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http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25116254-5012431,00.html
if only Searle was the NRL CEO
he always speaks positive about Rugby League and doesn't talk up AFL like our current onea
Japan a threat to rugby, not NRL: Searle
Brent Read and Dan Koch | February 28, 2009
Article from: The Australian
GOLD Coast managing director Michael Searle believes the NRL has nothing to fear from rugby union in France and Japan.
Instead, Searle yesterday turned the blowtorch on the Australian Rugby Union, suggesting its Super 14 clubs, and the competition they play in, could be decimated by the money on offer from overseas.
Searle also took aim at his fellow chief executives over the purported threat from Japan, claiming they needed to present a united front against attacks from overseas rugby union competitions. The issue will be discussed at a meeting of club bosses in Sydney next week, although Searle believes their time could be put to better use.
"It's not a threat to rugby league -- it's a massive threat to rugby union," Searle said.
"The Super 14 should be nervous about the northern hemisphere and Japanese rugby.
"What those competitions are doing to the Super 14 competition -- it's destroying it. The Super 14 will be a skeleton of itself the way it's going at the moment. The ARU knows that, the South African rugby union knows that and the New Zealand rugby union knows that. If you're a part of SANZAR at the moment, you would be terrified."
An ARU spokesman last night said the code was flattered Searle had taken an interest in the game, but defended its record in retaining its players.
"While we are never complacent about the offshore opportunities that are available to rugby union players, the level of remuneration and the conditions under which our players operate has ensured our retention rates are consistently strong," he said.
"Certainly the days of losing hefty numbers on an annual basis to a rival code have long since been consigned to history."
The by-play between the two codes comes at the end of a week in which Cronulla forward Fraser Anderson was sacked by the Sharks after announcing he planned to leave mid-season to play rugby union in Japan.
Brisbane fullback Karmichael Hunt has also been mentioned as a potential target, with suggestions he could be offered up to $1million to switch codes.
"Are we a little concerned about it?" Broncos chief executive Bruno Cullen said.
"We just can't get into a bidding war if you are talking about those sorts of figures."
At the same time, Wests Tigers halfback Benji Marshall has been the subject of sustained speculation over a potential move to Japan.
A planned meeting between Marshall's manager Martin Tauber and the Tigers was put on hold until next week, when the New Zealand international could make a decision on his future.
Against that backdrop, some chief executives have questioned the NRL's stance in refusing to endorse Marshall playing a guest stint in Japanese rugby union.
NRL chief executive David Gallop yesterday reiterated that should Marshall agree to stay at the Tigers, he could not play rugby union.
Searle is becoming agitated by the publicity given to union raids. A year ago France was viewed as the NRL's greatest threat after its clubs poached Sonny Bill Williams and Luke Rooney. "We have given it far too much air timebecause it's going to help them in the short term. It's not about what's in the best interests of the game.
"We need our chief executives to think about what's good for the game, not what's best for them for the next six months. I can't even believe it is being contemplated by some chief executives."
Several NRL chief executives have suggested the potential for off-season stints in rugby union could bring new money into the game. Searle finds that laughable.
"Get them to work at McDonald's on Sunday -- that's new money," he said.
"It just angers me that people are prepared to consider supporting a rival code when they would rip the guts out of us in a heartbeat."
if only Searle was the NRL CEO
he always speaks positive about Rugby League and doesn't talk up AFL like our current onea