RODDA LOCKS IN A REDS EXTENSION

GIANT Wallabies lock Izack Rodda has knocked back a late poaching bid from the NSW Waratahs to re-sign with the Queensland Reds because he judged Brad Thorn as the best forwards boss to develop under.

Rodda, 22, has inked a new two-year deal to the end of 2020 which builds on the momentum of contract commitments from key forwards Lukhan Tui, Caleb Timu and Angus Scott-Young.

The 10-Test figure is a key cog in Wallabies planning, not just for next year’s World Cup but beyond which reflects in the top-up component to his contract from Rugby Australia.

He lifted his form against South Africa last weekend, starting with a key early lineout steal, which suggests he’s ready for another challenging physical battle against the Argentinian pack at Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast on Saturday night.

A meeting with Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson while in Sydney last month for the Bledisloe Cup Test and feelers from the Melbourne Rebels were potential curveballs in contracting which the Reds did not see coming.

Rodda is from Evans Head in northern NSW and follows the Blues at State of Origin time even though all his rugby opportunities have come in Brisbane.

“I like the feeling of Sydney and Melbourne but I couldn’t bring myself to leave Queensland which is where I got my first crack in rugby and where home is for me in rugby,” Rodda said.

“That’s where my heart is and where I see my best opportunity to keep developing under Thorny.

“I wanted to stay in the role of lineout leader which I have at the Reds and there are other guys in that role with the Waratahs (Rob Simmons) and the Rebels (Adam Coleman).”

His first contract treat may be an upgrade on his 10-year-old Toyota Camry which has slogged through 295,000km getting him between training, home, family visits and games. WALLABIES assistant coach Stephen Larkham vows the side won’t allow the many “distractions” of the Glitter Strip to steal their focus from back-toback wins.

The team are staying close to the heart of tourism and nightlife hub Surfers Paradise but only plan to indulge in golf and beach downtime ahead of this weekend’s clash with Argentina on the Gold Coast.

The Wallabies posted their first win of the Rugby Championship with a nailbiting 23-18 victory over the Springboks in Brisbane last weekend.

Larkham told the Bulletin yesterday the challenge now was to keep it rolling at Robina’s Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday night.

The team have a rest day today and Larkham said while there were plenty of distractions on the Gold Coast he hadn’t had to pull the players into line – “yet”.

“The hotel we’re staying at is right in the middle of Surfers and there is a lot to do there, plenty of distractions away from what we need to be focusing on,” he said.

“I think a few of the guys will want to get out and play a bit of golf. There are some good golf courses around here.

“There are plenty of attractions and a beautiful, long beach. It’s not so much a distraction but good for the boys to get away on their day off.

“They just have to make sure they are conscious of the game this weekend ... these guys are starting to play some good footy. It’s not about completely getting way from rugby but making sure your preparation is right coming into the game.”

For Wallabies back Dane Haylett-Penny, spending last week at Sanctuary Cove had been the perfect preparation for the Springboks victory.

“It’s a pretty good set-up there, with the facilities and the field. A good week’s prep showed in the performance and win,” Haylett-Penny said.

“We have been enjoying it, the weather and beach, but the boys are pretty focused on trying to go back to back this week and getting some consistency.

“(Today) is a little bit of rest after big day (yesterday), we might get to the beach or something.”

Larkham said the win over the Springboks had been very important for team morale after the two consecutive losses to the All Blacks.

“We copped it a fair bit. There have been some personal attacks on players and coaches in the media,” Larkham said.

“We put a fair bit into those two Bledisloes (against the All Blacks), I thought our preparation was spot on for the second one, but the game got away from us in the second half. We had a week off after that.”