Originally Posted by
Hansie
Good luck to you guys Westie - look after Pek at the club, he's a very good clubman. Big loss to us. Good to see someone poaching from Neddies for a change. Was he man enough to tell you or did he just scarper and let the grapevine do the work?
Most of the hysteria surrounding this issue also can be based on the fact that most EWF players are here from Eastern States, N.Z. or S.A. Where they come from is irrelevant, another of your red herrings. It's the concept of Injustice that is behind this so-called "hysteria".
Say, Kyle Godwin only came available for a finals contender this weekend - would you all deny him the chance to play for his club which he has been part of since Colts? Yes, if he hasn't played his 3 games. Same rule for everyone.
Next question - say you took seriously your investment in the Force, the millions of your money you have put into hiring the best coach and medical staff you can get. You also own the players and are working darn hard to climb the ladder next year. You work hard to get the players to stay here and your medical staff and coach tell you that 4,5 or 6 of them are still overcoming some niggling injuries that if exposed to further aggravation could rule said player (s) from pre-season. Each club has invested 10 months or so in forming a team, training, patching them up etc etc and many players go into finals weary and carrying niggly injuries only to have these Force guys who haven't played club all year wander in fresh as a button expecting to be applauded. Give me a break.
Do you tell your coach " Nick off - they have to play 3 games for their club to qualify" Yep, the Competition Rules are there for a reason so why do they get manipulated to suit certain clubs come finals time?
or do you tell your players go to Sydney and play because the small vocal minority don't want you here, will not cut you any slack and are bringing in the lawyers? If they haven't qualified for finals here then they may as well go elsewhere.
Chris Alcock was permitted back to play last week, I think Hugh was permitted back the week before, Pek and Paddy are free to play this week. To me this indicates some professional injury and man management happening - I actually respect the Force for looking after my investment this way. You may find that many people will not be "investing" in Force memberships for 2014 if this behaviour continues.
BUT Nooooo - we should be telling Pek, Paddy and Sam - Go East because you're being parachuted in? Your clubs are being threatened with legal action. Goodbye Pek, Paddy and Sam go East and keep running if that's the way they behave. Do they not as individuals see the inequity in what they are doing? And if not, you have to query their morals.
You bemoan the fact loyal clubbies may be bumped to make way for these guys. GENTS that's life, if your club and coach cannot work with you and engage you to be part of the discussion - your beef Mr. Clubbie is not with RugbyWA, the professional players or your opponents, but with your club adminstration and coach. Stop deflecting the issue Hansie, the beef is fairly and squarely with the body that grants the dispensations, RWA.
We shall never grow in WA if the order of importance is Me, myself, I and Moi. The descending order must be:
Wallabies, Force, Club, Team, Me.