James O’ Connor
James O’Connor’s willingness to shelve any special contract demands is the first sign that a new maturity at the Queensland Reds will replace his old spoiled kid persona.
There were reservations initially at Queensland Rugby Union board level that a player with O’Connor’s rap sheet of poor discipline was a bad fit for the Reds.
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The Reds on Friday night announced the signing of O’Connor, along with code-hopping superstar Karmichael Hunt for 2015.
Queensland Rugby Union chief executive Jim Carmichael was the big advocate for O’Connor after a series of face-to-face meetings in England and in Queensland over 10 months.
That O’Connor has been tonight unveiled on a two-year deal when no other Super Rugby club in the country wanted to touch him may prove a coup.
Reds coach Richard Graham wants to utilise O’Connor’s speed, footwork and roaming skills as a winger, a position where the Wallabies have a critical shortage of Test-toughened performers.
“I spent an inordinate amount of time trying to understand his psyche away from the football part and whether he’d do justice to this decision,” Carmichael said.
“To me, he has demonstrated how much he wants this.
“He has shown great maturity to come back on our terms and work hard to be a Wallaby.”
O’Connor, 24, has been sitting on a done deal with the Reds since May, contract news that News Limited revealed exclusively in June.
“There was some scepticism in our organisation at the start. There is risk to anything in life but I’m confident James will thrive in the environment at the Reds,” Carmichael said.
Beyond O’Connor and code convert Karmichael Hunt, the big signing announced tonight at the Reds Gala Ball is Kiwi-born Japanese Test No. 8 Henrik Tui.
He is no bigger than current No. 8 Jake Schatz at 1.90m and 110kg but has been recruited for the big ball-running that was so missing from the Reds’ lame season.
Bringing powerful Sunnybank backrower Lolo Fakaosilea, 19, into the Reds’ Extended Playing Squad is also aimed at developing more ball-carrying clout.
Brisbane Broncos Under-20s five-eighth Duncan Paia’aua, 19, has been snapped up while two influential signings are still being finalised.
Hunt has signed a three-year deal, a big statement that he wants to take this rugby journey all the way to the Wallabies.
“For me to come home and pull on that Reds jersey is going to be a huge honour,” O’Connor said.
“Obviously there’s a lot of hard work that needs to go into it and there’s a great culture in the team and one I just can’t wait to throw myself into.
“There’s some massive leaders in the team and some great youth coming through.
“I also think it is a place where I can be nurtured and really fulfil my potential in Australian rugby.”
Frontline Red Will Genia welcomed O’Connor’s arrival in January after a stint with French giants Toulon.
“I think we have the leadership capabilities here to help him work through any of those (off-field) issues,” Genia said.
“I think in his time away from Australia he has matured and grown as well.”
Carmichael said there was no issue of ill will between O’Connor and Reds coach Richard Graham, who was the Western Force boss when the player had an ugly split in mid-2011.
“Richard is a very pragmatic man. No issue,” Carmichael said.
ARU boss Bill Pulver also welcomed Hunt’s switch to rugby, along with O’Connor’s decision to return home.
“We’re delighted that an athlete of Karmichael’s calibre has chosen to play Rugby – a game he’s familiar with and a game that we’re confident will allow him to excite fans with his abilities on the field and profile off it,” Pulver said.
“We’ve seen Israel Folau adapt quickly to Rugby and we expect Karmichael to do the same.
“His immediate focus will be on gaining selection for the Queensland Reds, and we look forward to tracking his progress throughout next season and beyond.
“We are pleased James has made the decision to return to Rugby in Australia. He is a player who has a huge amount of potential on the field and I’m sure he’s excited about the opportunity being presented to him by the Queensland Reds.”
Big-hearted Reds utility back Ben Lucas is one regular face missing from the squad after terms could not be reached for a new deal.
REDS SQUAD FOR 2015
Backs: Lachie Turner, J-J Taulagi, James O’Connor, Chris Kuridrani, Karmichael Hunt, Ben Tapuai, Samu Kerevi, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Anthony Faingaa, Duncan Paia’aua, Will Genia, Nick Frisby, Quade Cooper.
Forwards: Hendrik Tui, Jake Schatz, Beau Robinson, Ed Quirk, Liam Gill, Lolo Fakaosilea (EPS), Curtis Browning, James Horwill, Rob Simmons, Ed O’Donoghue, Dave McDuling, Ben Daley, Greg Holmes, James Slipper, Saia Faingaa, Andrew Ready (EPS), James Hanson, (at least two fully-contracted players to be added)
Wallaby stalwart Will Genia believes code-convert Karmichael Hunt would be an “outstanding acquisition” for the rebuilding of the Queensland Reds.
The champion halfback was today still speculating with an “if he signs” proviso but that caveat is set to dissolve tonight when the 2015 Reds squad is formally announced.
More good news ahead of the Reds gala ball was today’s announcement that major sponsor St George Bank has renewed their partnership for a further three years.
The bank started as a sleeve sponsor in 2010 yet the partnership has gone from strength-to-strength since with the Reds’ trendsetting strength off the field.
“Karmichael is an unbelievable talent much like Israel (Folau) in that sense,” Genia said.
“He’s obviously renowned as a very professional athlete. With the squad that we’ve got, with a lot of young players, he’s going to set a very good example for those guys.
“I’ve never met him but as a little kid I enjoyed watching him play for the Brisbane Broncos.”
Hunt officially announced he was moving on from AFL’s Gold Coast Suns on Thursday.
Genia has been mending an ankle post-surgery. He forecast he’d be ready to make his comeback through the new Buildcorp National Rugby Championship on September 6.
A run for Brisbane City in the Round 3 clash against Melbourne at Ballymore is the target.
When asked if James O’Connor would be a good fit for Queensland after his track record of misdemeanours, Genia was happy to discuss the other big name set to be unveiled by the Reds tonight.
“I think we have got the leadership capabilities to work through those sort of (off-field) issues,” Genia said.
“In his time away from Australia he’s also matured and grown as well.
“Again, if he signs he’s an outstanding talent. He’s a great runner with the ball.”
Queensland Rugby Union chief executive Jim Carmichael is delighted with the St George Bank partnership continuing.
“St George Bank is wholeheartedly behind our vision to grow participation and visibility in Queensland rugby,” Carmichael said.
Initiatives like the popular St George Rookies2Reds programs have been expanded to include 230 centres through Queensland in 2014 to stir grassroots participation in rugby.