CASTLE VOWS TO HAVE OPEN MIND
RAELENE Castle has vowed to keep her opinions to herself for the first two months of her tenure in charge of Rugby Australia as she navigates the tumultuous political landscape.
The incoming chief executive is aware states are battling the governing body over various issues but will abide by her principle to enter every new job with an open mind and ears.
“I have a philosophy when I start a new job; you should listen for the first six weeks and not have an opinion on anything, and when you think you might be ready, listen for another two weeks,” Castle said.
“That’s hard when you come into a role like this because people are looking for you to have a view and opinions on things, but I’ll be doing a lot more listening than talking over the next six or eight weeks.
“When you’ve got a sport where the states and franchises and national body aren’t all on the same page, it takes a lot of energy to be negative all the time, and throwing rocks at one another is not all that helpful.
“There are always going to be things you don’t agree on, but it’s what processes you put in place to make sure people have a chance to air those grievances.”
The battle between the states and Rugby Australia is old and tired as various factions posture for control and influence to the detriment of the code.
Yet even as the game teeters on the brink of financial implosion, the bickering continues.
“I will visit all of the states and make sure I give them some real time, not just at the administrative level,” Castle said.
Castle said she would have no firm position on Karmichael Hunt until drug charges against the Wallabies back are finalised.
But she conceded repeat offenders must be treated more harshly.
Hunt, 31, is due to appear in court on January 29 on drugs possession counts.