REDS CAPTAIN WILL Genia has back-flipped on a move to the Western Force and re-signed with his current club for another three years.
Queensland Rugby Union released a statement on Saturday confirming that Genia would leave the Reds at the end of the season but the star half-back stunningly changed his mind over the weekend.
The 24-year-old admitted he had ‘scary thoughts’ about playing for another club and the Reds’ win over the Blues on Friday night played a key part in his decision.
“I made my mind up, I changed my mind several times, but if I’m going to be honest the reason I’ve decided to stay is because after that game against the Blues,” Genia said on Monday morning.
“The feeling of satisfaction and pride in a good performance and that win was an amazing feeling because we all put so much work into building the group to where we want to be.
“It was just a scary thought to think that I may not feel that way about playing for another club. And singing the team song in the change rooms afterwards … to think I wouldn’t have that opportunity again next year was a scary thought.
“I’ve got too many good relationships here, I love the place, I wake up every morning looking forward to coming to training and that’s too hard to give away.”
Genia also admitted that the money offered by the Force was substantially more than his current deal, but was happy to knock it back in favour of staying with the Super Rugby champions.
“The main reason I wanted to stay was just the feeling of satisfaction I got after that game against the Blues,” Genia told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“And just the scary thought of not feeling that way after a game playing for another club. That was when I knew that I couldn’t leave.”
“It isn’t about money, it’s about being happy,”
The stunning back-flip comes just two days after Queensland Rugby CEO Jim Carmichael thanked Genia for his time with the Reds. Today, coach, Ewen McKenzie was pleased with the change of heart: “I’ve always said in rugby, ‘Never say never’ and sure enough yesterday, late yesterday afternoon, things change.”
“You’ve got to enjoy going to work, and having known quantities around you – friends, teammates – that total environment is quite important,” McKenzie added.
“There’s no doubt that Will staying … hopefully that will have a flow on effect. But we don’t actually have that many guys left to sign.”
