Rocky

Hamo

Has anyone heard/have any updates on Rocky Elsom, is he staying with Leinster or going back to Aus?

NickNolte

Odds are he'll go back to Aussieland as he still has his international career to think of. Bloody shame though. Only one season and he's already one of the best players Leinster have ever had.

storinius

I also heard that he is heading to Oz. What a player, and you have to respect that he is moving for his international career, and not money.

[Jackass]

Cheika is quoted as saying he is "very confident" of Rocky staying but that negotiations wont open until the season is over. He was also quoted as using the exact same phrase "very confident" about Felipe Contepomi staying, so it means nothing really, we'll have to see how it goes.

Rocky has done podcasts and interviews I've read and listened to and it seems his burning desire is to play for his conutry. You can't take that away from the guy and if anything it has to be admired.

He also has said that he is amazed by how much he's loved his time at Leinster so far and he really likes it here.

My head says he wont stay for next season, my heart begs him too.

You just don't know though. The guy is so good that we're actually 2 different teams with and without him. I REALLY hope he stays.

Gelio

I was sure he is staying, but maybe im wrong, hope not though:(

NickNolte

[Jackass] wrote: »

I REALLY hope he stays.

Me too. I reckon we should have been playing the chorus of this after his last few home tries in the RDS.

Chucky the tree

I'd be tempted to buy his plane ticket for him just to make sure he leaves.

sm.org

Its not like he needs to be playing in Oz for 2 yrs before the WC to be in the national squad. The guy could turn up 5 mins before the first pool game and they'd still have to pick him.

NickNolte

Chucky the tree wrote: »

I'd be tempted to buy his plane ticket for him just to make sure he leaves.

If he stays, I'll buy season tickets for my whole family. That'll pay for him to head back at the end of next season and a return flight when he's done with his international duties. :P

anonymous_joe

I think losing Rocky and Felipe would be worse than most of my break ups put together.

It could be a grim summer...

But seriously, whatever Rocky does, he's a hero in Leinster.

Andwhitey

No offence to Leinster but why the hell is he still here .
There is way more for him in Australia and in the long run he would be more happy.And I'm not saying he is not prospering in Leinster or not happy, I just think it would be better for himself to prosper in Australia .

anonymous_joe

Andwhitey wrote: »

No offence to Leinster but why the hell is he still here .
There is way more for him in Australia and in the long run he would be more happy.And I'm not saying he is not prospering in Leinster or not happy, I just think it would be better for himself to prosper in Australia .

Different experience, pays more in the short term, in the long term makes the ARU pay him more to keep him happy.

Broadens rugby experience, different quality of life, why is every barman in London an Aussie? Cos they want to see the other side of the world.

Barrel load of reasons for ya.

Course he could go back and play 13 weeks of Super Rugby a year. Only reason to go back is to play for Queensland if he can, and to play for Australia.

aussiegirl1

sorry to say but just found this:

'PLENTY in the know wanting to tip Rocky Elsom will be a Red next year.' from http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,25456668-5016380,00.html

Mark Oberhardt is renown for not putting thing in print that isn't 99% true.

If Rocky is anything like me he's missing warmth and real sunshine !!!

awhir

what team do u mean by red ?

Crash

Someone mentioned that when he appeared in Kielys post game the impression they got was he was pushing the ARU to try and get a dispensation to play abroad, but if he can't he can't and he'll definitely be going home.

anonymous_joe

awhir wrote: »

what team do u mean by red ?

Queensland Reds. Shít team but his home team.

phog

[Jackass] wrote: »

Cheika is quoted as saying he is "very confident" of Rocky staying but that negotiations wont open until the season is over. He was also quoted as using the exact same phrase "very confident" about Felipe Contepomi staying, so it means nothing really, we'll have to see how it goes.

If Cheika waits til the end of season to open negotiations and Rocky leaves that doesn't give Leinster much chance of getting a suitable replacement, you'd imagine a lot of clubs would be finalising their singings for next year at this stage.

Andwhitey wrote: »

No offence to Leinster but why the hell is he still here .
There is way more for him in Australia and in the long run he would be more happy.And I'm not saying he is not prospering in Leinster or not happy, I just think it would be better for himself to prosper in Australia .

He was released from his contract by the Aussies for a year to allow him make a few bob that he needed due to personal circumstances.

A fine player he was for Leinster and will be missed if he does decide to return.

Junior

I'm sure this topic has come up before, and I'm 99.9% sure I've read that Rocky hadn't signed the paperwork to say he'd return after his year sabbatical from the ARU, the deal with the ARU had dragged on so long that they just released him and took him on his word.

