Some SMH Journo Claims: James O'Connor joins Melbourne Rebels

[BeeJay]

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS??? PHAAARK!!!!

James O'Connor joins Melbourne Rebels
Jamie Pandaram
April 15, 2011 - 5:09PM

Rebel raid . . . James O'Connor is to join Kurtley Beale in Melbourne. Photo: Getty Images
James O'Connor is believed to have a signed a deal to join the Melbourne Rebels in 2012.

The Western Force and Wallabies star would be the second high-profile recruit to join the new franchise this week following the news of Kurtley Beale's signing on Wednesday.

The Herald understands that the deal will be finalised on Monday.

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O'Connor and Beale are known to be good friends and would have been lured by the prospect of playing together at provincial level.

The 20-year-old made his Super Rugby debut for the Force in 2008 when he was 17 - against the Reds in his home town of Brisbane - and played for the Wallabies for the first time later that year against Italy in Padova.

He has since played 27 times for Australia and represented the Force 32 times at Super Rugby level.

O'Connor is tipped to star for the Wallabies at the upcoming World Cup in New Zealand starting in September.

Former Wallabies hooker Brendan Cannon predicts the Western Force will struggle to recruit and retain top-line players if O’Connor defects to the Rebels.

Cannon, an inaugural player who still has close ties to the club, said the Perth-based franchise would struggle for years to come if O’Connor did jump ship.

‘‘He’s someone that they’ve fostered and harnessed out of school, he’s someone they were looking to build future sides around,’’ Cannon said today.

‘‘He’s a superstar ... every game he’s played at flyhalf or fullback for the Force he’s been one of their best players.’’

The Force have worked hard to keep the core of their playing list, re-signing Wallabies flanker Ben McCalman for a further two years on Friday to add to the signatures of skipper Nathan Sharpe, Nick Cummins and Sam Wykes.

Coach Richard Graham hesitated for several seconds when asked whether the franchise was confident of retaining O’Connor, before eventually replying: ‘‘Mate I am confident that we can retain James.

‘‘We’ve presented a good program to him for the last four years and he’s an important part of our squad at the moment. I’d like to think he’d stay with us.’’

Cannon said the Rebels’ solid form, plus the potential to secure big third-party deals, made them attractive.

‘‘I think probably what has accelerated the signing of Kurtley Beale and possibly James O’Connor is how the Rebels have gone this year,’’ Cannon told Fox Sports.

‘‘I think they’ve surprised a lot of us.

‘‘They’ve won three (games), their season to date has been exceptional compared to how the Western Force were in their inaugural year.

‘‘So from a rugby players perspective, you look at it and think ... it’s a good group, you can see there’s a really happy culture there, (coach) Rod Macqueen has done an exceptional job with a pretty diverse playing group and they’ve got some success along the way.’’

The Force will be desperate to notch just their second win of the season when they take on fellow strugglers ACT Brumbies in Canberra on Sunday.

O’Connor, who has shaken off the effects of a virus, will move from fullback to inside centre, but utility back Cameron Shepherd was ruled out after experiencing headaches following last week’s heavy fall on his head and neck.

[jazza93]

Absolute garbage.

Even if he does end up moving to the Rebels. The Herald are lying through their teeth.

The Herald understands that the deal will be finalised on Monday.

The Herald understands Rocky Elsom is moving to the Rebels.
The Herald understands Dan Carter is moving to the Rebels.
The Herald can understand any possible outcome without having to produce a shred of relevant substance in their articles.

[BDAVEY]

I dont think so.... good business decision on his behalf

[slomo]

Interesting to see EWF facebook page stating that the above story is only a rumor and talks with jocs management are ongoing!.....if he's staying it would make more sense to come out and announce it, the longer it goes on, the more it looks likely that he's off!.....

[SNOB]

Absolute garbage.

Even if he does end up moving to the Rebels. SMH are lying through their teeth.



The Herald understands Rocky Elsom is moving to the Rebels.
The Herald understands Dan Carter is moving to the Rebels.
The Herald can understand any possible outcome without having to produce a shred of relevant substance in their articles.

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[Hoolly Doolly]

I can only see offering the 10 jersey permanantly as the only drawcard to stay at the force.
Some serious recruiting needs to be done in the backs for next year.

[zimeric]

Disagree OConnor has admitted himself that he feels uncomfortable at 10 and his preferred position is 12... And even he has tweeted today that the above article is bollocks... Not saying hes not going but he hasnt even inked an ARU deal yet so no way hed confirm a move yet
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[blueandblack]

Can we have some actual facts please?

[zimeric]

JamesOConnor832 James O'Connor
Interesting - only headlines expecting on Monday is big win for the Force reports not right!

JamesOConnor832 James O'Connor
Hey guys - appreciate all the support and interest. Focussed on game this weekend - all else will be sorted in due course. Cheers tweeps.

[Little Ox]

Post match conference for the rebels, mcqueen has stated that they haven't met with joc yet and have only had informal conversations with his management.

