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- Justin Chadwick
- March 31, 2009 - 5:32PM
Wallaby and Force player Drew Mitchell is thinking of heading east in 2010. Photo: Brendon Thorne
As speculation mounts that star Western Force back Drew Mitchell is headed to Queensland next season, the man at the centre of the tug-of-war admits he's a big fan of the Reds' exciting brand of Super 14 rugby.
The Reds have won just the two games this season but the fledgling squad, led by excitement machines Quade Cooper, Berrick Barnes and Digby Ioane, has caught the attention of Mitchell, who is out of contract at season's end.
Queensland are desperate to regain the services of Mitchell, who notched 35 caps for the Reds before moving to the Force at the end of 2006.
But the 25-year-old Wallaby, who can play either wing or fullback, insists he is yet to make a final decision on where his future lies and said all options were still on the table.
"I'm not any closer to coming up with a decision," Mitchell told AAP.
"It's quite a big decision for me and one that I won't be taking too lightly.
"I'm certainly looking at all my options.
"It's a difficult time because it's my professional future, I just want to make the most informed decision as I can.
"I've got my parents coming over here this weekend so it will be a good time to sit down and have a proper chat, and then I'll sort of be closer to a decision.
"As I said all along it's not something I really want to drag out.
"I don't want it to become a distraction.
"I guess the closer I get to a game the less I think about contracts because ultimately you don't want it to be affecting your performance.
"It's more so after the games I'll sit down and think about it."
The Force and Reds do battle at Subiaco Oval on Friday night and, in an ominous sign for the Force, Mitchell believed Queensland were a team on the rise.
"I've been pretty impressed," Mitchell said.
"I guess it's been evidenced that (coach) Phil Mooney's influence is really starting to come out on their style of play now.
"I guess it was always going to take a year or so to implement a new style of play and I guess it suits them very well.
"They've got some great playmakers in Berrick Barnes and Quade Cooper and some real spark out wide with Peter Hynes and Digby Ioane and they've been playing together for a longer period and it's starting to shine how well they know each other's games.
"With guys like Leroy Houston they are capable of those big blockbusting runs."
Should Mitchell make the move back to Queensland, where he has extensive family, he would be an almost guaranteed starter over rugby league convert Mark McLinden at fullback.
But Mitchell's decision isn't the only thing the Force are sweating over, with the future of utility back James O'Connor also up in the air.
The Force are hoping to sign former Springboks and current Stormers flyhalf Peter Grant in order to entice O'Connor to stay.
O'Connor's aim is to eventually assume the playmaker role but the 18-year-old realises he may need to learn his trade at either inside centre or fullback first.
http://www.watoday.com.au/sport/mitc...v.html?page=-1