Now maybe I'm just being cynical but I reckon he's in a good position to set two sides into a bidding war if he wants too..

I'll try dig out a link to confirm that, but I'm fairly sure on it.

remus808

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Queensland Reds. Shít team but his home team.

The 'Tahs are Rocky's home team.

anonymous_joe

karmabass wrote: »

The 'Tahs are Rocky's home team.

Rocky's a Queensland boy though. Went to Nudgee with Warwick and was taught there by McGahan. The Tahs were his first S14 team though.

2040

awhir wrote: »

what team do u mean by red ?

phog

Junior wrote: »

I'm sure this topic has come up before, and I'm 99.9% sure I've read that Rocky hadn't signed the paperwork to say he'd return after his year sabbatical from the ARU, the deal with the ARU had dragged on so long that they just released him and took him on his word.

Now maybe I'm just being cynical but I reckon he's in a good position to set two sides into a bidding war if he wants too..

I'll try dig out a link to confirm that, but I'm fairly sure on it.

I read that too but if he wants to return to play for the national team he can hardly tell them to stuff it for another year, contract or no contract, can he?

Micky Dolenz

Rocky is a man amongst men, nearly every time in goes into contact, he gains ground.
If he is with the NH club champions come the end of the month,that will be a huge factor on him staying, it will also draw big other big names to the province.

[Jackass]

2040 wrote: »

One can always dream I suppose. :pac:

suppafly

He's a savage alright. Has pretty much carried the whole team in a good number of leinster matches this season.

nacho libre

He must be a tough nut when he was able to retailate after being head-butted in a match

Andwhitey

Andwhitey wrote: »

No offence to Leinster but why the hell is he still here .
There is way more for him in Australia and in the long run he would be more happy.And I'm not saying he is not prospering in Leinster or not happy, I just think it would be better for himself to prosper in Australia .

He is here because we pay him 2 or 3 times more than he would earn at any club in Australia.
Thats a good enough reason for most people.

thebossanova

NickNolte wrote: »

Me too. I reckon we should have been playing the chorus of this after his last few home tries in the RDS.

Was hoping for this one instead of the one you posted...

Australia will be pissed if he doesn't go home. And I mean all of them!

Junior

phog wrote: »

I read that too but if he wants to return to play for the national team he can hardly tell them to stuff it for another year, contract or no contract, can he?

No but I don't think if he's coining it, he's going to be rushing back straight away. He's in the advantageous position of having a 'big' contract coupled with playing well, he could hang on here get more coin for another year and still saunter back into the ARU setup and National team before the WC*, I presume the WC is the main draw back for these guys not the Tri Nations ?

* this assume he stays fit etc

Paulw

From what I know, Leinster are still in negotiations with Rocky about keeping him here. They're fairly confident he will actually stay. He's playing brilliantly and he's enjoying his rugby here.

Time will tell though.

pucan

sm.org wrote: »

Its not like he needs to be playing in Oz for 2 yrs before the WC to be in the national squad. The guy could turn up 5 mins before the first pool game and they'd still have to pick him.

Deans has said repeatedly that anyone who wants to be considered needs to be playing super 14 next season

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Only reason to go back is to play for Queensland if he can, and to play for Australia.

Do you know something no-one else does?

awhir wrote: »

what team do u mean by red ?

Queensland

pucan

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Queensland Reds. Shít team but his home team.

Not ****, rebuilding. Their captain is 21.
Give em 2/3 years and they'll come good.

Diamondmaker

Every bit of press I have read over here indicates that they believe he will come back.

I have never heard him being associated with the Reds ?:eek:
International footy aside why in the hell would he leave H Cup finalists to come back to the Reds, born and raised in Brizzy aside ?!?!?He has been associated with a return to the 'Tahs but I have not heard any Reds rumblings.

Further info that I heard from an ARU interview was that he got involved in a property deal that went tits up, that was why he needed to go abroad and must of been in a lot of strife to get said dispenastion.

The same interview also revealed that an administrative error meant that he never actually signed the agreement, insisting that he must come home after 1 year.
I heard all this from an ARU rep on radio sports news and am pretty confident it is fact.

Having said all this, he is definitley in a position to play one more season at Leinster, name his price to go home next year and still claim his world cup shirt.

I even believe that the same interview mentioned the "Carter scenario" and this will not be ruled out just yet either.

Its all up in the air I reckon, but he will command a great wage fromLeinster next season, undoubtedly far greater and considering the euro, than he will get back here.

