Rugby Queensland Reds lament lack of 'sugar daddy' for missing out on Rocky Elsom

Former Queensland Rugby chairman Peter Lewis has revealed how a failure to secure $200,000 in third-party support cost the Reds a chance at Wallabies star Rocky Elsom.

The embattled Reds were hot favourites to sign the blindside flanker but missed out on another topline recruit when he agreed to join the Brumbies next year.

Elsom said he chose the Brumbies over the Reds because he did not see eye to eye with Queensland officials' vision for the future. But Lewis believes the Reds would have secured Elsom if they had a "sugar daddy" prepared to bankroll a recruitment drive, similar to Gold Coast United benefactor Clive Palmer.

Deposed Reds coach Phil Mooney, axed a fortnight ago, was criticised for lacking the pulling power to attract the code's biggest names, but Lewis lamented the cold shoulder from Queensland's corporate world. "The lack of third-party money kills us," said Lewis, who quit in July.

"What we need is a Clive Palmer. Until there is a sugar daddy to help Queensland, there will be more of the same.

"We don't have one and that's why we didn't get Rocky Elsom.

"Critics say we can't attract players, that's bull. We can attract players. What we can't do is match the third-party money other provinces offer.

"We would have had Rocky Elsom had somebody been prepared to give him $200,000 on top of his base contract.

"You can't blame Rocky or the players. If they can get $200,000 on top of their deal for playing rugby, why wouldn't they take it?"

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...rom=public_rss

The stink of it is, Each province says this about all the others. Surely somebody's wrong, I'd reckon each of them twist the rules as much as one another and whingeing about it in the press helps nobody.

If the rules were being followed, third party wouldn't have anything to do with the decision, because third party technically can't be arranged until the player is contracted.

I guess this is really a direct swipe at the Brisbane business community though, more of a 'we'd like to bend the rules as far as the Brumbies, but can't because you're not bankrolling us!

Lewis is just opening on wounds... He/the Reds missed out on Rocky and Barnes because they have no future plan.... Hopefully the new executive will deliver for the Reds… Rocky not going to mess about with career trip hazards like Lewis and the Reds at this stage of his professional career...

Rocky didn't get extra from the Brumbies…

so rocky got no 3rd party payments, all he got was a brumbies and aru contract and that was it?.....
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Originally Posted by mudskipper

Rocky didn't get extra from the Brumbies…

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Of course not, as there is a ceiling on max payments provided by the Franchise. 3rd party deals would have been lined up though, which according to rules, cannot be lined up until the player has signed a contract

As I understand it, no 3rd party deals were given to Rocky unless he brought them with him. These deals he could have also taken to the Reds (if they existed)... I thinks Gits pretty well got the cash from the Canberra businesses. Rocky called the Brumbies and spoke to Coach Andy Friend (to Friends surprise) and signed within a week or so... The Brumbies still had tp level budgets from Gregan and Larkham and Gerard...

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Originally Posted by mudskipper

As I understand it, no 3rd party deals were given to Rocky unless he brought them with him. These deals he could have also taken to the Reds (if they existed)... I thinks Gits pretty well got the cash from the Canberra businesses. Rocky called the Brumbies and spoke to Coach Andy Friend (to Friends surprise) and signed within a week or so... The Brumbies still had tp level budgets from Gregan and Larkham and Gerard...

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It seem's as though the Brumbies still have plenty of firepower available then, how did they let that rabbit hop around them :S

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Originally Posted by The InnFORCEr

It seem's as though the Brumbies still have plenty of firepower available then, how did they let that rabbit hop around them :S

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Why? Answer, Rabbit was after cash carrots… He only spun the line about happy in the west and to repay Mitchell for his belief after the reported immense the deal was done. The Brumbies made an offer but weren’t going to barter for his services. Rabbit wasn’t essential just a possible team member.

Additionally Brumbies coach Andy Friend wouldn’t promise him a starting spot. He was expected to compete. Rabbit would have to line up against all the other talented young backs at the Brumbies, Matt Toomua, Christian Lealiifano, Tyrone Smith, Gene Fairbanks, AAC and Sipa Taumoepeau.

I think it’s for the best he stayed with the Force and be seen for what he can offer on the field there… and head up the match committee… :rolleyes:

http://twf.com.au/picture.php?albumid=41&pictureid=518

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Originally Posted by mudskipper

Lewis is just opening on wounds... He/the Reds missed out on Rocky and Barnes because they have no future plan.... Hopefully the new executive will deliver for the Reds… Rocky not going to mess about with career trip hazards like Lewis and the Reds at this stage of his professional career...

Rocky didn't get extra from the Brumbies…

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Muddy - there's a shower over there - go and jump down in it.

Of course he got topped up by the Ponies.

Also, you say they lost Rocky and Barnes because there is no plan. Clearly wrong Muddy - Rocky approached the Reds (not the other way around), and he did so with the knowledge of their poor form in recent years. Clearly he was happy with the set up, but ultimately, not the money.

As Lewis says, you can't really blame him.

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Originally Posted by mudskipper

Rocky didn't get extra from the Brumbies…

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Actually muddy, i have it on good authority ffrom a person in the know that he got a quite decent third party, not as much as the $200k mentioned in the article but it was still quite big.

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Originally Posted by TOCC

Actually muddy, i have it on good authority ffrom a person in the know that he got a quite decent third party, not as much as the $200k mentioned in the article but it was still quite big.

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third parties aren't a secret so who is it? If he got some god luck to him... He looked at the Reds and saw zero so he left because his career would just go down hill with an under achieving province...


Lewis is a fool the joker backed Alan Jones for Wallabies coach.... why defend such an old twit... surely QLDer loyalty doesn't call for these extremes...

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Originally Posted by mudskipper

third parties aren't a secret so who is it? If he got some god luck to him... He looked at the Reds and saw zero so he left because his career would just go down hill with an under achieving province...


Lewis is a fool the joker backed Alan Jones for Wallabies coach.... why defend such an old twit... surely QLDer loyalty doesn't call for these extremes...

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he left because he saw more zeroes at the brumbies

its interesting to note that you say his career would go down hill, because when i look at it, the reds produced equal the amount of players in the wallabies team on the weekend as the Brumbies did...

yes more zeroes at the reds...

you really cherish that extra chromosone dont you muddy?

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Originally Posted by TOCC

you really cherish that extra chromosone dont you muddy?

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sadly yes....:S