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Josh Rakic | March 29, 2009
WARATAHS officials are braced for a mass player exodus should veteran skipper Phil Waugh pull the pin on his illustrious 11-season career with the Sydney franchise and accept an offer to play Welsh rugby.
With 13 other players off contract at season's end - including stars Matt Dunning, Dean Mumm, Kurtley Beale, Rob Horne, Adam Freier, Tom Carter, Brett Sheehan and Daniel Halangahu - a Waratahs insider says a decision by Waugh to leave could have a detrimental flow-on effect for the team.
"He's the heart and soul of the club and all of the players have a lot respect for him. He's the reason a lot of them are here in the first place," the insider said.
"There are a number of players who are waiting on Phil to make his decision before they commit themselves, and the other blokes realise that he could trigger a mass exodus.
"It's a big deal. If four or five leave as a result of Phil, then a few of the other blokes could well decide to leave on account of that.
"If everyone decides to go, then it's going to make it harder for the blokes who want to stay. It'll definitely hold some weight in their decisions."
Adding injury to insult is the suggestion that most of the unsigned group, which also includes Sekope Kepu, Beau Robinson, Will Caldwell and Tatafu Polota-Nau, could join utility back Sam Norton-Knight in continuing their careers abroad. The move would cost the Waratahs, Super 14 and the Wallabies dearly.
"Players' decisions on where to continue their careers will vary a bit, but most blokes who decided to leave would go overseas, I'd say," the insider said.
"In saying that, my feeling is that should Phil stay, the rest of the players will stay, too. And the feeling I'm getting is that Phil wants to stay, but he's indicated he's still a week or two away from making his mind up. He's 30 this year, so it'll probably be his last contract. There are a lot of things to weigh up."
Another headache for the Waratahs is how to accommodate five-eighth Beale and Halangahu regardless of Waugh's decision, with either unlikely to re-sign if the other is assured the No.10 jumper.
"Kurtley's decision will weigh heavily on how Daniel performs over the next few weeks and whether he accepts a two-year offer tabled to him," the informant said.
"If Daniel makes a fist of the No.10 jumper then I can't see Kurtley wanting to hang around. Rugby league is definitely a real option for him."
However, the Waratahs' chances of retaining Beale as a possible replacement for Norton-Knight at fullback have been boosted by the revelation that Force flyer Drew Mitchell is highly unlikely to accept an offer to join the club.
It's a scenario that could become all too familiar for the Tahs should Waugh depart.
"The Waratahs have already lost a lot of other key senior players in Dan Vickerman, Rocky Elsom and David Lyons," said former Wallabies coach and Sun-Herald columnist John Connolly. "Should they lose Phil Waugh too, it wouldn't send a good message to the rest of the players."
"We saw Queensland a number of years ago when they lost a whole heap of their senior players in one go and they never recovered.
"The Phil Waugh factor is a major issue. His ability to develop good players around him and attract new players to the club is priceless to the Waratahs, and if he left it would have a massive effect on player retention. He's very important to this young team.
"Again, that's something Queensland hasn't been able to do since John Eales and Co left - attract big-name players."
NSW officials are said to be desperate to retain the 77-Test veteran, but ARU support has been minimal.
http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/n...657201272.html