Nigel Plum

[Vicious]

When was the last time a Rugby Union forward made a successful transition to league???When was the last time a non representative Rugby Union forward with no prior Rugby League experience made a successful transition to Rugby League??

 

[Magpie Nick]

When was the last time a Union forward came to league?...

 

[oro]

Ben Kennedy

 

[Gus22]

Sam Harris

 

[Vicious]

Ben Kennedy

Sam Harris

They both had League backgrounds!

 

[super_coach]

as for the rorters--well they are pretty clever in seeing value in rival clubs lower grade players---but when you have 13 or so big guns on your books,it a lot easier to bring along a rookie.The majority they sign,only ever get glimpses of the top grade,and are than discarded.They are signed up for insurance--in case they have a bad injury run--ie luke dorn--
I think sheens has a pretty good idea what it takes to cut it in the nrl.He once said when with the green machine--you sign up an athlete and teach them to play football rather than turn a footballer into an athlete--so maybe he see good things in our rugby recruits
As for rugby forwards not being up to league--I think that was the case 5 years ago--but i think today the games are very close defensively,and where once a rugby forward never touch the ball in attack--today they are used a lot more---Guys like george smith,phil waugh.jerry collins would walk into most teams---in fact the tigers tried to sign george smith when still a schoolboy in year ten
in dont know i could be wrong but have faith in sheensie--he has been on the money so far

 

[Vicious]

I would have been a lot happier if one of the Rugby forwards we signed was Jerry Collins.He hits like a sledge hammer,that bloke!

 

[HOT028]

I would have been a lot happier if one of the Rugby forwards we signed was Jerry Collins.He hits like a sledge hammer,that bloke!

i would of liked one of them to be lote!

 

[mikey]

Both were highly promising teenagers who the Roosters signed for money equivalent to what 20 or 30-game first-graders were being paid at the Knights.


It is freely bandied around that the Roosters spend well over a $1million a season on their Premier League and Jersey Flegg teams.

That's the thing that sucks about a good idea like the salary cap. In theory it works but while clubs can get companies to provide private sponsorship and sling huge amounts of cash at juniors the playing field will never be even.

I hate the way the NRL lets people rort the system.

 

[madunit]

Here's an article from The Daily Advertiser. This is the local paper in Wagga Wagga, where Nigel is from.

Ex-Kangaroo lands Plum NRL contract by Les Muir
GLAMOUR club Sydney Roosters has lured Wagga rugby league prodigy Nigel Plum away from NRL rivals Wests Tigers.

Plum, 21, signed a contract with the NRL premiers late last week and now intends giving up his day-to-day job as a plasterer to concentrate on football.

"I'll be training full-time from November, I want to give myself every opportunity," Plum said yesterday.

"I'll probably do some plastering one day a week, or maybe one day a fortnight just for some extra cash."

The decision to put his trade on hold is a measure of how determined the 21-year-old ex-Kangaroos forward is to make a success of an NRL career.

Plum left Wagga two years ago to join Wests and has already established himself as a second rower or lock with great potential.

By all accounts, Roosters coach Ricky Stuart has certainly been impressed.

When Plum's manager made it known the young forward was in the mood for a change of clubs, the Roosters were hot off the mark to sign him.

Speaking from Sydney yesterday, Plum said St.George-Illawarra had also shown interest in securing his services, but the Roosters got the verdict.

"Last Thursday they (the Roosters) came back with an offer and I accepted it," he said. "I was stoked. I really can't wait to get over there.

"They have a quality coaching staff and I believe there is an opportunity for me to play first grade.

"Playing first grade is what it is all about."

For Plum, two seasons with the Tigers has given him the confidence and grounding to make the most of his chances.