Former Wallaby Greg Martin has taken an absolutely breathtaking spray at troubled young Rugby Union star James O’Connor, who just yesterday was released early from his contract with the Queensland Reds due to “personal matters.”
There has been tension simmering between the pair for a few weeks, starting with Martin criticised Quade Cooper‘s performance in the Rugby World Cup. O’Connor responded by defending his mate and reminding Martin of one of his own poor performances.
Martin had apparently been asked by management at the Queensland Reds to avoid hitting back at the youngster, but now O’Connor has been released from his contract, the gloves are off.
In an interview with Triple M this morning, Martin unloaded, lamenting O’Connor’s wasted potential, and branding him an “immature little twat” and “the Justin Bieber of Australian rugby.”
He told the Marto & Ed Kavalee For Breakfast team that, when O’Connor was younger, he would “mess around” with mates Cooper and Kurtley Beale, but they “grew out of it”, whereas he did not.
Martin ranted:
“He’s an immature little twat. Anyone can mature, that showed me – apart from the Justin Bieber of Australian rugby, James O’Connor. He’s still only 25. This could be the greatest waste of Australian rugby talent. He’s played 44 Tests for Australia at the age of 25, hasn’t played in the last few years because of his bad attitude, a guy that just hasn’t matured and now they’re going ‘personal issues’.”“I’ll tell you what the personal issues are: he came back to Australia from France just saying, ‘Oh, I’ll make the Wallabies.’ He didn’t make the Wallabies and, now he’s gone to the Reds despite owing them another year on his contract, he’s gone, ‘Stuff you, I’ll go back to the fairytale land of French rugby and make plenty of money.’”“Get stuffed! [The Reds] certainly don’t need him. Can you imagine the Reds? They will be so happy. Remember that game this year when he came of the field arguing with the great All Black Adam Thomson, his teammate, at half-time?”“That picture should have said it all: a little young punk with one of the greats of the modern game Adam Thomson having an argument on the field in front of the world as they went into the tunnel. That says it all. Who does he think he is?”“Well done, James. It’s been a pleasure.”
Poor O’Connor had a shocker then a heated exchange with big Adam Thomsom! http://t.co/ruRclq4pPb #REDvSHA #SuperRugby pic.twitter.com/CjjY3q6uRh
— RugbySupporters Club (@RSCcom) May 23, 2015
James O’Connor has not yet responded to Martin’s harsh criticism.
via News Corp
Photo: Steve Bardens via Getty Images
Photo: Steve Bardens via Getty Images
