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Rugby Australia to target top NRL talent

yobbo84

Coach
Messages
11,311
Trent Robinson has a bigger fetish for wingers than Ricky Stuart does for second rowers or Cameron Ciraldo for utility players.
 

The Great Dane

First Grade
Messages
7,957
Potato, potato really. Same net effect
No there's definitely a distinction that needs repeating.

The repeated assertion that the Northern Union were looking to professionalise the sport is not only untrue, but literal RFU propaganda. They were looking only to be able to pay broken time payments to injured players, and to have transparency in the laws about exactly how much, when, and to whom clubs were allowed to offer financial assistance.

Aside from the notable exception of a relative handful of the very top players whom were capable of making enough out of the sport and sponsors to earn a good living in their time (e.g. Wally Lewis), RL didn't truly go pro until the 1990s, just like RU.
 

Canard

Immortal
Messages
35,609
No there's definitely a distinction that needs repeating.

The repeated assertion that the Northern Union were looking to professionalise the sport is not only untrue, but literal RFU propaganda. They were looking only to be able to pay broken time payments to injured players, and to have transparency in the laws about exactly how much, when, and to whom clubs were allowed to offer financial assistance.

Aside from the notable exception of a relative handful of the very top players whom were capable of making enough out of the sport and sponsors to earn a good living in their time (e.g. Wally Lewis), RL didn't truly go pro until the 1990s, just like RU.
Besides the broken time payments, weren't the Northern RFU openly against professionalism for quite a while?
 
Messages
15,416
Trent Robinson has a bigger fetish for wingers than Ricky Stuart does for second rowers or Cameron Ciraldo for utility players.

Considering Suaalii is off to Union at the end of 2024, that Daniel Tupou is likely to retire at the end of 2024 and add in the injury history of Billy Smith, the club is in need of outside backs for season 2025 and beyond.

Edit - It's no longer a rumour -

 
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The Great Dane

First Grade
Messages
7,957
Besides the broken time payments, weren't the Northern RFU openly against professionalism for quite a while?
Depends who you're talking about and exactly what you mean by against.

The NU was opposed to professionalism, but as a general rule the NU's opposition to professionalism wasn't a moral or ethical position like the RFU's was expressed to be, but largely born out of practicality because it wasn't financially feasible.
 

bedlam breakout

Juniors
Messages
305
Considering Suaalii is off to Union at the end of 2024, that Daniel Tupou is likely to retire at the end of 2024 and add in the injury history of Billy Smith, the club is in need of outside backs for season 2025 and beyond.

Edit - It's no longer a rumour -

isnt sualli leaving with immediate effect now? theres no guarantee this RU player will make the cut - where does this leave Dom Young?
 

Canard

Immortal
Messages
35,609
isnt sualli leaving with immediate effect now? theres no guarantee this RU player will make the cut - where does this leave Dom Young?
Marky Mark doesn't join until 2025, Sualli leaves at the end of 2024.

Clearly the Roosters had this guy in their sights for a while, that's why they got all their press mates to throw out this salary cap dispensation gibberish
 
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Messages
15,416
isnt sualli leaving with immediate effect now? theres no guarantee this RU player will make the cut - where does this leave Dom Young?

Nope. He was never leaving. The Roosters and Suaalii have both been very clear he would see out his contract with the Roosters. It was the media talking this up as occurring ever since he signed with the ARU for 2025.
 

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