NEWS LTD in last minute bid to keep Joey in league.

[Jimbo]

I'll watch it, but only because Rat's playing.

 

[Pigskin]

It really is a different case than Lote -- we're talking about possibly the greatest player ever here -- and the main thrust of this is Johns' television career, commentating and presenting. Lote was in no position to contemplate that at such an early stage in his career.

gees you are impressionable .... what garbage

Oink !

 

[Pigskin]

Like it or not....stars sell.


John is probably the biggest start in Rugby League. His loss will have an effect.


Think of all the kids who say Andrew Johns is their favorite player. When these kids are told Johns now plays union, it opens them up to that sport.

If League kept Johns....alot of those kids wouldnt give union a second thought.

So what, how many young Broncos fans scored Sailor like tries in the park? or young Sharkies going the length of the backyard, sidesteping the dog, fending off the cat just like their hero Rogers? No matter what way you want to look at this, it's BS the NRL and News LTD are doing something because it's Johns and did nothing in the past.

I agree 100%.

Johns is a dikhed first, and a good footballer second.

Oink !

 

[Razor]

SO you won't watch his first game in the waratahs strip ?

Come on.........

No.

 

[gaterooze]

Union is rubbish, and you know what? The more exposure it gets, the better. Look at what happened after the entire country was exposed to it during the World Cup? They lost Free To Air coverage a few months later! People saw the game, and saw it was... not good.

If David Beckham started playing AFL, do you think soccer fans would suddenly think it's a good game?

 

[Parraren]

The Johns factor will be just like the World Cup......you'll have a quick look now and then, fall asleep before half time and then wonder what all the hype was about.

 

[Kiwi]

No matter what way you want to look at this, it's BS the NRL and News LTD are doing something because it's Johns and did nothing in the past.

News Ltd couldn't do a deal for Tuqiri, because the Broncos are owned by News Ltd, and have sponsors with companies that are owned by News Ltd. So any money News Ltd paid Tuqiri comes under the cap, even if it's related to writing a column, etc.

The Knights have no sponsors with companies that are owned by News Ltd, so any money News Ltd pays Johns doesn't come under the cap.

Fairly simple to work out.

The other deal that the NRL rejected with Tuqiri and the Broncos was rejected because the company that the Broncos organised demanded advertising(over the load speaker) at all Broncos home matches. The deal that the NRL approved between the Knights & Johns, is fine because the company the Knights organised doesn't want anything in return from the Knights.

Fairly simple to work out. It's fine if the money comes from a source that has no link with club - even if the club organised it; It's not fine if the money comes from a source that is linked with the club - Even if it is just free advertising in return for the deal (That's called sponsorship - the Broncos just called it something else)

Like I said, it doesn't matter how you try to swallow it, look at it or try to make it taste any better with words, it still tastes like bull shit.

 

[RLS]

I think we are going to have to come to terms with the fact, players are going to finish their careers with one last good contract (retirement money) either playing union in Australia or League in England, and I reckon let them go..