by GCU Mon Jun 20, 2011 10:43 am
Brad Smith's mom is English but his Dad is Aussie and he lived in Australia his entire life and represented national school and state teams here, but as soon as he goes to England he's become a "jolly Englishman"
I'm sure his agent has something to do with it. Obviously hes a good player but being an English international at any level is supposed to give you certain stipulations in bonuses with your club even if you're only on a youth contract but more importantly when you sign on pro terms.
Harry Kewell's agent said in an interview last year that when he was still being chased by England to play for them when he was in his teens, the agent himself advised Kewell on playing for England, his next contract (from Leeds at the time) would of had him as one of the highest paid player in the EPL and would of guaranteed even bigger contracts in the future were he to move from Leeds. He said "would of doubled his pay" which is obviously an exaggeration but he would of got a hefty pay jump, not just in salary but in sponsorship and marketablity.
That same agent has given similar advice to other Australian players(although not many were good enough to even be considered for it), but those who were like, Tony Dorigo and Craig Johnston(never managed to make a senior cap though, but was at the time of his transfer to Liverpool, the highest paid player in Britain) made quite a lot compared to what they should have. That guy also used to be Neil Kilkenny's manager and coincidentally, Neil Kilkenny was once an England U-17 and U-19 player.
It's just so sad to see money being a factor in player's choosing their allegiances. But with this Brad Smith kid, he probably thinks he's way too good for Australia, and that we only know how to play Rugby and that the Asian confederation is pure garbage. Pity though because Tom King who is also his teammate at Liverpool is in our U-17 squad at the World Cup. Maybe he can teach him a thing or two.