Man Id love to stroll across the road and watch him for the Reds but I would prefer him at Leinster, no brainer for me.

anonymous_joe

pucan wrote: »

Not ****, rebuilding. Their captain is 21.
Give em 2/3 years and they'll come good.

Well...

It's Super 14. Team's rise and fall very fast.

Right now not great, but obviously Rocky would be a marquee signing and would attract others.

Chucky the tree

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

If he is with the NH club champions come the end of the month,that will be a huge factor on him staying, it will also draw big other big names to the province.

I think it will be the opposite. If Leinster win the HEC cup then he'll feel he's done all he's wanted to do and wont need to stay on. Hmmmm, maybe I should support Leinster after all...

fifth

I'd love if he stayed another season at least here at Leinster.

Side note - Apparently he's on Ireland A.M tomorrow morning on TV3.. So I heard, haven't seen any ads myself,

Have Sky+ box set to record it.

aussiegirl1

Diamond maker - learn a thing or two before you post - you can take the boy from from the country but not the country from the boy - Rocky and his family AND friends are in Brissie - he may not have played with them in a super 14/(soon to be 15 possibly 16) setting before but now that the ARU have introduced 'commercial' incentives which aren't capped it may be worth his while to go back to super 14 and the Queensland Reds.
as for the whole 'carter scenario' - rocky is fighting fit - excuse the pun - so you might want to jump off that soap box while you can - I hope there are cusions to break your fall - it seems like a long way down !

seriously though - in order to stay here, so long as Rocky has done what he came here to do(ie pay off some bad debts (investments) - it's a long way to stay for a few thousand $$ a year more than what you may possibly get at home where you would end up paying the $$ in an air fare home every year or two anyway !

from the info i'm getting from home (which is Brissie, fyi) leinster fans can say bye bye. which is a disapointment to them but gives Rocky more leverage in the ARU when his mangement are negotiating his fees etc.

Diamondmaker

aussiegirl1 wrote: »

Diamond maker - learn a thing or two before you post - you can take the boy from from the country but not the country from the boy - Rocky and his family AND friends are in Brissie - he may not have played with them in a super 14/(soon to be 15 possibly 16) setting before but now that the ARU have introduced 'commercial' incentives which aren't capped it may be worth his while to go back to super 14 and the Queensland Reds.
as for the whole 'carter scenario' - rocky is fighting fit - excuse the pun - so you might want to jump off that soap box while you can - I hope there are cusions to break your fall - it seems like a long way down !

seriously though - in order to stay here, so long as Rocky has done what he came here to do(ie pay off some bad debts (investments) - it's a long way to stay for a few thousand $$ a year more than what you may possibly get at home where you would end up paying the $$ in an air fare home every year or two anyway !

from the info i'm getting from home (which is Brissie, fyi) leinster fans can say bye bye. which is a disapointment to them but gives Rocky more leverage in the ARU when his mangement are negotiating his fees etc.

You have agreed with everything I said. You have misinterpreted the Carter scenario for I dont know what. I meant he may be able to stay abroad and still line out for his country. Has nothng to do with injury.

I said "Born and Bred in Brizzy aside"; acknowledging the personal factor, I mentioned bad debts, I said I believe he is likely to go home.

I really dont follow what you are on about. No Nigh Horse just mentioning everything I heard on a radio interview with ARU as I stated.

You odd fish......

anonymous_joe

pucan wrote: »

Do you know something no-one else does?

Only noticed this now, sorry.

It was mentioned in an Aussie paper (saw it online) that he was rumoured to be in negotiations to play for the Reds. They were meant to be his first choice.

Diamondmaker wrote: »

Every bit of press I have read over here indicates that they believe he will come back.

I have never heard him being associated with the Reds ?:eek:
International footy aside why in the hell would he leave H Cup finalists to come back to the Reds, born and raised in Brizzy aside ?!?!?He has been associated with a return to the 'Tahs but I have not heard any Reds rumblings.

Further info that I heard from an ARU interview was that he got involved in a property deal that went tits up, that was why he needed to go abroad and must of been in a lot of strife to get said dispenastion.

The same interview also revealed that an administrative error meant that he never actually signed the agreement, insisting that he must come home after 1 year.
I heard all this from an ARU rep on radio sports news and am pretty confident it is fact.

Having said all this, he is definitley in a position to play one more season at Leinster, name his price to go home next year and still claim his world cup shirt.

I even believe that the same interview mentioned the "Carter scenario" and this will not be ruled out just yet either.

