Berrick Barnes poised to join NSW Waratahs

[KenyaQuin]

Bret Harris | July 29, 2009
Article from: The Australian

WALLABIES inside centre Berrick Barnes is poised to turn his back on the struggling Queensland Reds and join arch rivals NSW Waratahs.

Barnes delayed making a decision about his future until the Reds completed a wide-ranging review into their coaching and administration, but it is believed he is not convinced about the future direction of the team.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...6-2722,00.html

[tic]

Wow - didn't really see that coming.

Oh well, Drew will have another Queenslander to mope around with, after each 'Tahs loss.

[TommyM]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/spo...-1225755813683

[jargan83]

Beale to 15, Mitchell Fwy to a wing and Halangahu to 12 or bench warmer??

[TommyM]

I think they'd betempted to keep Beale at 12 with Barnes at 10. Barnes and Halangahu are very similar players- might not equal much spark if paired up. Halangahu might be a good option at 15- good tackler and reliable kicker

[Scotty]

Can't shake the feeling that this is terrible news for Australian rugby...

[Arnie]

interesting...

Did the Force ever chase Barnes???... (obviously before we locked in Pretorius)

[sandgroperrugby]

This is not good for us, this means that QRU are now chasing someone to play 10-12 along side Cooper. We have such a player who has not signed yet and could do the dirty and move back to where his parents are!!

[Scotty]

Did the Force ever chase Barnes???... (obviously before we locked in Pretorius)

Quite a lot of times, I think. He was chased in 05-06 when not even a Wallaby and again when the cash was being thrown around (that Gits did/didn't/mightn't get).

Always assumed he was too Queensland to go anywhere else. Maybe he always wanted to be a Waratah but just hated Lote. The latter is understandable, the former perplexing.

[TOCC]

this is fucked and is the worst thing that could possibly happen to qld

seriously, how long does the ARU and QRU think that the Reds fans will stand by and watch this shit happen, pull your heads out of the sand and wake up, rugby is getting destroyed in QLD due to poor performances and low profiles, someone like Berrick had the potential to solve that....

[AndyS]

Did the Force ever chase Barnes???...

I've no doubt they at least enquired, but he presumably was insufficiently interested in a move West to make any sort of timely decision. That would have to be preferable to stringing us along though.

While everyone probably thought it an unlikely outcome, it was always on the cards. It is a brutal outcome for the QRU, and perhaps not even a fair one, but it will certainly emphasise just how poorly their administration is now perceived. I guess all they can do is focus on proving that things have indeed changed, and making sure that they actually have (parallels, anyone?). But there is no doubt that something has needed changed for some time, and the only positive from this might be the impetus given to that process.

I wonder how Halangahu feels about it though. It was only a couple of months ago he re-signed under headlines of "showing his loyalty". I'll bet he is wondering why he did it, given no indication of said loyalty being reciprocated (http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/n...982459403.html).

I wonder if Digby has actually put pen to paper yet?

[jargan83]

I think they'd betempted to keep Beale at 12 with Barnes at 10

Given that something I read today said that Hickey views Drew Mitchell as a fullback (I cringed while reading it) where does that leave Helangahu?

[Hoolly Doolly]

I wonder how Halangahu feels about it though. It was only a couple of months ago he re-signed under headlines of "showing his loyalty". I'll bet he is wondering why he did it, given no indication of said loyalty being reciprocated (http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/n...982459403.html).

Sucks to be him!

[AndyS]

Or at least the Tahs have made a sucker of him...

[Hoolly Doolly]

....definitely!