Kasiano nears QLD switch

[ANTiLAG]

I wish he would just just piss off. I dont want someone in the Maroons that doesnt have passion for the Jersey. As a true Queenslander you ride the emotions of every Origin game, and feel the pain when they lose. He wouldnt have that passion and never will.

Piss off Kasiano. We dont want want you. You're not an Origin player.

Meh~ tis a job. He's a professional. He'll give good service like all the other NSWmen and Kiwis that have played for Queensland.

 

[Hutty1986]

I wish he would just just piss off. I dont want someone in the Maroons that doesnt have passion for the Jersey. As a true Queenslander you ride the emotions of every Origin game, and feel the pain when they lose. He wouldnt have that passion and never will.

Piss off Kasiano. We dont want want you. You're not an Origin player.

Exactly. Regardless of the form he's in, you want a guy there who will bleed for his state. Pick the big unit for NZ

 

[Pierced Soul]

If you want to select them for Origin, then do so. But let them play for their nations. Or don't select them for origin at all. Seems simple to me.

i've been leaning towards this idea for several years. years ago i thought it was stupid but the reality is origin is killing international league and the selection criteria has become a farce.
Origin isnt seen as a stepping stone to australian representation anymore either with players looking more towards playing for their states.

if karmichael hunt had been allowed to play for NZ and Qld i wonder if he would, like tamou his goal was an origin jersey, not an australian one. if the blues are going to pick tamou so be it, but he should be on the kiwi side of halfway doing the haka at test level

 

[ANTiLAG]

i've been leaning towards this idea for several years. years ago i thought it was stupid but the reality is origin is killing international league and the selection criteria has become a farce.
Origin isnt seen as a stepping stone to australian representation anymore either with players looking more towards playing for their states.

if karmichael hunt had been allowed to play for NZ and Qld i wonder if he would, like tamou his goal was an origin jersey, not an australian one. if the blues are going to pick tamou so be it, but he should be on the kiwi side of halfway doing the haka at test level

Yep, agreed. The biggest hurdle to this is the fact that the Australian fans do not want to hear and face reality. That reality is that origin is about money to many of the players. That is why NSW'men play for maroon. Their selection odds were better there.

I believe that the players want to win with a passion, like they would any sudden death post season contest. But all the players for wrong states, and foreigners, 'tis money that motivated them to be there in the first place, to then play with passion.

 

[BigRedV]

This is always going to be an issue as long as a large % of players are not able to play in the premier games of the season. Don't get me wrong, i love internationals, but state of origin is where its at.
Players from a Pacific Island background are increasing every year. And we already have cases where some of the best don't play in the best games.

I'm gonna put my flame suit on now and say making the Origin series a Tri series with NSW, QLD and Pacific Islanders/others is the way to go.

It'll stop this crap overnight. I don't think it'll water down the concept at all and with the large PI population in Aus, it'll add a whole other element of passion/rivalry.

 

[Joker's Wild]

Stop all this talk of a "Tri series" now. It simply wont work

Qlders hate NSWelshmen and NSWelshmen hate Qlders at SOO time. I just dont think many supporters if any will be able to find that level of rivalry for any third team that is brought in. You simply cant manufacture it, it has to grow organically.

 

[Canard]

Yep, agreed. The biggest hurdle to this is the fact that the Australian fans do not want to hear and face reality. That reality is that origin is about money to many of the players. That is why NSW'men play for maroon. Their selection odds were better there.

I believe that the players want to win with a passion, like they would any sudden death post season contest. But all the players for wrong states, and foreigners, 'tis money that motivated them to be there in the first place, to then play with passion.

I reckon the money thing is a furphy.

Its 10K per game with 10K deferred to a trust account, which they can only access if they don't defect to Union or AFL.

30K per year is big bikkies to guys like us, but to a guy who earns 500K per season, its not a massive amount of doe.

The attraction of Origin is clearly more than just money.

 

[ANTiLAG]

I reckon the money thing is a furphy.