Its all up in the air I reckon, but he will command a great wage fromLeinster next season, undoubtedly far greater and considering the euro, than he will get back here.

Man Id love to stroll across the road and watch him for the Reds but I would prefer him at Leinster, no brainer for me.

Saw an Aussie article saying it was the Reds he wanted to play for. No idea of how reliable it was. But being a Queenslander it's not entirely unbelievable.

irishbucsfan

I heard (probably a load of bollocks) that Elsom was bring urged to press the ARU on the legality of refusing to play foreign-based players. I think it comes down to the fact that Deans actually said that he wasn't players selecting players from outside the Super 14 because of the fact they're playing overseas, as opposed to on merit.

Still hoping he'll stay. I saw him in Kiely's (on that very special night!) and asked him what the story was and he just smiled and said we'll see. Maybe he was just being nice though.

irishbucsfan

irishbucsfan wrote: »

I heard (probably a load of bollocks) that Elsom was bring urged to press the ARU on the legality of refusing to play foreign-based players. I think it comes down to the fact that Deans actually said that he wasn't players from outside the Super 14 because of the fact they're playing overseas, as opposed to on merit.

Still hoping he'll stay. I saw him in Kiely's (on that very special night!) and asked him what the story was and he just smiled and said we'll see. Maybe he was just being nice though.

English?

irishbucsfan

Ivan Curved Mimicry wrote: »

English?

its late :P

Phrio

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3555_5152914,00.html

This is the link to the story that it all broke down with ARU

Rocky is planning on staying in Europe (or at lesat posturing to at present) according to a lot of bits I read. He is also planning on not playing for Austrailia even though they said they would like him to in this years tri nations.

Two things I think havent been mentioned so far is the fact that if he does stay in Europe it still may not be with Leinster as every club in France and England will have offers on the table for him if he decides to have a second year away from his home land.

And the second one is that all this talk of him staying could very well be just to get a offer he deserves from ARU.

I hope not though as the man has been the embodiment of on field leadership by example this year for Leinster and the difference for so many games.
Either way already a LEINSTER LEGEND!!

Diamondmaker

Phrio wrote: »

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3555_5152914,00.html



Two things I think havent been mentioned so far is the fact that if he does stay in Europe it still may not be with Leinster as every club in France and England will have offers on the table for him if he decides to have a second year away from his home land.

QUOTE]

Very true ! Hopefully with a H Cup Leinster will be able to out bid any one else, or at least convince him to stay on basis of a good wage, but at a place he likes, with Euro Champs ! < fingers frimly crossed >

NotWormBoy

Phrio wrote: »

Either way already a LEINSTER LEGEND!!

Ah here, lets not get carried away. Fantastic player, probably player of the season, but legend? If he was here a few years maybe...

zAbbo

Rocky while having an outstanding season and has certainly proved more than an appetite for the game once he landed - is a mercenary.

Saying otherwise, and calling him a legend is misguided romanticism.

Rocky has stated his priority was playing test match rugby (from the ruggamatrix interview) - he has made no bones about this, and will decide his future after the season.

He has also signed up to play with the Baa-Baa's in their two tests against Aus, with the later being in Australia, which fits nicely with raising more discussion with the ARU.

While essentially being a mercenary, he owes nothing to the Leinster branch, and I'd imagine the possibly of getting a generous 1 year deal from either LB the numerous french clubs, or a favourable deal from the ARU which allows him to play in Europe while returning to play test rugby for them adds to his negotiating power.

I've read and listened to people talk about factors like a new way of life, sampling different cultures etc. lead foreign players to coming here, but the package a team proposes main persuasion is money!

The prospect of winning silverware is invariably high for ambitious players, but money is the deciding factor - ask any of the recent imports Van De Linde, Elsom, Howlett etc.

I hope he stays, he's a fantastic player - but I'd be far more excited about the prospect of someone like Sean O'Brien breaking through.

If Irish teams are to supplement their squads with imports, I guess top quality players are preferable to journey men - but I think it's more a necessity to spectators who want to be entertained over supporters who love their team regardless.

anonymous_joe

NotWormBoy wrote: »

Ah here, lets not get carried away. Fantastic player, probably player of the season, but legend? If he was here a few years maybe...

I dunno...

He's not going to usurp BOD or Contepomi in our hearts but he's done so much in one year, and so many man of the matches.

'Ah remember the season when Elsom got man of the match every game? Legend.' Not too unbelievable. :pac:

zAbbo wrote: »

Rocky while having an outstanding season and has certainly proved more than an appetite for the game once he landed - is a mercenary.

