I trust bosses on O'Connor moves: Horwill

[The InnFORCEr]

AAP
Jim Morton
July 2, 2014, 10:17 am



Reds skipper James Horwill says he has no problems with James O Connor (Pic) coming to Ballymore.
PAA Reds skipper James Horwill says he has no problems with James O'Connor (Pic) coming to Ballymore.

Queensland captain James Horwill has no reservations about the Reds re-opening the door for wayward Wallaby James O'Connor to return home next season.

Horwill, Australia's Test captain when O'Connor continually ran off the rails from 2011-13, has full faith the Reds' recruitment team will ensure the star back is heading to Ballymore for the right reasons.

Queensland Rugby Union boss Jim Carmichael is still saying little about whether the 23-year-old has signed a two-year deal, instead waiting until the end of their failed Super Rugby campaign before revealing the bulk of the Reds' 2015 squad.

Coach Richard Graham again declined to confirm speculation this week.

But for six weeks, it's appeared certain Gold Coast-raised O'Connor will head home from Europe to play on the wing for Queensland and aim for World Cup selection.

Horwill has been at the forefront of a strong Reds culture for the past five years, and many fans have expressed concerns about the impact O'Connor could have on the team fabric.

Asked whether he held any reservations, the 51-Test lock said: "Look, I think anyone who comes here will come for the right reasons and fit into our culture.

"I think that's the most important thing that we've stressed: No matter who comes, whether they are a Test player or a young guy coming in, they have to come for the right reasons - because they want to play for Queensland and fit into our way of playing and do things our way.

"I'm sure if Richard and Jim didn't see that in any individual, then they wouldn't go down that path."

Horwill admitted he'd had no contact with O'Connor since he was sent packing by the Australian Rugby Union last September after being escorted from an international flight at Perth Airport for being drunk.

He last spoke to Carmichael and Graham about recruitment and retention plans in May before going into camp with the Wallabies for June's 3-0 sweep of France.

"I was happy," he said. "I have full trust in the organisation.

"They have the team's best interests at heart and always put Queensland rugby first and foremost."

Code-jumper Karmichael Hunt is also believed to be in the mix for a Reds contract and looms as a fullback option, with Aidan Toua signing with French club Agen and youngster Jonah Placid heading to the Melbourne Rebels.

Queensland have cleared the decks out wide by also farewelling Rod Davies, Dom Shipperley and Mike Harris, while front-rowers Albert Anae and Jono Owen are leaving Ballymore as well.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sp...moves-horwill/


Isn't it interesting that when the article comes from Queensland it reads as though the Reds actually had a choice in players leaving by saying they "cleared the decks", when it reality it is more like the players "jumped from the sinking ship"

[Alison]

I think the expression 'cleared the decks' is pretty insulting to those players too! I'd be very miffed if I was one of them!

[jargan83]

The players probably don't care given it was the journo that used the term not the QRU

[SNOB]

Interesting all this talk about culture at the Reds when you consider the antics of QC and Digby over the last couple of years!

[Tonkar]

Horwill has been at the forefront of a strong Reds culture for the past five years, and many fans have expressed concerns about the impact O'Connor could have on the team fabric.

If the Culture was that good player would be fighting to Join them not leaving

I Laugh at this a culture

The Captian Cries when they loose and get fined for abusing the refs
Many players leaving
Digby and QC caught up in off feild incidents
Horwill dobbing on the rest of the Wallabies on the end of yr tour when out late
Coming from being the No 1 Australian team to bottom of conference ( and dont let them fool you with Injury list as we all have them )
Having been caught in the carpark and training feild debacle ( all kept hush hush )
If teams wanna learn culture I think the Western Force could teach them a thing or 2 thats a family culture

[valzc]

Horwill has been at the forefront of a strong Reds culture for the past five years, and many fans have expressed concerns about the impact O'Connor could have on the team fabric.

If the Culture was that good player would be fighting to Join them not leaving

I Laugh at this a culture

The Captian Cries when they loose and get fined for abusing the refs
Many players leaving
Digby and QC caught up in off feild incidents
Horwill dobbing on the rest of the Wallabies on the end of yr tour when out late
Coming from being the No 1 Australian team to bottom of conference ( and dont let them fool you with Injury list as we all have them )
Having been caught in the carpark and training feild debacle ( all kept hush hush )
If teams wanna learn culture I think the Western Force could teach them a thing or 2 thats a family culture

What happened in the car park and training field debacle? ............. Tonkar, Do Tell!

[Happy]

I'm disappointed a) the Red's are considering him, b) they've already signed him, c) the ARU have put him at the Red's, d) with the Red's blessings, e) against the Red's wishes.

i.e. that little fucker should never play rugby in this fucking country again!

[Nic]

More poisoned potion for QRU and their supporters.
Things are really starting to get ugly over there.

[GIGS20]

Look nic,we had our fair share of attempts to buy titles with the fools gold of high priced, high profile primadonnas it appears the Rebels have learned their lesson (a bit quicker than we did to be fair) but the consistent vitriol from some very high profile Queenslanders towards the force make a certain amount of that ugliness into a simple dose of karma.

[palitu]

do we read into something where he says that he trusts the bosses? i like the fact that the Force leaders are saying "We" and "team discussion/decision". There isn't any of the "boss" making the decisions without input from the team.

My guess is horwill said he didn't want him to the 'bosses', and now he has to tow the party line.