Queensland Reds should look at putting James O’Connor on alcohol ban if they decide to sign him

IF James O’Connor is a risk the Reds are willing to take one thing I’d have written in the contract is a full-time alcohol ban, Andrew Slack writes.

IF you really do discover the truth by reading between the lines, it appears a living certainty that James O’Connor will be wearing the Reds jersey next season.

For whatever reasons, it doesn’t appear to suit the Reds purpose to provide confirmation just yet.

But if, or likely when, an announcement is made, there will be opposing views to the rights and wrongs of handing the wayward star a lifeline.

I stated my opinion several months ago: “If a penance is to serve a purpose it has to involve pain. Should O’Connor display a clean sheet in Europe over a couple of seasons then show the desire to return home for the right reasons, he should be considered for a contract after next year’s World Cup. Any offers prior to that would make a mockery of the message that was delivered last year.”

Should O’Connor return, behave maturely, buy into the team ethos and allow his precocious talent to do its thing on the football field, I will pleasingly admit that the only thing that’s been made a mockery of is my opinion.

One thing for certain is that if he is in the QRU’s sights, CEO Jim Carmichael will ensure the offered contract will allow no room for skulduggery.

Carmichael is nobody’s fool and I’d guess he doesn’t suffer them terribly well, but good administrators own a strong streak of pragmatism, and he realises his flagship team needs some spark.

To that end, O’Connor has attractions but should he as much as blow his nose at the wrong time, my guess is Jim will have an armed guard escort him out of Ballymore and never be permitted to return again.

If O’Connor is a risk the organisation is prepared to take, one thing I’d have written in the contract is a full-time alcohol ban.

While such restrictions may be seen as a simplistic answer to a complex problem, the reality is that there would be a lot of footballers in a lot less strife if they gave the lunatic soup a full-time swerve.

Regardless of what O’Connor’s potential recruitment might bring, one thing he doesn’t add to the Reds mix is size, and that is one thing they are sadly lacking.

During this past Wimbledon fortnight, it was interesting to read a piece on how the gun tennis players are getting bigger with every era. No pint-size Rod Lavers will be winning the Grand Slams anymore they say.

There is a parallel in rugby.

A brief look at last month’s under-20 World Cup gave clear evidence that big, and big and skilful in particular, is beautiful. Never has the good, little man had less chance against the good, big man than in today’s game.

The problem for Richard Graham and the Reds as they look to consign 2014 to a one-off disappointing season is that as they stand now, they generally do it in the shadow of bigger teams.

They must find recruits with size and skill, particularly in the back row and midfield.

Players that opposing teams not only have to respect but have to plan against. Where are they going to come from?

There is no question they are out there but once found most will need time to develop. From Graham’s perspective, he will be wondering how much time he’ll be afforded.

Fans, officials and the media are not noted for their patience. He is bright enough to know that similar results next year, whatever the mitigating circumstances, will place him under intense scrutiny.

His tenure at the Reds may well rest on who he can lure to Ballymore over the coming months.

O’Connor may be on his way, and if he plays well and doesn’t play up, he will be far more than useful.

But one senses if the Reds are going to have a successful 2015, they will need some bigger signings. By bigger ... we mean bigger.

Originally published as Queensland Reds should look at putting James O’Connor on alcohol ban if they decide to sign him