Saying otherwise, and calling him a legend is misguided romanticism.

Rocky has stated his priority was playing test match rugby (from the ruggamatrix interview) - he has made no bones about this, and will decide his future after the season.

He has also signed up to play with the Baa-Baa's in their two tests against Aus, with the later being in Australia, which fits nicely with raising more discussion with the ARU.

While essentially being a mercenary, he owes nothing to the Leinster branch, and I'd imagine the possibly of getting a generous 1 year deal from either LB the numerous french clubs, or a favourable deal from the ARU which allows him to play in Europe while returning to play test rugby for them adds to his negotiating power.

I've read and listened to people talk about factors like a new way of life, sampling different cultures etc. lead foreign players to coming here, but the package a team proposes main persuasion is money!

The prospect of winning silverware is invariably high for ambitious players, but money is the deciding factor - ask any of the recent imports Van De Linde, Elsom, Howlett etc.

I hope he stays, he's a fantastic player - but I'd be far more excited about the prospect of someone like Sean O'Brien breaking through.

If Irish teams are to supplement their squads with imports, I guess top quality players are preferable to journey men - but I think it's more a necessity to spectators who want to be entertained over supporters who love their team regardless.

All pro sports players are mercenaries or none are.

He's a bloke doing a job whose doing it somewhere where he's offered more money. I want to be a lawyer when I'm finished with college. Of course I'll do pro bono work, etc, but I also want to make a living. We always lose sight of the fact that this is the guy's job.

The ambition of proving yourself in a different competition is definitely attractive for players. Super 14s is not much of a competition for the fans, 13 games and maybe 2 more if you get to the semi's... Where's the passion and excitement of home and away games, etc? Of a long season?

There are attractions to both, and I think if the ARU lost Elsom it would be an appallingly stupid decision on their part. Rugby though, is very conservative, you only need to look at guys like Trevor Brennan, Geordan Murphy, etc and the reduced impact their international careers had because they played abroad.

NotWormBoy

anonymous_joe wrote: »

I dunno...

He's not going to usurp BOD or Contepomi in our hearts but he's done so much in one year, and so many man of the matches.

'Ah remember the season when Elsom got man of the match every game? Legend.' Not too unbelievable. :pac:

I see your point alright - he has been incredible this year - and that's a massive achievement to get as many MOM's as he has. But I just think that 'legend' is bandied about a fair bit more often than is deserved (not necessarily by the person who used it here, by the way). For me, you have to be at a club for at least a few years to be called a club legend.

Though I'd agree with you that you could call his achievement this year legendary. Individual game/season achievements can be legendary, but I wouldn't call the player who pulls it off as a club legend. Still, could be just semantics. :-)

Though this is probably be a bit OT, so I'll leave it.

anonymous_joe

NotWormBoy wrote: »

I see your point alright - he has been incredible this year - and that's a massive achievement to get as many MOM's as he has. But I just think that 'legend' is bandied about a fair bit more often than is deserved (not necessarily by the person who used it here, by the way). For me, you have to be at a club for at least a few years to be called a club legend.

Though I'd agree with you that you could call his achievement this year legendary. Individual game/season achievements can be legendary, but I wouldn't call the player who pulls it off as a club legend. Still, could be just semantics. :-)

Though this is probably be a bit OT, so I'll leave it.

There's no set criteria for being a legend. Some are, some aren't. Ollie Le Roux is someone I'd call a Leinster legend. Don't ask me why, he was just likeable, hardworking and determined.

justsomebloke

anonymous_joe wrote: »

There's no set criteria for being a legend. Some are, some aren't. Ollie Le Roux is someone I'd call a Leinster legend. Don't ask me why, he was just likeable, hardworking and determined.

agreed Ollie is a Leinster Legend mainly for the fact that his named fitted into all the chants so easily. That and for someone who was in his final season still gave it his all throughout the whole season and helped bring on some on the forwards rather then just taking the money and running. Also for the fact that he let himself be called up this season any time we were desperate (even if he shouldn't have been let near a pitch in that state he still did).

However do I think Rocky has the same status as Ollie as a Leinster Legend. No, cause although I think Rocky is a better player I don't think Leinster is his number one priority in it all

Gelio

Will people please stop assuming he wants to go home for family, friends etc.
We really don't know, as far as we know he had a fallout with the family and his friends hate him.
And I'm sure he has made plenty of friends in Leinster that he doesn't want to leave