Mitchell on Reds alert as Perth take shape

John Mitchell nearly has a rugby team to coach again. New Zealand-born Reds centre Junior Pelesasa has become the latest of 10 players to defect to the new Super 14 Western Force franchise, based in Perth and - if the rumours are right - the Brumbies' Clyde Rathbone and rugby league's Matt Bowen are next.

Wallaby winger Rathbone has been in Perth checking out the city and talking to Force folk. But there is no direct evidence that he will jump ship yet.

Bowen is an even longer stretch. The North Queensland Cowboys' fullback is being heralded as the first high-profile league signing for the Force. However, Bowen is out of contract at the end of this NRL season and this situation means kite-flying season begins in earnest.

Bowen's manager has denied any contact although the Force have admitted an interest.

However, with Pelesasa coming on board, Mitchell's team is coming together. Pelesasa was trying to keep the shift quiet so he could focus on the Reds' match against the Sharks last night but the news leaked out.

Pelesasa joins foundation signings Brendan Cannon (NSW) and Reds lock Nathan Sharpe, while the Waratahs' first five-eighths Lachlan McKay got Australian tempers flaring when he moved to the west. Pelesasa, the Reds' lock Rudi Vedelago and promising tight/loose forward Luke Doherty and hooker Tai McIsaac make seven. Add in Richard Brown, the recent Taranaki representative James Hilgendorf and former Brumbie David Pusey and that's two-thirds of a rugby team. Half of that number are from the Reds.

Others being linked if the Reds let them off contract are winger Peter Hynes, centre Steve Kefu and Anthony Mathison.

More names being mentioned are Brumbies' reserve halfback Matt Henjak who, like Rathbone, is being wooed full blast by the Force. Brumbies coach Laurie Fisher already seems to be resigned to losing Henjak.

"I wouldn't be surprised if Matt joins Perth," he said. "Football-wise, it might be his best decision. We'd love to keep him but it's hard for us to match what Perth are offering him."

- HERALD ON SUNDAY