0
Teen on Wallabies market as Beale linked to league move
By Peter Badel | March 01, 2009 12:00am
League move? ... Kurtley Beale. / The Sunday Telegraph
NSW Waratahs officials will meet with Western Force whiz kid James O'Connor this week as concerns grow that Kurtley Beale may move to the NRL.
The Western Force are facing a new retention headache with Wallabies sensation O'Connor to test his value on the open market.
Just a week after Matt Giteau revealed he would quit the Force at the end of 2009, they are in danger of losing the teenager being groomed to follow in his footsteps.
Off contract at season's end, O'Connor will meet Waratahs powerbrokers this week as his management steps up negotiations before any decision to commit to the Force.
Interestingly, Beale is also off contract at the end of this season and has been linked with several NRL clubs.
In his strongest performance of the season, Beale booted five goals from five attempts and was named man of the match as the Waratahs beat the Highlanders last Friday.
In Perth, the Force remain desperate to secure O'Connor, rating him their No1 retention target, but they have been instructed by the 18-year-old's management to discuss a top-up component from the Australian Rugby Union.
While there is no suggestion O'Connor is unhappy with controversial Force coach John Mitchell, the playmaker's father, Warren, said his son had to weigh up a number of factors.
They include which position he will play in 2010, his level of game time and whether he needed to be closer to his family on the eastern seaboard.
The Reds have yet to make a play for O'Connor but have strong appeal given he grew up on the Gold Coast.
"We've had no real communication with the Reds since James joined the Force, but if they were interested we'd love to talk to them,'' O'Connor senior said.
"At this stage we are open to what is in the best interests for James.
"The Force have been good to him but James will weigh up his options. At the end of the day, you have to do what is best for you individually.
"We need to decide where James is going to get the best opportunities to grow.''
O'Connor, who moved to Perth as a 17-year-old, was embroiled in controversy late last year when he was arrested following an incident at a Gold Coast nightclub.
O'Connor admitted he was struggling to deal with the pressures of fame, and a move closer to his parents could ease the strain.
But Warren O'Connor said the gifted playmaker was also reluctant to be used as a utility and was determined to cement the No12 jumper.
http://www.news.com.au:80/heraldsun/...-14823,00.html