Rugby Australia to target top NRL talent

[Taking The Two]

I feel uneasy banning players. That’s union behaviour and it doesn’t sit right with me that the shoe is on the other foot now. The UK game profited from the bannings in union over the years, I don’t think we should be doing it now with this.

 

[Diesel]

It’s a 12 week comp…maybe their domestic comps will be played around it …current club rugby loses shed loads and clubs going broke in the UK

Until someone does an ACL playing for Boston or Madrid the same calendar year as a WC or a break out year for a club

 

[Pippen94]

Reminds me of LIV golf … losses up to over US$400m a year now

Liv is propaganda for Saudi. That cost is probably worth it for them

 

[Pippen94]

Until someone does an ACL playing for Boston or Madrid the same calendar year as a WC

They would be allowed at WC last I heard anyway

 

[Wb1234]

Perfect response from the NRL. We cannot allow outside organisations to effectively steal our assets (the players) that we’ve invested heavily in, or artificially drive up the cost of keeping those players (as every agent will have an R360 price that they throw into every contract negotiation moving forward).
This cuts the head of the snake - if challenged in Court, this stance probably would be deemed a restraint of trade, however, it’s going to be a very brave player who’d choose to challenge it at this point, given R360 is nowhere near a certain thing. And surely the RLPA ain’t gonna whinge about this - as players being able to leave the NRL would do them harm.

Wouldn’t be challenging it now

They would go and when they came back and got refused would have to start a case

The threat will make a difference as 2 years of higher wages and potentially being a bricklayer after isn’t so appealing

And one of the articles said Pvl got legal advice I doubt he would expose the game to frivolous law suits

If nrl clubs stay solid and nobody offers a contract then it gets harder for the player

 

[Pippen94]

PIF distanced themselves months ago from this fiasco saying Union is not in thier top 20 sports to invest in.

The Guardian had an article a few days ago about whon the investors are. Mostly PE from the USA and UK.

No doubt there's big money but it's not LIV Golf big.

SEN radio interviewd the guy who owns an A League and Netball team ( sorry, can't remeber his name but it's on SENs youtube channel) he said he was asked to invest but wasn't impressed enough to part with his money.

R360 will go broke after 1 season. How delusional are they thinking stadiums will be full in non playing union countries to watch this mess.

Yep, only Saudi's have money to fund this beyond a season. Also Qatar. Will go bankrupt very quick otherwise

 

[Pippen94]

Wouldn’t be challenging it now

They would go and when they came back and got refused would have to start a case

The threat will make a difference as 2 years of higher wages and potentially being a bricklayer after isn’t so appealing

And one of the articles said Pvl got legal advice I doubt he would expose the game to frivolous law suits

If nrl clubs stay solid and nobody offers a contract then it gets harder for the player

Once r360 dies I'm sure ban will be overturned

 

[Pippen94]

Completely agree with this. One or two marquee players per club allows stars to reach their earning potential and allows NRL clubs to fight off Union

Depends what r360 pays

 

[Pippen94]

Think liv will work out fine in end for them

Don’t think this will have the same money behind them

Making rugby union work outside test matches is something nobody has really worked out yet properly (French union survives as a billionaires plaything). Most teams are in cities that don’t know the sport exists. Games will be on the middle of the night or poor time slots

Also

NRL news 2025 | The Mole exclusive, Lachlan Galvin and Roger Fabri; Lewis Dodd replacement, Blake Solly comments

BUNNIES MAKE RUGBY RAID TO REPLACE DODD

The Rabbitohs are still copping flak over the disastrous signing of Englishman Lewis Dodd last season, but they could make amends with one of the gains of the year for 2026.


Lewis Dodd sits on the bench against the Sharks. (NRL Photos)
Dynamic young Kiwi back-rower Saumaki Saumaki has come to terms with the club - and New Zealand rugby union isn't happy.

Saumaki, who starred for the strong Crusaders club in the under 20s this year, was tipped as a future All Black but was lured to the Bunnies after the club received glowing reports about him from their Kiwi scouts.

"All the mail we got on him was outstanding and we thought he was worth a go," Souths chief executive Blake Solly told Wide World of Sports.

"He played for New Zealand Schoolboys in rugby and you have to be pretty good to do that."

Saumaki will make the switch from union to rugby league, per sources.

He played for Crusaders U20 this year and was eligible to return for a push for the New Zealand U20s in 2026.

A damaging prospect, he was a member of the Crusaders Rugby Academy in 2025 and is a graduate of the famed Nelson College.

NZRU School Boy. Must have something.

Club football is built on tradition. Now if investors took national teams and created comp they would have something

 

[Gobsmacked]

Exactly…. But we know Clint loves 2 things;
1 - To whinge
2 - To get his name in the media/plump up his profile and ego

This provides an opportunity for both, but surely is against the spirit of their organisation.

I doubt they'll go near it with a ten foot pole.

 

[Growthegame]

Whilst this article is behind a paywall, the part visible on the SMH's website indicates the ARLC sought legal advice before this announcement,

Imagine that. Who would have thought?

 

[Trifili13]

They can if they're the employer, all NRL clubs are franchises of the NRL, so regardless as to which NRL club a player is signed with, they are all employees of the NRL.

While clubs might be considered franchises, they are the employers of the players legally, not the NRL. Walsh is employed by the Brisbane Broncos, not the ARL/NRL.

 

[Gobsmacked]

I feel uneasy banning players. That’s union behaviour and it doesn’t sit right with me that the shoe is on the other foot now. The UK game profited from the bannings in union over the years, I don’t think we should be doing it now with this.

don't feel like this is the same at all.
Some Rich douche just rocks up and outbids you for the thing that you've been building for a hundred years..
That's not in the spirit of anything.

 

[Wb1234]

Was obvious Pvl got legal backing before making this announcement

 

[Gobsmacked]

Was obvious Pvl got legal backing before making this announcement

I'd be willing to bet that the NRL have better lawyers that know better than a former front row forward for Newcastle.
So foolish of him to even comment on the matter. Actually surprised he's that stupid.

 

[Delboy]

Something to think about, just checked the online UK newspapers, not a word about R 360 even in the sections related to kick and clap.

We seem more concerned than the actual union competitions.

 

[Gobsmacked]

Something to think about, just checked the online UK newspapers, not a word about R 360 even in the sections related to kick and clap.

We seem more concerned than the actual union competitions.

Nobody knows who most of their players are anyway, so nobody will notice. They just have to shut up about it and act casual.. and carry on.

We have loads of incredible athletes that we love.
Big difference.

 

[bazza]

Something to think about, just checked the online UK newspapers, not a word about R 360 even in the sections related to kick and clap.

We seem more concerned than the actual union competitions.

The biggest supporters of the new R360 competition will be RL journos and player agents

 

[Wb1234]

Something to think about, just checked the online UK newspapers, not a word about R 360 even in the sections related to kick and clap.

We seem more concerned than the actual union competitions.
[/QUOTE
Union fans were talking up r360 when it was league players being signed since they thought they could play for the wallabies

All the chat I’ve seen is no test stars will sign and the comp just won’t start

That will change if they announce a lot of signings of players

It’s delusional to think if not gets off the ground that a lot of test stars will choose the money even if they get banned

 

[Pippen94]

I'd be willing to bet that the NRL have better lawyers that know better than a former front row forward for Newcastle.
So foolish of him to even comment on the matter. Actually surprised he's that stupid.

He's right. If NRL try and enforce it will end up in court