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Giteau to decide by weekend
Bret Harris | October 28, 2008
WALLABIES five-eighth Matt Giteau is expected to make a decision about his future by the end of the week and indications are that he is planning to return to the Brumbies.
Giteau, who embarked on the tour of Hong Kong and Europe yesterday, left the Brumbies two years ago to join Super 14 expansion team Western Force.
Although he is contracted to the ARU until 2011, Giteau has a clause in his contract which enables him to negotiate with other provincial teams for 2010 and 2011.
Both the Brumbies and the Force have made offers to Giteau, who is one of the highest paid players in Australian rugby.
But it is the value of potential third party sponsorships which will have a big bearing on whether Giteau remains in Perth or returns to Canberra.
Under the ARU's recruitment protocols, the provinces are not allowed to solicit third party endorsements for players, but the player's agent can strike a deal with a sponsor.
Giteau secured a sponsorship with failed fuel technology company Firepower as part of his move to Perth, but he was only paid for the first year of the deal.
His management has had discussions with companies on the east coast and west coast to replace the Firepower sponsorship. It is understood a company in Perth has at least matched the cash component of Giteau's Firepower deal but the offer will be taken off the table if an agreement is not reached by the end of the week.
There is speculation that Giteau, one of the most marketable players in Australian rugby, has also received strong corporate interest in Canberra for a return to the Brumbies, suggesting a move home is on the cards.
If Giteau decides to sign with the Brumbies, he will still play for the Force in the 2009 Super 14 series.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...015651,00.html
Well done Bret, you managed to get Firepowers name into that article three times, Pieman would be proud of you...
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
Sim article in the West this morning with Dave Hughs - so it's true
No marquee signings this year - we are looking for two development players and waiting to see who isn't signed by NZ teams on Friday. Sounds like we are in cash scramble.
61 years between Grand SlamsWas the wait worth it - Ya betta baby
Force put $1.6m deal on the table for Giteau
28th October 2008, 8:00 WST
Matt Giteau has until Friday to decide whether to accept a $1.6 million deal to stay with the Western Force until 2011.
The deadline was set by a sponsor willing to compensate Giteau for an $800,000 shortfall in 2008-09 payments from collapsed fuel technology company Firepower, plus extend the agreement for the 2010 and 2011 Super 14 seasons.
Giteau travelled to Hong Kong with the Wallabies yesterday.
rest from the West here..
Lets hope Matt signs, he has been instrumental in taking us to a position where we can launch an attack on the Super 14 final series.
If he goes, he leaves he huge void, with no ready made play makers to take up the mantle, also what will happen to those players that signed up to next year like Mitchell, O'Connor, Valentine ect. Not only will there be a void but also a potential for us to take a huge step backwards in player depth and a need to start the rebuilding again.
Please sign Matt, we need you!!!!!!!!
If his missus hasn't gone with him, they have already decided. Unless of course he is prepared to chuck her for the cash.
We'll just wait and see but you can guarantee that, if he stays, it will be spun as "he's doing it for the money alone". From there, it will be interesting to see whether it escalates to "it's not fair, something should be done to level the playing field" or even further. It has been a while since the journalistic septic tank has been pumped out.
What is his missus up to has she re- signed with the Fever ? Thought she was from the West
61 years between Grand SlamsWas the wait worth it - Ya betta baby
He does leave a huge void but not as big a void as was left when we came over here. If you think about it when he started at the Force the Reds had Barnsey and Quade Cooper who were both probably too young to be in the playmaker role while the Waratahs had Beale and ACT had Lealiifano and Matt Tooma. All players who are coming into their own now but weren't quite there 2 years ago. So if Giteau does leave and bearing in mind that'll be in 2010 there will be a handful of players who could be brought in in his place. The ACT probably won't be able to hold on to Lealiifano, Tooma and Giteau as all will want to play at fly-half. The real worry of Force will be if the void becomes a black hole and he sucks other players away with him.
I don't think the lack of the Marquee thing is a cash scramble. In bring in a Marquee player you'd presumably have to pay them more a lot more- so why pay more if you can't get the best/what you want. Would be better to pay less for a development player who you can reap the benefit of for years to come and pay them less now.
Last edited by James; 28-10-08 at 11:21.
Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
She's only just returned home, I doubt she'd be too keen to go back to the joys of Canberra again!
Yes TQ1, Buddy Franklin from Hawthorn's sister. Good country stock![]()
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
They're rock solid. He won't ditch her for the cash. Still not sure on what her plans are. The Fever haven't been playing well so it could be a deciding factor in her wish to move back to where success is. But I'd think that she wouldn't have sgned with a new team if she didn't already know what she was getting herself into on that front. She is from the West. She went ot St Mary's i think. But she's played in Melbourn, Perth and Canberra so they may not be where her loyalties lie. Her family is also east
"Remember lads, rugby is a team game; all 14 of you make sure you pass the ball to Giteau."
I can't think of a team from Canberra in the new netball competition, but there are teams from Sydney and Brisbane. I'm surprised SMH hasn't starting tipping funds via the Swifts into Bianca's pocket to help persuade gits to move to the powder puffs.