), who has 25 Test caps, and Lucas (21) were both contracted until 2023 while Hockings (21) was off contract but in talks for an extension.

Picone has long ruffled feathers at the Reds, last year arranging a move to Japan for captain Samu Kerevi while also facilitating the exits of Will Genia and Liam Gill.

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The NewStar Sports agent said he was disappointed this situation had played out publicly and called for RA’s new chairman Hamish McLennan and interim chief executive Rob Clarke to adopt a “more nuanced approach to player relationships and player movement”.

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“It would be wise for the Reds and RA to maintain amicable relationships with these players,” he said.

“The future is uncertain, but we should always have as many players in the tent as possible.”

The trio were the only players of the 192 Australian Super Rugby professionals to baulk at the salary hits that will be revised once a schedule and broadcast deal is finalised for the truncated competition due to begin in July.

The QRU and RA were contacted for comment.

– Murray Wetzel

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Bull Shark 5 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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