Former Celtic star Tom Rogic has been caught up in an astonishing radio rant between two of Australian sports' biggest names.
Rugby League legend Laurie Daley sensationally told the 31-year-old to "get stuffed" amid a raging debate with cricket icon Michael Clarke. The playmaker missed out on a place at the World Cup after Socceroos boss Graham Arnold decided against calling up one the country's most talented players.
Rogic endured a tumultuous few months as he missed Australia's playoff to reach Qatar with Arnold expressing concern over being unable to contact the star. Retirement rumours swirled before Rogic finally landed with West Brom following his emotional Celtic exit at the end of last season after nine trophy-laden seasons in Glasgow. And his exclusion was the centre of a bombshell back and forth debate on Sky Sports radio with Daley offering no sympathy to one of Australia's most storied players in recent history.
It was a no-holds barred verdict as Clarke offered the counter argument to his het-up sparring partner.
The astonishing debate in full
Laurie Daley: I’m happy with that decision.
Gerard Middleton: I think he had to be there as well. We’re not good enough to leave out probably our best player.
LD: He didn’t want to go. He didn’t want to qualify.
Michael Clarke: Is that what it is though, Loz?
LD: If it’s my decision, I think he didn’t want to be there.
MC: Hang on, it’s ‘personal reasons’. We don’t know what happened. Something could have happened to someone in his family.
LD: So he hasn’t played enough footy.
MC: But our captain (Mathew Ryan) has?
LD: Yep.
MC: I’m so happy he’s not selecting me or dropping me.
LD: Tommy Rogic can get stuffed.
MC: Before you say that. Think for a moment. It could have been, imagine if someone close to him passed away?
LD: I just don’t think he’s playing good enough footy.
MC: No, that’s a lie. You’re not saying that, you’re not saying that. You’re not picking him because you’re pissed off because he chose his family or for personal reasons.
LD: I just wouldn’t pick him. He’s not in my squad.
MC: Now you’ve changed your tune.
LD: He hasn’t explained himself properly to the coach or the group.
MC : But what if it’s someone who passed away and he doesn’t want to talk about it. It hurts him too much? What if somebody passed away and he doesn’t want to talk about it because it hurts too much?
LD: I’d feel sorry for him.
MC: So you’re saying you’re not picking him because of that?
LD: No, I’m not picking him because of form. And - if he’s chosen not to play for Australia because he thinks that we’re not going to qualify and he’s putting his club over his country - I would say, ‘You know what, this is going to upset the dynamic of the team so I don’t think I can bring you in at this last moment’. That’s the way I’m reading it.
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