Wallabies star Berrick Barnes weighs up whether to re-sign with Queensland

[TOCC]

oh well, im going away for a few weeks, i hope the next time i post in here Digby and Barnes have re-signed!

catch ya's

[travelling_gerry]

Phil Lutton, www.brisbanetimes.com.au | July 13, 2009 - 2:46PM

It has been a process handled with the tender love and care by the Queensland Reds, like the franchise cradling a new baby that embodies the future hopes and dreams of the family.

Now, with a new sheriff at Ballymore, the first signs of urgency in the prolonged chase for Berrick Barnes are beginning to filter through the cracks.

To call it an ultimatum or a deadline would be to overstate the words of Queensland Rugby's new general manger, Dan Herbert. But in one of his first moves in charge of the Reds, the business-like former Wallaby centre has made it clear that progress needs to be made in the bid to retain the star playmaker.

Barnes is seen as a vital part of any prospective turn in the fortunes of Queensland rugby. Not only is his measured and stoic presence the rock on which the Reds construct their game, his rapidly maturing leadership abilities are a source of motivation to his teammates.

The Wallaby centre has been holding off signing a new deal with Queensland to evaluate the results of an off-season staff shake-up, which claimed the scalp of forwards coach Mark Bell, and ensure there is a some set direction at the top of a Super 14 franchise that has been going around in circles.

With former contracts man Ben Whitaker also leaving, the capable Herbert is now pulling the strings, with Wallaby greats Tim Horan and Dan Crowley also employed on a part-time basis to mentor players and cultivate the passion and culture at Ballymore.

While Barnes is said to be content with the reshuffle, his signature remains elusive and his management says nothing will be forthcoming this week. He has been courted by the Waratahs and while Herbert would love nothing more than Barnes to sign on the dotted line, he says the clock has started to tick louder on a process that has dragged on longer than either party would desire.

"It's got to happen reasonably soon, for our own progression. We can't sit around and let it drag on continually because if there is going to be a change, we need to be able to keep looking," Herbert said.

"In saying that, we also don't want to put the players under pressure. They are under enough pressure as it is and we don't want to force them into a corner.

"We just want to say, look, here's our best offer, we will do whatever we can to keep you here but this is our best offer. Please consider it and realise that we value not only your presence here but your input into how we can improve things.

"We're obviously keen to keep him and he's giving us all the right noises that he's very happy with the changes and he wants to stay in Queensland and play for the Reds. He's a very passionate guy who does value the jersey a lot, so obviously he is one you want to keep."

Barnes, along with other senior players, had some hand in the changes that have swept through the Reds. They were consulted at the end of the season as to where alterations needed to be made to get Queensland out of their endless rut.

Herbert is a product of that movement and brings a degree of added professionalism to his post. Rather than treat his gentle prod as an affront, Barnes is just as likely to be relieved there is someone at the Reds who craves results as much as he does.

Herbert is specific about the type of player he wants taking orders from coach Phil Mooney. Barnes fits his description to a tee, hence the urgency surrounding his retention. But the message to the players is clear - if you don't want to be part of Reds rugby for the right reasons, go somewhere else.

"My and Phil and everyone's thinking is you want people who want to be here. It doesn't matter who the player is or how good they are, you want them to want to be here. And if they don't want to be here, perhaps they would be better off in a different environment," Herbert said.

"I want people who are going to turn up to training early and leave late, people who are trying to better their skills all the time. That's what I believe it takes to have that winning culture - it's people who think of the team above themselves."

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