Queensland Country Rugby rep furore: President Rod Hohn fires back at NQ ‘minority’

Eight players absent from trials will represent the Queensland Country Heelers at the Australian Rugby Shield on special dispensation, despite QCRU by-laws ruling selections could not be based on historical performance alone.

Hohn said he had heard the frustrations of what he described as an outspoken “minority,” but added that QCRU was open to feedback and would consider introducing changes to strengthen the pathway, including greater transparency around selections and cost-cutting measures for trial attendees.

“We would like people in Townsville, Cairns and Mt Isa to remain with the program, remain with the idea that you can still make the Queensland Country team,” Hohn said.

“The pathway is strong. The pathway is clear. I want to make sure people have the faith and stick with it.

“There is definitely an opportunity for improvement to be better communicators to the sub-unions to ensure they all understand the competition rules and that they all can ask questions and share that with their players.

“There is an opportunity for improvement, definitely, but honestly the pathway is strong. It’s been endorsedby the QRU and other people in NQ, just not the minority that seem to have spoken out.”

‘NO PRE-SELECTIONS’

Hohn rejected accusations that players at the Queensland Country Championships were denied an opportunity to make the team over preselected players.

Hohn argued the Union had successfully delivered a level playing field for selection despite outcry from the north.

“We did not preconceive teams prior to the Queensland Country Championships,” Hohn said.

“Selectors went to the championships with a clean sheet of paper, knowing that there were players who were unavailable at the trials but who had featured in our pathway.

“There were rumours (about preselected players) but when we went back to investigate, the coaches had a clean sheet of paper and they started from scratch.

“We sent selectors to the NQ, SQ and CQ muster days so our coaches knew who was coming through the system - but we did not pre-select.

“There were eight players who were not present at the trials but they all participated in what we consider the pathway.

“There’s no ulterior motives here, we just want the right players playing for Queensland Country and the ones that are skilled enough to play as well.”

The QCRU’s selection policy – which is publicly available on their website – states that: “Historical performances … cannot be the sole reason why an individual is selected to represent QCRU.

“Performance on the day … is the best judge of an athlete and the only way to be selected for higher representative honours.”

According to section 2.3, players “must be available for the duration of the QCRU Championships in Rockhampton or through case-by-case exception to the QCRU President / Board.”

Eight players from the 25-strong squad received special dispensation for selection.

WIN AT ALL COSTS

Local players accused selectors of employing a win-at-all-costs mentality at the expense of long-term development.

Hohn said a high-performance mindset was necessary to compete against rival unions, and that success at the Australian Rugby Shield remained the key indicator for the health of country rugby.

“We’ve got to take the cream of the crop because you’re coming up against players from other states who are in professional programs where they have players in their regional competitions in programs that are supported by either Rugby Australia or Rugby Western Australia or Super Rugby franchises that exist in that area,” he said.

“Performance is what we are focusing on and we have to make sure we are lifting the standard of Country rugby to do that. That takes time, and resources, so we’re working on that.

“We are open to looking at other options for what could be a better outcome for Country rugby, but this format was voted on in 2021 at a presidents’ meeting and based on a three year plan.

“It is just a matter of whether we stick with this process or go to another, revised format.

“We are going through a change management process where we will consider all the risks and opportunities, and it’s got to best for Country Queensland - not just one part of Queensland.”

ALL ABOUT THE MONEY

North Queenslanders paid between $700 and $1000 for the opportunity to trial for the Queensland Country team, with further costs to follow if selected to represent the region on the national stage.

Hohn denied that players had been taken for a ride by trialling for jerseys that had already been awarded to others and insisted triallists had received value for money by participating at the Queensland Country Rugby Championships.

“The money doesn’t go into bankrolling our program,” Hohn said.

“It doesn’t go into a bank account where we just tuck it away, it goes to Rockhampton, who hosted the championships and made literally no money out of it. The direct costs for player accommodation, flights, food and player kit, basically, and a small amount that will be given back to NQ and SQ once we finalise outgoings.

“The rest of the money will be invested in our Country programs for the September period so we can reduce the levy as far down as we can charge.

More Coverage

Eight players absent from trials

Nic Darveniza , Patrick Woods and Matthew McInerney

The Gamechangers: TDRU’s Top 14 performers of Round 17 revealed

Nic Darveniza

“We apply a rule over all of our programs to make sure that’s the most cost-effective possible. If we lived in a perfect world and had a significant amount of sponsorship and positivity out there we could definitely attract more sponsors to help reduce these costs.”

When asked how he would respond to players charged upwards of $1000 to participate in the pathway while others who did not trial were pay as little as $300, Hohn said it was QCRU policy that players with deep pockets would not be the only ones considered for selection and that cost should not be a barrier to entry for selection.

“In a perfect world no one would have to pay anything, but if they are getting $2000 of value and we can offset that cost, we will do so as much as possible.”

Originally published as Queensland Country Rugby rep furore: President Rod Hohn fires back at NQ ‘minority’