Tuivasa-Sheck is set to join the R360 competition in 2027 as the first NRL player to jump ship on a deal worth close to $1 million a season.
www.smh.com.au
Warriors superstar Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is on the verge of becoming the first NRL player to agree to a lucrative deal to join the rebel Rugby 360 competition on a deal worth close to $1 million a season.
With the future of
Kalyn Ponga in rugby league appearing uncertain following revelations he has recently engaged a New Zealand-based rugby union agent to explore future opportunities, the news of Tuivasa-Sheck’s potential defection will send shockwaves through the game.
Sources with knowledge of the situation talking on the condition of anonymity due to confidentiality, said that Tuivasa-Sheck is in discussions about joining the R360 competition in 2027 as the first NRL player to jump ship.
The 32-year-old, who is on around $550,000 at the Warriors next year, still has one more year to run on his deal with the club but is set to almost double his salary in the twilight of his career if the breakaway competition gets off the ground.
The former Dally M Medal winner left the NRL in 2022, playing two seasons with the Auckland Blues in Super Rugby on his way to representing the All Blacks. He returned to the NRL last year but is set to switch codes yet again.
Warriors chief executive Cameron George is believed to be aware of the interest in his high-profile player but refused to discuss the veteran back’s future when contacted by this masthead on Wednesday. Tuivasa-Sheck’s agent Bruce Sharrock did not respond to attempts to contact him.
George raised the threat of R360 at last week’s NRL club CEO’s conference and believes the threat it poses to the sport is genuine, with the top players in line to earn close to US$2 million a season (approximately AUD$3.1 million).
It’s more than double the amount of money Ponga is paid ($1.4 million) as the highest-paid player in the NRL.
“I raised it at a recent CEO’s meeting to ensure everyone’s aware of the real and genuine Rugby 360 concept,” George said on Wednesday.
“I’m aware of players that have been interviewed and engaged with. I’m aware of the significant financial opportunities that it could bring, particularly around the branding of the players as individuals.
“I needed to alert everyone so that they are across this and what it could bring in the next few years, because it’s a real and genuine concept that is growing momentum and could be quite attractive to any number of players. My understanding is that the financial windfalls are real and they’re significant. I’m sure that the financial windfalls are far greater than anything we’ve ever seen before in rugby.”
Nine’s Danny Weidler reported on Monday that Storm superstar Ryan Papenhuyzen is also on the radar of R360 organisers. Fellow Storm teammate Nelson Asofa-Solomona is another name being discussed.
The R360 competition has private equity and speculation of Saudi Arabian money behind the concept, with organisers moving to reach their desired target of players before September to meet the contractual obligations that will trigger the financial backing it requires to get off the ground.
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has bankrolled LIV Golf, the Saudi football league, which has had Cristiano Ronaldo as its marquee player, and won hosting rights for the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
ormer England rugby international Mike Tindall is the public face of R360. Tindall, who is married to British royal family member Zara Phillips, is in Australia to watch the British and Irish Lions series.
The concept will follow a hybrid model of Formula 1 and the Indian Premier League, with private owners to invest in franchises all around the world.
The players who agree to sign with R360 aren’t signing for specific franchises but rather to the competition itself, with the potential of auctions and drafts being floated.
One model being discussed will see a joint Australia and New Zealand-based franchise as well as teams based in the United States, France, England, South America, Asia and South Africa in an eight-team competition that could grow to as large as 12 teams.
Competition organisers want to launch a one-off tournament next season, potentially from July to September, before adopting a regular format in 2027.
The intended format in 2027 will see the competition split into two blocks, with the first half of the tournament played between March and May and the second stage played between September and December. That window is largely in competition with the NRL, which currently runs from March to October.
“I spoke to Andrew Abdo about it too, because the NRL should be right across it as well,” George said.
“They need to understand whether there’s any opportunity with it rather than fight against it. As I understand it, current rugby jurisdictions are against it.
“Maybe it’s an opportunity for the NRL to look at having access to a talent pool at a particular time of the year. I’m not sure if those times and opportunities will come to light, but as a game we need to be across it.”
www.foxsports.com.au
www.bbc.com