Hopefully the media will leave him alone for a few days so he can concentrate on his game for sunday.
Besides the rebels have already pulled off one shock signing this week, we need to let that settle in first before we potentially hear of anymore.
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[mudskipper]

O'Connor move leaves Force stunned - and with a war chest

Jamie Pandaram
April 16, 2011

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/un...-leaves-force-
stunned--and-with-a-war-chest-20110415-1dhqz.html


JAMES O'CONNOR'S defection to the Melbourne Rebels will leave the Western Force reeling, but the Perth side shapes as the big threat to rival teams when the new salary cap is imposed from next year.

The Australian Rugby Union is introducing a cap of $4.4 million for next season, which will be cut back to $4.1 million the following year in a bid to cut costs. While the Force will be hard-hit by the loss of their star player next season, they will have more money to spend than any other team on new recruits, and will be chasing the biggest names in the game.

As seen in the NRL, a salary cap equalises the talent across the competition, and the star-studded NSW and Queensland sides will have to lose some players if they are to remain under the stipulated expenditure for their 30-man squads. The Rebels' coup in signing dynamic duo O'Connor and Kurtley Beale on deals worth up to $1 million a year each also means they will be restricted in chasing other notable players, and will have to rely on young and inexperienced squad members to develop under the pair.

O'Connor will announce on Monday that he has joined the Rebels. He had hoped to keep news of the defection a secret until after the Force's match against the Brumbies tomorrow, to the extent that he has yet to return a signed contract extension to the ARU, but the Herald has learnt that the Rebels deal is done.

The marketing appeal of the two Wallabies stars will significantly boost the profile of the Rebels in AFL-mad Melbourne. The club began the year with a bold vision of attracting international quality stars with their brand of rugby, and while that has played a part, the undeniable lure for O'Connor and Beale is the enormous money.

The Rebels' strong ties with Melbourne's business community have enabled them to snare the two hottest young talents in Australian rugby. While five-eighth Danny Cipriani insists he will see out the remaining year of his contract next season, it's understood he has approached several European clubs seeking a return to the northern hemisphere following this year's World Cup.

Should the Rebels lose Cipriani, they have a ready-made five-eighth in O'Connor - who spent his junior years in the No.10 jersey - and he would form a lethal combination with fullback Beale. If Cipriani stays, O'Connor would play at inside-centre and skipper Stirling Mortlock would shift to No.13.

O'Connor and Beale are close friends, and will have been swayed by the prospect of playing together at provincial level.

Melbourne have already exceeded expectation this year but will be a far more formidable proposition next year. The Rebels were given special dispensation for overseas recruits - 10 foreign players compared with just two for the rest of the Australian sides - but that will be reduced each year until they are also allowed just two from 2016 onwards. The foreign player allowance was granted so the Rebels would not raid the ranks of the other sides, but that has not prevented them in the astute purchase of two of Australia's best backs.

The Force have struggled to entice players to move to Perth, particularly after the rogue company Firepower defaulted paying millions of dollars in sponsorship money, resulting in several key departures from the team. But when the top players are coming off contract next year, the Force will be handing out the biggest cheques. The thought of moving to the other side of the country will not seem as difficult when pay rises are being offered in an environment of salary restrictions.

The salary cap will apply to all deals done from next year and beyond. The highest-paid players such as O'Connor and Beale will struggle to get similar deals from the Rebels when they are off-contract again. O'Connor, 20, made his Super Rugby debut for the Force in 2008 when he was 17 - against the Reds in his home town of Brisbane - and played for the Wallabies for the first time later that year against Italy in Padova.

He has since played 27 times for Australia and represented the Force 32 times at Super Rugby level.

O'Connor will be a key figure for the Wallabies at the World Cup in New Zealand starting in September.


jeeez.... this is massive news, Beale and JOC..... Graham will be working overtime now to secure the next JOC

[zimeric]

if hes going to announce on monday that he is moving why would he then say that the only news on monday will be that the Force have beaten the Brumbies???

no doubt where theres smoke theres fire but seriously lets get some perspective here...

[GIGS20]

Sounds like broaden speak again, quoting his own fevered imaginings as inside information.

I'm not saying it's not true necessarily, nut the Herald quoting the Herald isn't really ironclad!

[Reds81]

Would not surprise me if he went- we have clowns running the show here and I dont refer to the coaching staff here. Rumour has it that his 3rd party payment has been cut.
Are we saying the boom state cannot keep him? If these inept board members keep at this, rugby will die in the state- hang your heads in shame!!

[shasta]

Rumour has it that his 3rd party payment has been cut.
Are we saying the boom state cannot keep him? If these inept board members keep at this, rugby will die in the state- hang your heads in shame!!

Board members, in theory anyway, have no input into 3rd party deals. Even if they did, it's not their call if a sponsor cuts financial backing. Maybe the big end of town in Perth has shallow pockets compared to Melbourne. Maybe all the big companies don't consider Perth their home ground, or at least not for WA Rugby.

ABC Perth news was claiming tonight the JOC has denied the deal. Let's just wait and see. If his last contract negotiations are any yardstick we can expect a result well after the season ends.