Half Force squad out of contract at end of 2009

[lara93]

http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/stor...005401,00.html

THE WESTERN Force faces the daunting reality that more than half its squad comes off-contract at the end of the season, with some ready to leave.
Club officials are in urgent renegotiation talks with a number of players and with possible replacements.

But chief executive Greg Harris said the club was not interested in signing those players who only want to play for the money.

"We're looking at guys who want to be here, who want to be a part of the Western Force," he said.

"We want guys who want to come here to better their football and not just for money or a commercial outcome."

Those to have already announced their departures are Matt Giteau, who is going back home to the
Brumbies, hooker Tai McIsaac to Japan, prop Ben Castle to Newport Gwent Dragons, utility back Scott Staniforth, who will be given an early release to play in Japan, and flanker Tamaiti Horua to Ulster.

Others, including second row David Pusey, who fell out of favour with coach John Mitchell last year, and centre Junior Pelesasa are also considering overseas moves.

"We're going to lose players who have been here from day one and the culture of the place will be poorer without them," Harris said.

"But we have a list analysis and a succession program in place and we're going for it."

Four players - teenager James O'Connor, second row Tom Hockings and props Pek Cowan and A.J.Whalley - are off-contract but have a 12-month option to stay.

Harris is confident of keeping them all.

Wallaby flanker Richard Brown and O'Connor are on top of Harris's retention list, along with young Wallaby David Pocock, who is signed until 2010.

O'Connor is being groomed as a possible replacement for Giteau at five-eighth. He has said he prefers the No.12 spot and is also at home at fullback.

But as The Sunday Times revealed four weeks ago, the club is interested in Stormers five-eighth Peter Grant.

He has relatives in Perth and it is understood his family has lost its farm under the land restitution scheme in South Africa. His parents were in Perth last week looking at a move to WA.

A big tight-head prop to anchor the scrum has long been a Force priority.

Harris spoke with Wallaby Matt Dunning this week and the Force has renewed its push for the Hurricanes' Tim Fairbrother.

The Kiwi would not take up one of the Force import or marquee player spots because he is eligible to play for the Wallabies because of an Australian grandparent.

---------- Post added at 19:06 ---------- Previous post was at 19:04 ----------

Others, including second row David Pusey, who fell out of favour with coach John Mitchell last year, and centre Junior Pelesasa are also considering overseas moves

[SleazyWineBaas]

There is a clear division in the ranks and they are playing like they can't wait for 2010.
Time to put a broom through the joint and sweep out the rubbish.
I welcome the initiative. If they don't want to stay, they don't want to play. Cull and cull now.
We want people that are proud of their performance, hungry for success, prepared to put in the hard yards and happy to wear the jersey. All contracts should in future swear allegiance to the coach and his methods. Player power is for people that want to take short cuts and think they deserve a position based on reputation and not performance.

[Burgs]

Good theory until we run into some injuries SWB

Agree with the sentiment and good on Harris for saying it too!

If there is a genuine commitment to staying in Perth then I feel more comfortable about the Peter Grant move, though I still don't think he is that great a player.
If JO'C is staying and making #12 his own what we need is a Flyhalf with a decent field position range of kicking skills and the ability to get it out to #12 ASAP.
We just can't afford this current rely on the genius Flyhalf mentality.
If Grant fits the bill and wants to stick around then so be it.
It's not as if every Flyhalf in Australia is going to be playing for the Wallabies anyway.

This continuation of the great Dunning chase is making me feel queasy
Get Fairbrother FFS, or head to Romania or Georgia or somewhere else that beef is cheap and recruit a man mountain from there.

[Darren]

Maybe they can knock off the Georgian Brothers that Paly have bought over ....

[shasta]

Get Fairbrother FFS,

Much better option than Billie Bunter, for sure Burgs. Seems he's not really on the AB's radar or they'd have shored him up like they did Ben Franks. At 27yo and 119kg he's just coming to his prime as a tighthead, so how about it you Kiwis at ET Mining? Chuck enough sponsorship at him to make Perth as attractive as Europe.