The multi-millionaire who has funded Cadel Evans and Jarryd Hayne is also funding Wallabies star
David Paradice who is a Financial Review Rich Lister that has the global
$ 16 million on
His warning came after he chained himself to an excavator for 10 hours in order to protest the Maules Creek Mine in northern NSW.
“‘Whatever you do, do the right thing’, that’s the way he operates and that’s what put him on my radar,” Paradice said.
“He’s big on the environmental side of things like I am and he’s basically into doing the right thing, which I am too. To be at the top of your game you have to be highly talented and focused but you do see that a lot of top guys go AWOL and do stupid things.
“I have a huge regard for him, which is why I support him.”
Pocock is yet to indicate whether he will play on beyond the end of this year as he battles ongoing neck problems.
He told the Canberra Times last week he had started specialist training to help his neck cope with being targeted by opposition teams.
“My focus in the break was to get my body right and work on things,” Pocock said.
“I’ve seen a few specialists about my neck and I’ve been doing a lot of work with Tom Emerson at Praksis in Phillip to strengthen it. That’s been great with some movement and flexibility stuff, as well as some other stuff in the gym.
“I’m hoping I can get it strong and healthy again. It’s feeling good [at the moment] but I haven’t done contact for a while. I’ve been pain free for a few weeks now, but we’ll see how we go when I get back into contact.”
Pocock is not the only Australian Start whose contract is reportedly being topped up by external sources. Israel Folau according to the SMH had the Salteri family of Transfield and Tenix fame funding him until mid-last year. These are just two of a number of private individuals who are reported to be donating to the game through the Australian Rugby Foundation.