Its 10K per game with 10K deferred to a trust account, which they can only access if they don't defect to Union or AFL.

30K per year is big bikkies to guys like us, but to a guy who earns 500K per season, its not a massive amount of doe.

The attraction of Origin is clearly more than just money.

Imagine you have 10 years of high earning capacity. That "trust account" at the end of a 20 game career is holding well over 200k, plus the 200k previously earned and payed. 400K is some serious bonus for a ten year career, what a year's extra pay? 10%. Fools not to take it.

Also, generally the foreigners and kiwis are first signed to play origin when they're on much smaller "pre-star" contracts, or on their initial first grade deals, which makes the pay increase SUBSTANTIAL comparatively. You seriously don't think Tamou cannot enjoy the extra 30k now? To put toward a house deposit, flash car or sweet off season holidays? You're silly to think otherwise.

It is a very short career these players have, and for the vast majority, they will NEVER EVER earn that kind of money per annum again. All the players are very well aware, that tomorrow, they could receive a career ending injury.

And now they talk of next year it being 50k per game, instead of 20k...

Making a 20 game origin career worth another million?!

 

[hitman82]

I reckon the money thing is a furphy.

Its 10K per game with 10K deferred to a trust account, which they can only access if they don't defect to Union or AFL.

30K per year is big bikkies to guys like us, but to a guy who earns 500K per season, its not a massive amount of doe.

The attraction of Origin is clearly more than just money.

I'd be surprised if Tamou or Kasiano are on anything near $500k...

And anyway, isn't Origin worth more like $45k for the series?

 

[ANTiLAG]

He's clearly not thinking straight Hitman.

 

[Frank_Grimes]

Some players actually end up in the red after Origin due to airfares and accommodation for family and friends, plus the other stuff that is not covered. Kind of puts a damper on the mercenary argument.

 

[Snappy]

Cash may be what's its all about for the kiwi blokes, but its not the be all and end all of origin. For players who have grown up in Qld or NSW I say its more for the jersey and to be an origin player. The cash is a bonus.

 

[hitman82]

Cash may be what's its all about for the kiwi blokes, but its not the be all and end all of origin. For players who have grown up in Qld or NSW I say its more for the jersey and to be an origin player. The cash is a bonus.

Absolutely.

But this thread is about a Kiwi player/mercenary.

@Frank Grimes - are there articles or anything about that? I'd truly love to read something substantiated which says James Tamou will walk away from Origin poorer than he walked in. Sounds like a situation which may have occurred once or twice and was published as some kind of passion-inducing sob story in a beat up for the fans...

But apart from the actual cash bonus, you do realise being an Origin player is a HUGE negotiating tool for new club contracts right? Much greater than being a Kiwi would be...

James Tamou: "career decision"... obviously it's money and/or contractual motives getting him to play. Not intense heartfelt passion for the country he adopted what, 4 months ago? :lol:

 

[docbrown]

If they qualify for State of Origin AND a country other than Australia, then let them play in both if they so choose.

State of Origin as a pure Australian selection trial was relevant back when there were no foreign players in the local club leagues. Now that the premier league (NRL) is inundated with foreign players the smartest decision is to unlink the two and create a system whereby if players do want to play for both an Australian state and another country that they meet enough minimum criteria for both.

Otherwise we'll be discussing this same issue still in 20 years...

 

[Shorty]

If it was purely about money wouldn't you see more Kiwis defecting to Origin?
There's got to be more than money making these players turn their back on their homeland - It's all well and good to say it's just about money.

But the prestige and intensity of Origin can't be ignored and it would have a lot of pulling value as well.

 

[hitman82]

If it was purely about money wouldn't you see more Kiwis defecting to Origin?
There's got to be more than money making these players turn their back on their homeland - It's all well and good to say it's just about money.

But the prestige and intensity of Origin can't be ignored and it would have a lot of pulling value as well.

Once again, I am sure that's the case. I like competing in high level comps in my sport; you'd be stupid not to.
It doesn't make Kasiano a passionate Queenslader, or Tamou and passionate NSWman, let alone Australians :lol:... it merely means they want the money, glory and pleasure of playing in a highly intense match. They're still Kiwis by birth, blood and at heart.

