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Business syndicate claims Giteau did not trust Force
Article from: AAP
Nick Taylor, rugby writer
February 21, 2009 04:12pm
EXCLUSIVE: AN 11th-hour, third-party offer from a Perth business syndicate last week came too late to keep Wallaby star Matt Giteau at the Western Force.
But the desperate and secret last-ditch bid could not stop the dynamic playmaker from making the decision to go back to the ACT Brumbies for two seasons.
Yesterday, a syndicate member refused to detail the offer or why it failed.
But he claimed that Giteau chose the Brumbies because he "did not trust this (Western Force) franchise".
But Giteau told The Sunday Times: "It was a very generous offer.
"It was good, but it was probably a little late. I was looking for an offer a bit earlier."
It was the second third-party sponsorship offer made to Giteau since the collapse of his major sponsor, controversial fuel-additive company Firepower.
The first offer, worth $1.6million, came from a syndicate led by major Force sponsor ET Mining's Ross Graham.
Giteau said of it: "I wasn't able to come to an agreement. That was more unfortunate."
Last weekend, the latest syndicate invited Giteau's parents to Perth in the hope they would persuade their son to stay.
And in another extraordinary move, at least one Perth rugby club was asked to adopt Giteau, 26, for $20,000-$50,000, in return for his attendance at coaching clinics and public events.
Giteau, 26, will keep his Cottesloe home and will return to live in Perth after Super14 and Wallaby commitments each year.
Giteau's confirmation yesterday that he is heading back to the Brumbies at the end of this season ended months of speculation and confirmed one of the worst-kept secret in rugby.
In an ironic twist Giteau's announcement came a week before the Force takes on the Brumbies in what will be an emotionally charged game.
Giteau, who has 60 Test caps, said money was not the sole reason for his decision.
"If it was about money I would have stayed here," he said. "Promises (were) made and weren't obviously kept because of certain things. I feel proud of myself that I've honoured my contract.
"There's no real bitter taste because I've always enjoyed my time in Perth. I'm sad about leaving.
"The fact that I was looking to re-negotiate to stay on longer shows how much I do like Perth and love playing with the boys. We've all got to make decisions. I've made mine. Hopefully it's the right one and I look forward to finishing off what will be hopefully the Force's best year."
RugbyWA chairman Geoff Stooke was not surprised by Giteau's decision to leave - but he is not clear on the reasons.
In a confidential email to board members of RugbyWA - the governing body of the Western Force - obtained by The Sunday Times, Stooke admitted that there were deficiencies in the organisation.
But he rejected criticism and defended against allegations that it was second-rate.
Stooke admitted that there were still issues with the club's coaches, headed by John Mitchell, and revealed that Force players were among the best paid in the country.
The long-standing chairman said the club must solve problems that made players want to leave.
Stooke, who has a strong presence on the board, wrote to his members on Tuesday after a Monday board meeting.
"Matt Giteau's decision to move back to the Brumbies comes as no surprise but his reasons remain unclear," he said.
"Some have the view that it is because of RugbyWA and others will suggest it is simply money and family. The truth is probably somewhere in between.
"It is important that any deficiencies in our organisation are addressed, but I do not accept the implications by some that everything about our organisation is second rate."
Giteau's departure will leave a massive gap in Force ranks - and could produce many more as other players take a hard look at their futures.
Giteau's good mate Drew Mitchell is already in talks about his future - asare 17 other players - and halfback Josh Valentine said one of the reasons he came to Perth was to play alongside Giteau.
The club now has to start a hunt for a new five-eighth and will be hoping next week's negotiations with teenage sensation James O'Connor go well.
http://www.news.com.au:80/perthnow/s...005401,00.html