Reds coach Brad Thorn denies reports soured relationship was behind Izack Rodda departure
Brad Thorn said the suggestion a soured relationship was behind Izack Rodda’s Reds departure irked him and that the Wallaby visited his place last Saturday to ‘make it clear that stuff that was out there is not how he feels.’
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Brad Thorn says he’s never had an argument with Izack Rodda, denying reports of a rift that apparently drove the Wallabies lock away from the Queensland Reds along with two teammates.
Rodda, Harry Hockings and Isaac Lucas refused to agree to Super Rugby-wide pay cuts and, after being stood down last Monday, are now free agents after their Rugby Australia contracts were terminated last weekend.
Rodda, 23, had been overlooked for the Reds captaincy this season and was said to be at odds with Thorn, hence seeking a move to a rival Australian club.
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But Thorn said the suggestion a soured relationship was behind the move irked him, maintaining they were on good terms.
“I spoke to Izack, he came around to my house on Saturday,” Thorn said.
“It’s been hard for me. I’ve seen in the media that (our relationship) is irreparable and we don’t get on.
“I’ve never had a problem with Izack and we’ve never had an argument.
“He ... wanted to make it clear that stuff that was out there is not how he feels.
“These are the things that are frustrating.”
Rodda played for the Reds the day after the death of his father last year and even packed down next to Thorn in the second-tier NRC.
“With Izack, he’s a guy you care about a lot,” Thorn said.
“He’s come here from a young age and I even played next to him for a couple of games.
“He lost his father, I lost my dad at 19. We’ve had a lot of personal chats.”
Rodda and livewire back Lucas were contracted until 2023 while emerging lock Hockings was off contract but in the Wallabies’ future plans.
All three are managed by player-agent Anthony Picone, who last year engineered Reds captain Samu Kerevi’s move to Japanese rugby.
Thorn said he approached all three players to attempt to understand their position.
“I was like, ‘I don’t want you to go. What is doing? Do not do this. We care about you and you’ve been part of this thing. This isn’t the right way of doing stuff’.
“I know a few others spoke to them as well. They’re young men and they have to make decisions. You haven’t really heard from the three lads, so that’s something for them to think about.”
Look who’s coming back early to get Wallabies into shape!
Incoming Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has agreed to end his contract with Scottish club Glasgow early, freeing him up to focus on his new role.
Glasgow announced Rennie would finish at the Warriors next week and hand over the head coaching reins to Scotland forwards coach Danny Wilson.
The New Zealander had planned to see his club contract through and begin with Rugby Australia from July 1 but will now get an extra month to accelerate his Wallabies planning.
Rennie hasn’t coached since the indefinite suspension of the Pro14 league in mid-March, caused by COVID-19, and Glasgow managing director Nathan Bombrys said it was time to be pragmatic.
“With sport in Australia planning to return soon, making the change now will also allow Dave to begin his new role as head coach of the Australian national team,” Bombrys said.
“We are grateful to Dave for everything he has done for our club over the past three seasons, and particularly for how he has been supportive of the current situation, as well as his willingness to share his vast coaching knowledge with all of our coaches.”
Rennie has been in contact with his Wallabies assistants and RA for months but is clear now to direct all his energy towards reviving the stocks of the national team.
It is unclear when Rennie and wife Stephanie will travel to Australia, although reports in Scottish media suggest he will depart at the earliest opportunity.
They will likely face two weeks in isolation upon arrival in Sydney.
Former Chiefs coach Rennie led Glasgow to the final four of the Pro14 in his two full seasons in charge.
They reached the quarter-finals of the European Champions Cup last year but narrowly missed out on the last eight this season.
Scottish Rugby chief executive Mark Dodson said Rennie’s tenure had been a success.
“He has brought on a young, exciting group of players at Glasgow over that period, reached a Pro14 final and led his coaching group at the club superbly.”
Originally published as Reds coach Brad Thorn denies reports soured relationship was behind Izack Rodda departure