Also, most Kiwis have more pride than to defect to another country simply for money and glory... that's the main difference between guys like Foran and Tamou.

 

[Frank_Grimes]

@Frank Grimes - are there articles or anything about that? I'd truly love to read something substantiated which says James Tamou will walk away from Origin poorer than he walked in. Sounds like a situation which may have occurred once or twice and was published as some kind of passion-inducing sob story in a beat up for the fans...

Here ya go:

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...ntative-payments/story-e6frepbx-1226372979674

PLAYERS have discussed the option of strike action as frustration builds over representative payments for State of Origin. The State of Origin series generates more than $30 million in revenue, but the 34 players share only $2 million - about 6 per cent.
The NRL has lifted Origin fees to $20,000 a game, but $10,000 goes into a loyalty fund players cannot touch until they retire.
This was designed to stop them from switching codes.


Of the remaining $10,000, half goes on tax.

It leaves $5000, but once travel and accommodation for their families, jerseys, tickets and other incidentals have been deducted, the players generally take home about $3000 for putting on one of the greatest annual sporting shows in the country.



Not surprisingly, the stars of the game have had enough.
The paltry player payments were a big talking point in both camps leading up to Origin I.


There is even talk of strike action unless players' association boss David Garnsey can negotiate a better deal in the next collective bargaining agreement, due to be finalised in October.
"It would be a sad move, but they've got to get their point across," said leading player agent Mike Newton, who looks after Glenn Stewart and Mitchell Pearce.
"I know a lot of our senior players followed all the developments in the recent NBA strike in the States.
"I'm not saying it's going to happen here, but I know some of the players have flagged it as a last resort."
There are many stories from the past about players even having to pay to play Origin.


NSW forward Ben Kennedy got a bill for $89 after flying in family and friends for his farewell game for the Blues and it once cost Clinton Schifcofske $100 to play for the Maroons.


All said and done, most players would walk away from an Origin match with about $3,000 in their hand.

I believe someone like Tamou would be playing Origin for the increased exposure and bargaining power at contract time that it would give him, but it's a very simple view to think that they're just doing it for the match payments.

 

[betcats]

So big James Tamou will pocket about 15 grand in hand after this series, less expenses.

The NZRL match payments must be small if it is all about the money for these Kiwis.

 

[Canard]

Imagine you have 10 years of high earning capacity. That "trust account" at the end of a 20 game career is holding well over 200k, plus the 200k previously earned and payed. 400K is some serious bonus for a ten year career, what a year's extra pay? 10%. Fools not to take it.

Also, generally the foreigners and kiwis are first signed to play origin when they're on much smaller "pre-star" contracts, or on their initial first grade deals, which makes the pay increase SUBSTANTIAL comparatively. You seriously don't think Tamou cannot enjoy the extra 30k now? To put toward a house deposit, flash car or sweet off season holidays? You're silly to think otherwise.

It is a very short career these players have, and for the vast majority, they will NEVER EVER earn that kind of money per annum again. All the players are very well aware, that tomorrow, they could receive a career ending injury.

And now they talk of next year it being 50k per game, instead of 20k...

Making a 20 game origin career worth another million?!

Only about 5-10% of players would have a 10 year Origin career.

Its not like super, where its invested either, 10K in 2022 dollars is going to be chickenfeed.

Grimesy has nailed it in the above thread, the lure of Origin isn't purely cash obviously.

For mine money isn't the determining factor.

 

[Frank_Grimes]

You seriously don't think Tamou cannot enjoy the extra 30k now? To put toward a house deposit, flash car or sweet off season holidays? You're silly to think otherwise.

And you'd be silly to think that $30k will buy you a "flash car" or a 20% deposit on a house. Besides, as has already been pointed out, it's more like $15,000 after tax and before other expenses. And that's if they play all three games.

Deal in the real world, not fantasy numbers.