Post by happybadger on Apr 11, 2018 1:59:42 GMT
Whilst on the flight to Cape Town with Rochdale Raptors, I got a few moments to chat with the boss, Theo Kamis:
Q: What was the worst thing of the first round?
A: Besides my surname being butchered in the Power Rankings? (chuckles) The 22 points that we allowed wasn't what I wanted to see...but the 40 plus points that we scored was quite nice.
Q: How did you decide to trade Lachlan Fitzgibbon?
A: I talked to him before the deal was announced, and I told him the truth - the fact that another team wanted him, when I also wanted him, was a credit to the hard work and effort that he's put in over the years, and especially during our preseason. The query was unsolicited by Rochdale, and I was very clear about what I wanted, but Auckland, although not offering what I was looking for, what they did offer was too good to pass up.
Q: Jarrod Wallace was what they offered...
A: Yes, and I made clear to Fitzgibbon that I thought, in a few years, if he kept working, that he would have at least as good ratings as Wallace, and that if Auckland ever made him unhappy, if we could sign him back, we'd do so in a second.
Q: Did he believe you? After all, team managements 'round the world are well known for prevaricat...
A: Just call it lying...and when the majority owner signed the trade paperwork, the look in her eyes, yes, Lachlan started crying too, because she meant it, that look in her eyes, no matter how good an actress she was, at that moment, could not possibly have been faked.
Q: So you have doubts that you won the deal?
A: Define "won" - short term, we certainly did...long term, who knows, Lachlan could wind up being the greatest player in rugby history, or he could be a depth player...for that matter, Wallace could turn into a pumpkin at midnight...so who really knows?
Q: Last question - will you win in Cape Town?
A: If Rochdale executes perfectly, and Cape Town doesn't, we will win...if the opposite happens, Cape Town will...and if we do both execute perfectly, world peace will ensue for the duration of our game, as enemies will share some jaffa cakes and Marmite and shrimp crisps watching to see who wins...
Q: What was the worst thing of the first round?
A: Besides my surname being butchered in the Power Rankings? (chuckles) The 22 points that we allowed wasn't what I wanted to see...but the 40 plus points that we scored was quite nice.
Q: How did you decide to trade Lachlan Fitzgibbon?
A: I talked to him before the deal was announced, and I told him the truth - the fact that another team wanted him, when I also wanted him, was a credit to the hard work and effort that he's put in over the years, and especially during our preseason. The query was unsolicited by Rochdale, and I was very clear about what I wanted, but Auckland, although not offering what I was looking for, what they did offer was too good to pass up.
Q: Jarrod Wallace was what they offered...
A: Yes, and I made clear to Fitzgibbon that I thought, in a few years, if he kept working, that he would have at least as good ratings as Wallace, and that if Auckland ever made him unhappy, if we could sign him back, we'd do so in a second.
Q: Did he believe you? After all, team managements 'round the world are well known for prevaricat...
A: Just call it lying...and when the majority owner signed the trade paperwork, the look in her eyes, yes, Lachlan started crying too, because she meant it, that look in her eyes, no matter how good an actress she was, at that moment, could not possibly have been faked.
Q: So you have doubts that you won the deal?
A: Define "won" - short term, we certainly did...long term, who knows, Lachlan could wind up being the greatest player in rugby history, or he could be a depth player...for that matter, Wallace could turn into a pumpkin at midnight...so who really knows?
Q: Last question - will you win in Cape Town?
A: If Rochdale executes perfectly, and Cape Town doesn't, we will win...if the opposite happens, Cape Town will...and if we do both execute perfectly, world peace will ensue for the duration of our game, as enemies will share some jaffa cakes and Marmite and shrimp crisps watching to see who wins...
