Genia to the Force?

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-04-28/genia-agrees-terms-with-force/3978174

Seems that Will Genia is going to leave the Reds to join the Force next season. What are people's views on this? Particularly those who watch a lot of Super XV. From what I've seen this season he's looked a bit lost without Cooper outside him and has seemed a bit off the form he showed last year. It seems odd that he'd leave the Reds when he and Cooper work so well together for both them and Aus.

Any thoughts on the reasoning for the move?

Silly decision as the force aren't looking to clever at the minute and the reds team is built around him. I suppose the force ate desperate to add some flair to their backline.

He looked back to his old self yesterday so, can not see why he's leaving. Maybe Cooper is off?

Cooper is there until end of next year Yappy, but fair chance he will be gone the year after that. Maybe league, overseas, or the Rebels as he's best mates with JOC and Beale.

With Genia, we operate a salary cap and with a fair bit more talent at the Reds than the Force there’s a fair chance the gap in offers was significant. This is the most likely reason.

Genia is close mates with Pocock who would now be odds on to stay with the Force, so a double win for them. Genia and Pocock are probably not as naturally talented as JOC, Beale and Cooper, but they are natural leaders so good boys to build a team around.

Link McKenzie is also stepping aside as Head Coach of the Reds next year for Richard Graham. That change may have influenced Genia, however there hasn't been an announcement on who will coach the Force next year. Genia signing makes me think they must have someone lined up, but not ready to announce it. I can’t see Genia signing without some idea of who would be in place.

The best news in this is it will likely keep Pocock at the Force. If he left, the Force would have struggled for years to overcome the loss.

Yeah it's been confirmed. Reds game revolves around their halfbacks, so that's even worse news for them.

I can't keep up with the workings of the ARU....this signing makes no sense to the player, unless as boomeranga says, they have a replacement lined up already.

If the coach coming in isn't top notch then this is a waste of time for Genia

Genia wanted more money, under the salary cap i'm guessing the Reds couldn't offer him any more considering they have Cooper, Horwill etc...

Looks like Genia's changed his mind:

http://www.redsrugby.com.au/NewsEvents/NewsArticles/tabid/581/ArticleID/6289/Default.aspx

Someone's had a little word in his ear then and maybe the Reds have 'found' a bit more cash for him.

Don't think that the move would have been a good idea, but would have been interesting to see him play without Cooper. Think that they are both half the player without each other, so good to get them developing independantly.

Bathite wrote:Someone's had a little word in his ear then and maybe the Reds have 'found' a bit more cash for him.

Don't think that the move would have been a good idea, but would have been interesting to see him play without Cooper. Think that they are both half the player without each other, so good to get them developing independantly.

Sounds like more than a few words in his ear. $Aus 600k at the Force is ~£400k, big bikkies for anyone outside of France & Japan.
https://www.606v2.com/t28370-genia-to-the-force#1175543