Toua keen to get new deal done

Tue, Apr 11, 2017, 7:37 AM
Sam Phillips
by Sam Phillips
They've been spared the Super Rugby axe but the Brumbies aren't celebrating. Instead they're thoughts are with their playing colleagues in Melbourne and Perth whose futures are in limbo.

With the Brumbies' survival beyond 2017 no longer in doubt, Aidan Toua is on the hunt for a new contract.

The ARU's announcement yesterday that the Australian team to be cut would either be the Rebels or the Force ended the whispers that the Brumbies were in the firing line.

Coach Stephen Larkham has said for weeks that he felt comfortable his team would survive and given that they are Australia's most successful on-field franchise - both historically and in season 2017 - it would have been an extraordinary decision if the ARU were to move to the contrary.

But Australian rugby is in a state of uncertainty and until the words came out of Cameron Clyne's mouth yesterday, there was no guarantee the Brumbies would survive.The Brumbies aren't going anywhere. Photo: Getty Images"There's definitely a bit of relief that the Brumbies have survived the axe - everyone around here is pretty happy," Toua said.

"There's been lots of stuff said about it and maybe it has been handled a bit poorly but that's not really for us to comment on.

"I just hope all my mates get sorted out.

"It's not only the players but the admin of the team that is going to go."

Toua, who is off contract at the end of 2017, was one of several players barred from negotiating a contract for 2018 and beyond due to the previous uncertainty.Aidan Toua carved his former team up on Saturday. Photo: Getty ImagesFresh off a dazzling man of the match performance against the Reds, the fullback hopes to get a deal done quickly.

"The quicker, the better," he said.

"You always want that security of having a job, so you never know what is going to happen and with a team going, there are going to be some more guys on the market.

"It's nothing that I've been thinking about too much - I've just been working on my game with the team.

"I've been concentrating on that and if you play good footy the rest will take care of itself."

Toua was simply sublime against the Reds.Toua is keen to get a new deal done. Photo: Getty ImagesFor years he has promised to deliver the type of performance that he did on Saturday but a string of injuries has kept him from an extended crack at Super Rugby level.

His slippery runs in counterattack were kryptonite to the Reds' shoddy defensive line speed.

As was his pinpoint kicking game.

"After the Highlanders game, during the bye, we saw defensively that we were going really well and our composure in clearing our end has been quite good as well," he said.

"The next step was evolving our attack and it was something we really worked on in those two weeks off.

"Having guys looking to identify the space as well as myself, only creates more space on the field.

"We've finally turned the page in the way we want to attack and transferring what we did on the training paddock onto the field was really good - it was really good to see."

The Brumbies now turn their attention to the Rebels, who they face at AAMI Park on Saturday.

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