Waratahs demanded $500,000 to move their game from Allianz Stadium for A-League grand final
WHEN the Waratahs were asked to move their game on Saturday to keep the Allianz Stadium surface smooth for the A-League grand final, their financial demand stunned officials.
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THE request came awfully late but the Waratahs were open to moving their home game against the Blues on Saturday night.
But only at the right price.
And what was the right price? Several sources have told us NSW Rugby officials requested $500,000 in compensation to shift their game, probably to ANZ Stadium, to help ensure a smooth surface for the A-League grand final.
Neither the FFA or state government were willing to cough up so the Tahs decided they’d stay put.
The mooted move to North Sydney Oval was never a serious consideration, given they’d have just four days to move logistical mountains. One insider said moving a Super Rugby game to a boutique ground - with dated facilities - would requite at least a month to pull off without drama.
Throw in the fact the Waratahs have a junior march-past with 4000 kids and you could make it two months.
Why the FFA approach came so late is the real mystery. The Waratahs had the booking for six months, and given their dominant season, Sydney FC must have been considered a very strong chance to host the grand final from weeks or months out.
PODCAST: Payto & Panda discuss the Waratahs’ overdue win, the sudden departure of ARU official Rob Clarke and why Super Rugby’s finals system must change
The FFA went to the state government for help on Monday, and the Waratahs were approached to move the game to ANZ Stadium. Given the former Olympic Stadium is now government-run as well, the SCG Trust agreed to play ball.
Due to CityRail trackwork and existing functions already booked at ANZ Stadium, that option was always tricky so it was always going to come down to money.
STELLAR McKELLAR
THE Brumbies are ready to pull the trigger and name a coach in the next week or two, we hear. That would seemingly rule out Dave Wessels and leave the gig in the hands of Dan McKellar.
The Canberra outfit were keen to see what happened to the Force and possibly recruit Wessels. But with the Super saga showing no sign of ending due to legal fights, the Brumbies board are getting itchy fit.
McKellar is the frontrunning candidate ahead of Laurie Fisher but whether Simon Cron joins McKellar in Canberra is a big question. The Waratahs are very keen on Cron.
GROUND ZERO
OUR spies tell us the SCG Trust re-laid sections of turf on Allianz Stadium on Thursday to ensure a high-quality surface for the Waratahs-Blues game on Saturday night. Oh, and for the A-League Grand Final, too.
A hive of groundskeeper activity was spotted at Allianz Stadium, with new ready-to-play turf being put down on some of the higher-traffic areas.
WHEN WILL IT END?
THE Super Rugby downsizing saga is dragging on and on, and accordingly, so is the ARU’s contract freeze.
We hear clubs and players are now doing plenty of business, however. Most clubs are not only negotiating with players and their agents, they’re signing letters of intent and chucking them in the top drawer.
It’s all happening with the ARU’s knowledge.
As a cosignatory to every Super Rugby contract, the ARU’s freeze effectively boils down to them not rubberstamping contracts. When the freeze lifts, they can expect plenty in the mail.
HOW BERNIE STAYS ICE-COOL
AFTER nailing yet another matchwinning kick last weekend, “Iceman” Bernard Foley opened up to us on how he keeps his cool under pressure, and it’s great advice for budding young goal-kickers.
“It’s living in the moment, don’t think it about too much, don’t get overwhelmed by the consequences or outcomes,” Foley said.
“Just back what you’ve done, if you have 100 per cent confidence in your preparation then there’s nothing to fear.
“You don’t want to fear failure or think of the worst, flip it and think of the positives that can come from it.”
VICTORIAN KICKS ON IN RUGBY
The Australian under 20s have a giant in their midst - and it is no small part due to the fact Sherrins are bloody difficult to kick straight.
Victorian monster Vaauli Faamausili has emerged as the new Will Skelton this week as the Aussie under 20s have been playing in the Oceania tournament on the Gold Coast.
The Skelton comparisons are hard to avoid given Faamausili’s dimensions. He weighs a whopping 145kg and stands two metres tall.
Raised in Melbourne, Faamausili played a bit of league and even tried the state religion - AFL.
But after switching from the ruck to full-foward, the big man discovered kicking straight was harder than it looked.
When a mate in the Rebels’ under 20s squad told him about a rugby trial last year, Faamausili turned up and was quickly snapped up.
Australian under 20s coach Simon Cron will name his team on Friday to play New Zealand on Saturday at Bond University. The game will be live streamed on rugby.com.au.
HELPING HARDING
OUR thoughts are with the Australian Police Rugby Union community after one of their players - Paddy Harding - was seriously injured in a fall while on tour in New Zealand last week.
Harding, a backrower and AFP member from Canberra, fell from a wall in Dunedin and suffered a serious head injury. He helped the APRU beat the NZ South Island police at Forsyth Barr Stadium the day before.
Harding’s wife Carly was flown over to be by his side in hospital, where he remains in a coma.
The good guys at Dunedin Police Rugby Club opened a page to raise money for the Harding family to be in New Zealand. If you’d like to give, search for “The Harding Family” on www.givealittle.co.nz. The APRU are also planning a fundraising push.
MUCH NEEDED FUNDS
WHILE we’re on good causes, there is a fundraiser to pay for a study looking at potential solutions to prevent depression among recently retired athletes, following the death of Dan Vickerman.
The Rotary Club of Bowral Mittagong of which Vickerman’s father, Les, is a member, has launched the appeal.
They need to raise $40,000 for a three-year research grant at Sydney University.
All donations are tax deductible, visit danvickermanresearch.gofundraise.com.au
SEVENS HEAVEN
The ARU released the dates for the national women’s Uni 7s competition this week, which will be a four-round series starting in Tasmania in late August and finish up on the Gold Coast in late September.
In between will be a tournament at Macquarie Uni in Sydney and at UQ in Brisbane, and gold-medal winning stars like Charlotte Caslick, Shannon Parry, Sharni Williams, Emilee Cherry, Alicia Quirk, Chloe Dalton and Evania Pelite will be spread among the eight uni teams.
The University of New England team held trials and over 100 girls attended, some driving two hours to get there.
Round 1 - University of Tasmania Stadium, Launceston, 25-26 August
Round 2 - Macquarie University fields, Sydney, 9-10 September
Round 3 - University of Queensland fields, Brisbane, 16-17 September
Round 4 - Bond University fields, Gold Coast, 29-30 September.
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