An immature waster of talent the Queensland Reds are better off without; that's the stinging assessment of James O'Connor by former Wallabies fullback Greg Martin.
O'Connor is expected to head back to Europe to join French glamour club Toulon after being granted a release from the final year of his contract with the Reds on Tuesday, ending an underwhelming stint with the Super Rugby franchise. The 25-year-old's release was granted because of personal issues but Martin doesn't think the Reds would have fought too hard to hold on to O'Connor.
Labelling O'Connor the "Justin Bieber of Australian rugby", Martin said an on-field spat with former Reds teammate Adam Thomson during this year's Super Rugby campaign highlighted why O'Connor was no longer needed at Ballymore.
"He's an immature twat," Martin told Brisbane's Triple M radio.
"A little young punk with one of the greats of the modern game - Adam Thomson - having an argument on the field in front of the world? That says it all, who does he think he is?"
